The delivery of electronic mail can be broadly categorized into two primary methodologies: one where the server actively initiates the transmission of new messages to the client, and the other where the client periodically requests new messages from the server. Consider the scenario where a user receives an immediate notification upon receiving a new email, compared to a situation where the user must manually check their inbox for new messages. These scenarios exemplify the core difference between the two approaches.
The distinction between these two email delivery models is significant for several reasons. Efficiency in resource utilization, immediacy of notification, and impact on battery life of mobile devices are all directly influenced by the chosen method. Historically, the periodic checking approach was the norm, but advancements in network technology and mobile computing have made the active transmission method increasingly prevalent and desirable in many use cases. The choice of delivery model impacts the user experience and system overhead.
