Plusnet email on Amazon Fire 8: unable to open server connection

[#1]

Have been using Plusnet email successfully on my fire tablet for several months. I am using the Amazon email client (imap) with the Plusnet recommended imap settings for servers and ports.

Yesterday, the email stopped working with an error message: unable to open server connection. Since then,  I have deleted and re-added my email account about 6 times but this has not worked.

Does anyone have a recommended solution, please?

[#2]

Just to be sure, recheck your email settings with the details here:
https://www.plus.net/help/email-guides/how-to-set-up-plusnet-email/

Also are you using a PlusNet connection? You did not specify, it may have some barring depending upon if you are using something else.

[#3]

Thank you for your reply. Yes I have rechecked and I have been using the correct settings. I am on a Plusnet connection (without VPN).

I have solved the problem eventually by using another email client, K-9 which seems to work well.

[#4]

Hmm strange, maybe there was an update to the built in email app that broke the setup. Not easy to tell with the Amazon system, as updates appear without much info on what is actually being updated.

Anyway glad you found a way around it. It may in future suddenly spring back into action again, mind you.

[#5]

Thanks for your advice and interest.

[#6]

Many android email clients (eg Bluemail) don't themselves talk directly to the email server, instead, Bluemail's server collects your email, then forwards it to the app.... apart from the security aspect of this, it makes it hard to fix issues, as your phone isn't talking to the email server.

I moved over to K-9 a while ago too: as you say, it 'just works'. Helped by the fact that K-9 doesn't use an intermediary, it talks directly to the email server (which is better security too). 

[#7]

Thanks. That's interesting.

[#8]

So, I just double checked this.

The problem with email on a mobile phone is "how to get emails instantly without killing the battery". The typical solution is what is called "push technology".

So, Bluemail describe this (not very well!) over at https://bluemail.me/features-functions/instant-push/#:~:text=BlueMail%20for%20Android%2C%20iOS%2C%20....

But it's confusing... one moment they say "BlueMail securely pushes your emails so they arrive into your device at instantaneous speeds saving you valuable time. " which implies that their servers use your email login to regularly poll for emails (then use 'push' to get it to your phone). But then they also say "BlueMail for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux work by connecting directly to your email provider. We believe that transmitting emails directly between the BlueMail client and your email provider is the best way to keep your email data secure."

Then they mention the use of OAuth, and say "When adding your account, BlueMail uses highly private and secure authentication protocols and does not have access to your account password at any time.".

Suddenly things make sense: When you use OAuth2, whilst YOU are the one with the password, and YOU actually log in with your password, you effectively give Bluemail authority to access your email on your behalf. And that is fine if you access a service that supports OAuth2 (like gmail)... but Plusnet doesn't, so that means that they WILL know your password.

They also state "Emails are not stored on our servers".... I am suspecting that whilst they don't need to actually download your email to know if there's a new one (they just need to 'log in' to see if there's anything new), they COULD if they wanted to. 

Then they say "BlueMail by default attempts to block all intrusive email trackers, including tracking pixels to prevent your personal data from being exposed to email marketing services and spammers."... how do they do that? Well, by looking at your email whilst in transit I guess. Yes, pedantically, they do not STORE your email, just look at it as it passes by.

The same security concerns (3rd party viewing your emails) exists with gmail, yahoo etc... which is why I don't like using them.

Finally, one issue I've seen with services like Bluemail is that sometimes their systems have issues, and it can take HOURS for an email to actually arrive.

K-9 talks direct to the mail servers: you tell it how often to wake up and check for email, mine is set for 10 mins. Yes, this system uses marginally more battery, but it's never been an issue for me. 

[#9]

Hmm… I don’t know the specifics about how bluemail do it but some of the things you are supposing, in general, isn’t accurate.

Firstly, push email notifications do not require a 3rd-party server to function. Most implementations use the IMAP IDLE standard.

In most cases your password is only stored on your device, within the app settings (hopefully it will be encrypted when stored or at least not in plain text).

The blocking part you mentioned can quite easily be implemented during the viewing of email by the user, loads the email then interprets it into a “readable” format. No 3rd party server required.

Anyway, you are drifting away from the main topic of this thread. It might be better to start a new thread on this subject elsewhere (tech help section? Not sure of the best place but it’s not right for here as this section is specifically for PlusNet email only).