Question

I would like to know how to open Outlook Express mail client for mailing through web application in Asp.Net?
I mean to say, can we call Outlook Express to send mail through web application?

For example, when there is need to send mail, I will click on a button which will open Outlook Express’s New Message window. Now my message should go through Outlook Express. I will be making use of Outlook Express Address Book to store my email contacts. Now if I get any mail it will come in Outlook Express but popup message should come in my Web application that “you have an email message pending” like that somthing.

Waiting for the reply…..please

Answer 1

To answer you first question: Yes it is possible to send an e-mail from a web application. Try this (from the client side if you are using Silverlight):

HtmlPage.Window.Navigate(new Uri("mailto:[e-mail]", UriKind.Absolute));

Or just have a mailto link (in HTML):
– http://webdesign.about.com/od/beginningtutorials/a/aabegin100299.htm

However, implementing a web service to send the mail is probably better. Try these (they are for Silverlight, but you’ll get the idea):
– http://deepumi.wordpress.com/tag/send-email-from-silverlight/
– http://www.michaelsnow.com/2010/06/10/silverlight-tip-of-the-day-30-sending-email-from-silverlight/

If your company does not allow you access to an SMTP server you can use Google as one. Just create a gmail account and set up the server like this (with your gmail account name and password). I think they limit the amount of mails sent out to 100 per day.

    _mailClient = new SmtpClient();
    _mailClient.Host = "smtp.gmail.com";
    _mailClient.Port = 587;
    _mailClient.EnableSsl = true;
    _mailClient.UseDefaultCredentials = false;
    _mailClient.Credentials = new NetworkCredential(username, password);
    _mailClient.DeliveryMethod = SmtpDeliveryMethod.Network;