Dealing with email issues can be frustrating, especially when they prevent you from communicating effectively. For users with iinet.net.au email addresses, many recent problems stem from a significant shift in how these services are managed.
Previously, iiNet directly provided these email services. However, they have outsourced their email infrastructure, leading to new troubleshooting considerations. Understanding this change is the first step toward resolving most deliverability and access problems you might encounter.
Understanding the iiNet email migration
A key factor in addressing email issues with iinet.net.au is the transition of their email services. In a strategic move, iiNet, along with other TPG Telecom brands, transferred its email infrastructure to The Messaging Company (TMC). This means that while your email address might still end in @iinet.net.au, the underlying service and its technical requirements are now managed by TMC.
This migration has significant implications for how you configure your email client and how email deliverability is handled. If you are experiencing problems, your first step should be to confirm that your settings reflect this change. iiNet provided an official statement on this migration on their help website, indicating that iiNet.net.au email addresses have moved to The Messaging Company.
The key takeaway here is that any troubleshooting efforts must now focus on The Messaging Company's infrastructure and settings. This is a common point of confusion, as many users continue to look for support or solutions related to the old iiNet email systems.
Common iiNet email client configuration issues
Many email issues stem from incorrect client configurations, especially after a service migration. If your iinet.net.au emails are not sending, receiving, or syncing correctly, the first place to check is your email client's IMAP, POP3, and SMTP settings.
For example, users often face problems adding their iiNet email to Outlook 365 or other mail applications. Incorrect server names, port numbers, or authentication methods can lead to connection failures or certificate warnings. The Messaging Company provides specific setup guides for various email clients. You can find their settings for phones and Outlook.
Ensure your incoming and outgoing mail server settings match those provided by The Messaging Company. This typically involves updating the IMAP/POP3 and SMTP server addresses, port numbers, and encryption methods (SSL/TLS). If you encounter certificate errors, it often indicates your client is still trying to connect to old server names. Checking for the latest iiNet IMAP and SMTP settings is a crucial step.
Client-side configuration checks
Server settings: Verify IMAP/POP3 and SMTP addresses, ports, and encryption (SSL/TLS) for The Messaging Company.
Authentication: Ensure your email client is set to use password authentication for both incoming and outgoing servers.
Password: Confirm your email account password is correct. Try logging into TMC's webmail directly.
Blocklists: If you're sending emails and they're not arriving, check if your sending IP or domain is on a public blacklist (blocklist).
Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your sending domain are correctly configured. Poor authentication can lead to emails landing in spam.
For reference, here are typical IMAP/SMTP settings, which you should verify against The Messaging Company's official support documentation:
Typical iiNet/The Messaging Company email settingsplaintext
Incoming (IMAP):
Server: imap.themessagingco.com.au
Port: 993
Security: SSL/TLS
Outgoing (SMTP):
Server: smtp.themessagingco.com.au
Port: 465 or 587
Security: SSL/TLS or STARTTLS
Authentication: Password (same as incoming)
Dealing with blocklists and deliverability challenges
Beyond client-side settings, your email deliverability can be impacted by server-side factors, especially if you're sending a large volume of emails or if your sending reputation is poor. Issues such as emails not reaching the inbox at all, or consistently landing in the spam or junk folder, point to deliverability challenges.
One common cause is being listed on a blacklist (or blocklist). Like many internet service providers (ISPs), The Messaging Company likely uses various internal and external blocklists to filter out unwanted email. Cloudmark, for instance, is a well-known anti-spam provider that many ISPs, including iiNet's underlying email provider, might utilize. If your IP address or domain is flagged by such a service, your emails will face significant delivery hurdles.
Beyond blocklists, ensuring proper email authentication standards, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, is vital. These protocols help destination mail servers verify that your emails are legitimate and not spoofed, significantly improving your chances of reaching the inbox. A poor or missing DMARC record, for example, can flag your emails as suspicious.
Blocklist issues
If your sending IP or domain is listed on a blacklist (or blocklist), it can severely impact your email deliverability to iinet.net.au recipients. Even if your settings are correct, these filters can prevent your messages from reaching the inbox. Regular blocklist monitoring is essential.
Check your sending domain and IP for any listings using a blocklist checker. If you find a listing, you'll need to follow the specific delisting process for that blocklist, which often involves resolving the underlying issue that caused the listing.
Engaging with support and advanced troubleshooting
If you've checked your settings and email authentication, and issues persist, it's time to engage with support. Given the migration, you'll primarily need to contact The Messaging Company for email-specific problems. However, iiNet's general support can still help with account-related queries or direct you to the right place. You can find iiNet's contact options on their website.
When contacting support, always be prepared with detailed information. This includes the exact error messages or bounce-backs you receive, the full email headers (if possible), sending and receiving email addresses, timestamps, and any relevant IP addresses. The more information you provide, the quicker support can diagnose and address the issue.
Finally, if you manage email for a business or send a high volume of emails, you should regularly monitor your email deliverability and domain reputation. Proactive monitoring can help identify potential problems before they escalate into major disruptions, ensuring your messages reliably reach their intended recipients.
Problem
Potential Cause
Action
Emails not sending/receiving
Incorrect IMAP/POP3/SMTP settings or password
Update to The Messaging Company settings and verify credentials.
Emails landing in spam/junk
Poor sender reputation, missing SPF/DKIM/DMARC, or blocklist listing.
Resolving email issues with iinet.net.au primarily involves understanding and adapting to the service migration to The Messaging Company. By ensuring your email client settings are updated and proactively monitoring your sender reputation, you can significantly improve your email experience.
Remember, email deliverability is a dynamic field, and staying informed about changes from your email provider or major mailbox providers is key to maintaining smooth email operations.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Ensure all email client settings are updated to reflect The Messaging Company's server details, not the old iiNet ones.
Proactively check for network outages or service disruptions on iiNet's status page before troubleshooting email issues.
Always provide detailed bounce messages, full email headers, and timestamps when contacting The Messaging Company support for faster resolution.
Common pitfalls
Expecting iiNet's direct support to resolve all email-specific issues, as many have been transitioned to The Messaging Company.
Overlooking the importance of email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for ensuring emails reach the inbox and avoid spam folders.
Not regularly checking your sending IP and domain against public blocklists, which can cause significant deliverability problems.
Expert tips
If encountering conflicting information about blocklist listings, ensure you are contacting the correct entity, such as the specific anti-spam service.
For persistent deliverability issues, consider using an email deliverability testing tool to diagnose hidden problems.
Keep an eye on announcements from iiNet and The Messaging Company regarding email service changes to stay ahead of potential disruptions.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that iiNet and its related brands moved their email infrastructure to The Messaging Company a year or two ago.
2023-09-20 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that obtaining responses from The Messaging Company's support can be slow, sometimes only receiving an automated ticket number.
Outlook 365 or other mail applications. Incorrect server names, port numbers, or authentication methods can lead to connection failures or certificate warnings. The Messaging Company provides specific setup guides for various email clients. You can find their settings for phones and Outlook.
