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N900 Email Options
With the N900 there appears to be confusion given the multiple options.
N900 Email Client
The default Email Client on the N900 is Modest
Modest was presented at the 2009 Maemo Summit. The slides are here
Push Email
The N900 comes with two options for people looking for a push type e-mail service like Blackberry or Microsoft over the air ActiveSync.
Mail for Exchange (MfE)
This is an implementation of the Microsoft ActiveSync protocol that connects an over the air Exchange server to the N900 e-mail client and calendar. It is a very good implementation and includes support for device wipe and device lock which are typically mandated by corporate mail servers. Google mail also supports ActiveSync these days, so MfE can be used to sync with Gmail as well. MfE will also sync up Outlook Calendar, Contacts, Tasks.
Limitations
There is no category support
Messages can not be marked for follow up
Mail for Exchange http://www.businesssoftware.nokia.co..._downloads.php
Nokia Messaging
If you already have a favorite webmail service, but would like your email "pushed" to you then this is what this option was designed for. Nokia messaging can connect upto 10 email accounts at one time, and you can choose which account you send from. Nokia also provide their own webmail service (Ovi Mail) that can be linked to this. Nokia messaging provides for easy setup as it already knows the server settings for a large number of the email services out there. Nokia Messaging only handles email and not Contacts and Calendar or Tasks.
Nokia Messaging http://email.nokia.com/account/home.action
IMAP Idle for Push Email
Many modern mail servers support the IMAP Idle feature, which allows your email client to monitor an inbox. Sadly Modest on the N900 has this feature disabled for power reasons.
Desktop style e-mail using the Modest e-mail client
Some people want to be able to have a copy of all their e-mails local to their device, just like Outlook or Lotus notes. If your e-mail service provider provides POP or IMAP support (which they all should) then the N900 has a very good email client called Modest. Modest currently seems to have problems dealing with very large inboxes such is typical with Gmail accounts, as it will try and copy all of your mails to the device.
Modest e-mail http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modest_(e-mail_client)
Webmail
The Browser in the N900 is very powerful and supports most webmail services including GMail and Hotmail. Google wave has also been tried, and appears to work to some degree. You may need to use the Onscreen Cursor to get to some of the UI elements.
Please add services that you have tried
Third Party Email options
Please add your experience with other email options here
Lotus Domino (Notes)
The backend for Notes is called Domino Server. Domino 8.5.1 was released in October 2009 and added an optional software module called Lotus Notes Traveler. This module is required for push email.
If you have Lotus Notes Traveller then all you need on your phone is ActiveSync support which the N900 has in its Mail for Exchange (MfE)application.
many Domino sites have integrated Blackberry Connect as thier Push EMail option. As of November 2009 there is not support for this on the N900
Additional Resources
Nokia Messaging options website http://messaging.nokia.com/site/main.do