Abstract: A system and method for exchanging electronic mail between organizations having dissimilar electronic mail systems is disclosed. The electronic mail sent from the sender organization identifies the recipient organization. The system and method determine the electronic mail format used by the recipient organization from the identity of the recipient organization and convert the electronic mail into the recipient's format. The recipient's format is determined by searching for information regarding the recipient organization in internal and external databases. The electronic mail is converted from the sender's format to a standard format after receipt of the electronic mail by the system. The electronic mail is converted from the standard format to the recipient's format prior to sending the electronic mail to the recipient organization.

Abstract: A device, system and process for accessing electronic mail from remotely located user-interface devices is disclosed. The users at the user-interface devices enter the electronic mail address and password, if any, for retrieval of electronic mail from the user's mailbox. The device locates one host computer from a plurality of host computers which contains the mailbox corresponding to the electronic mail address. The device then retrieves the electronic mail and transmits the electronic mail to the user-interface device. For large electronic mail messages, the device commences transmission of the electronic mail to the user-interface device while still receiving the electronic mail from the host computer. The device comprises a memory unit which stores domain names and the corresponding host computers which contain the mailbox for those domain names. Domain names not located in the memory unit can be searched through name servers to locate the host computer containing the mailbox.