E-mail hosting

[Robbie]

I need to call on the vast IT knowledge of other members. I am looking to set up a company e-mail and am not the most IT savy of people.

My understanding is that I am best with using a web hosting company that will provide a POP3 compatible e-mail (hope that sounds about right), probably need to include a reasonable level of support as well. Can you recommend anyone?

Cheers,
Robbie

[Fishtales]

Some background might be helpful.

Do you have a website?

Who are you with for internet access?

You already have email so can you get more than one address with your present host?

[Wildfisher]

Fasthosts are as good as any and not overly expensive

[Robbie]

Thanks for the replies,

Sandy:

I do not have a website;

Our internet provider is BT;

I want the company email to be distinct from my private e-mail.

[Otter Spotter]

I just use a Google account for my company e-mail (i.e. comapnyname@gmail.com).
As an alternative you can pay Microsoft for extended service on a hotmail address (companyname@hotmail.com). It gives you additional storage and features including multiple aliases (E-mail addresses), I think its about £20 a year. This is a quick and dirty solution but if you are not too into the IT side of things it will get you up and running instantly and you will be familiar with the user interfaces also there is little or no set up / configuration involved.
Some folks may have an issue with the hotmail or gmail extensions it doesnt bother me its purely a means of communication and segregating e-mails for different purposes. If google want to read my accounts let them hell given their balance sheet against mine they may take pity and donate
As a side note I always save / download any important attachments or mails to my computer that way I still have them if google change their policy or whatever.
Its one of those things that can be as simple or as complicated as you'd like to make it, my preference is always the easy option 
PS been using google for this since they launched the service in 2004 or 2005 I havent experienced any issues so far (Touch wood!)

PPS just read your last post. If you are with BT then you probably already have the ability to set up additional aliases, I think the problem would be that they are all routed to the same mailbox as far as I know.

[squeakytyres]

If you want a special name  such as yourcompany.co.uk you will  first have to  register a domain name. Most hosting companies offer email packages and they should not cost much at all.  A .co.uk domain name should be under £10 for 2 years.

[Fishtales]

The quick and cheap way is to set up a new email address with BT, usually you are allowed five. Just add yourcompanyname@btinternet.com to your package and download it with a filter on your email software to put it into a new folder. This way private and business mail will be separated.

[Robbie]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply.

[Fishtales]

Hjave a look at the webhost link in my signature. They do email only hosting too and you can register a domain name for as little as £2.99 a year.