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Messaging
Functional Description

The Messages application provides the user-interface to Messaging in Qtopia. It provides the facility to receive emails from multiple mail servers as well as SMS and MMS messages from other mobile phone devices. It also allows emails, MMS or SMS messages to be sent to multiple people with or without attachments. SMS messages are sent and received via the GSM cellular network with MMS and e-mail sent and received via TCP/IP based networks, usually GPRS on a mobile phone. It is possible to send a single message with both SMS and email addresses. Most messages conforming to RFC822 and RFC2045-RFC2049 are supported and POP or IMAP authentication of messages is provided. Application dependencies include, messaging storage space of approximately 1.5 times the server mailbox size is required on a device and services of an image viewer are required for viewing image attachments.

Features

Sending an email

It is possible for a user to compose and send an email.

Sending an SMS / MMS

It is possible for a user to send an SMS / MMS to another mobile phone.

Receiving an email

It is possible for a user to connect to a mail server and download emails from their email account to the device.

Replying to messages

It is possible for a user to read and reply to a message they have received via their Qtopia device.

Viewing an embedded image

It is possible for a user to receive and view a message with an image either attached or embedded.

Viewing specific messages

It is possible for a user to filter the messages viewed. For example they are able to view only messages sent by work colleagues in the current month.

Searching for a message

It is possible to search the contents of messages. For example, if a user has a password stored in an email they received over three months ago then they are able to search for and find that message.

Multiple mail servers

It is possible for a user to view emails sent to multiple mail servers. For example the user should be able to view messages sent both to a work email address and to a personal email address.

Saving an attachment

It is possible for a user to receive a message with an attachment and select to save it in their documents for later viewing.

Accounts

The following account features are available:

• Accounts: for creating an arbitrary number of mail accounts.
• Email Protocols: POP, IMAP and SMTP.
• Message Protocols: SMS, EMS and MMS.
• POP: remembers the server mail list so you can keep a server copy of your mails.
• SMTP: it is possible to use additional SMTP accounts to allow for more than one profile.
• IMAP: it is possible to set individual synchronization settings for each mailbox.
• Delete: it is possible to delay server deletion of mails until they have been removed locally from trash.

Folders

The following folder features are available:

• Folders: that are both standard and virtual folders.
• Queries: it is possible to create an arbitrary number of virtual folders by adding new queries.
• Search: it is possible to quickly search for mails by using the search folder.
• Mail Account: each mail account is automatically assigned a virtual folder.

Mail list (per folder)

The following mail list features are available:

• Mail view: displays a short description of each mail consisting of status, address, subject and date.
• Mail sort: it is possible to select each header file for sorting in either ascending or descending order.
• Mail view update: the view is dynamically updated as folder or mail contents changes.
• Transfer: it is possible to select messages and to copy or move them to another folder.

Virtual folder (queries) and search

The following virtual folder features are available:

• Folder properties: defines the search criteria for mails that appear in a folder.
• Search keys: allows case-insensitive pattern matching with support for optional keys in the same field.
• Virtual properties: the same mail logically appears in several folders.

Message properties

The following message properties can be handled:

• Date: this is converted to match your current time zone setting.
• Attachments: these are only stored as files when you request it.
• Usability: support exists for most messages conforming to RFC822 and RFC2045-RFC2049.

Viewing mail

The following features are available:

• URL: clicking on a URL in the mail prompts the application to attempt to open it in the default browser.
• Addresses: used to compose messages but it is also be possible to add an address/phone number to the address book by clicking on it.
• Format: quoted text is colored to distinguish it from the body text.
• In-line: text and image attachments are shown in-line with images being scaled to the screen width.
• Attachments: it is possible to install/remove mail attachments from the documents tab.
• Reply: it is possible to reply to or forward the currently viewed message.
• Status: it is possible to change the status of messages.
• Plain: the mail is shown in plain mode where the original formatting is kept.
• Delete: it is possible to delete the currently viewed message.

Viewing MMS Messages

The following features are required:

• Display of images and text and playing sounds.
• Playing MMS messages containing SMIL presentation.
• Reply: it is possible to reply to or forward the currently viewed message.
• Delete: it is possible to delete the currently viewed message

Writing messages

The following writing-related features are available:

• Fields: it is possible to add SMS/to/cc/bcc/from/subject/body(text) and attach files to the mail.
• Modify: it is possible to make changes as necessary to mails in the Drafts and Outbox folder.
• Auto save: modified mails are automatically saved unless they are explicitly discarded.
• Store: draft mails are stored in the Drafts folder and mails ready to send are stored in the Outbox folder.

Writing MMS Messages

The following writing-related features are required:

• Fields: it is possible to specify To/Cc/Bcc/subject. It is possible to request delivery report and read reply.
• Composing: a standard slide-show with SMIL presentation is supported by the MMS composer. One image, text field and audio file are allowed per page of the slide-show.
• Modify: it is possible to make changes as necessary to mails in the drafts and outbox folder.
• Auto save: modified mails are automatically be saved unless they are explicitly discarded.
• Store: draft mails are stored in the Drafts folder and mails ready to send are stored in the Outbox folder.

Retrieving messages

The following message retrieval related features are available:

• Retrieve: it is possible to check for new messages in either all accounts or to specify only one account to be checked.
• Complete messages: messages not downloaded are individually completed.
• Overview: all new/unseen mail-headers are always downloaded (unless excused in IMAP mailbox settings).
• Fast: the current download list is sorted by the size of the mail (small goes first).
• Logical: viewing a mail or removing it causes it to be respectively pushed to the front or removed from the download list.
• Resume: it is possible to cancel downloads and resume them later.
• Safe: in case of a crash while downloading the client reverts to the state prior to the crash.

Retrieving MMS Messages

The user is notified of the arrival of an MMS message. The user may then download and view the message immediately, or defer downloading to a later date.

Sending messages

The following message sending- related features are available:

• Send: it is possible to send all queued messages in one go.
• Fallback: For non-encrypted connections, sending is attempted even if authentication fails (for whatever reasons).
• Single: it is possible to send a single mail instead of all the mails in the Outbox.
• Safe: in event of failure no mail in the transfer list is marked as sent.
• Sent Folder: all sent mails are automatically be moved to the Sent folder.
• Flexible: default SMTP account or reply-to field is used where the from address does not match.
• Diverse: it is possible to send a single message with both SMS and email addresses.

Encrypted and Authenticated Connections

• Encrypted: it is possible to send and receive mail via encrypted SSL/TLS connections.
• Authenticated: POP or IMAP authentication is always attempted. SMTP authentication is supported.

Templates

• Template texts are supported when composing SMS messages: commonly used text phrases may be quickly inserted by choosing from a menu, and new text phrases may be user defined.

Copy/Move Messages

• The user may copy and move messages between local folders.

Dependencies

Storage space

Approximately 1.5 times the server mailbox size is required on a device.