MobileTCP is one of those really simple fire and forget freeware utilities that could easily turn out to be indispensable. What does it do? Well if you’re a Windows laptop user who moves around with your machine a lot (e.g. from home to work to client etc), then you’ll know what a hassle it is to keep changing SMTP server settings to send email from your new network location. The Thunderbird email client makes it easier, but it’s still a drag to reset the default so your messages can get through.
This little utility, however, sits in your Windows tray and automatically tweaks your settings when you change networks so you can send email immediately without hassling around with server settings. You can also use it to identify your IP address too. You just need to set it up once and thereafter it does everything automatically for you. All in all, this is a Pretty Darn Cool Tool©.
Why do I need to change the SMTP server setting? To prevent viruses and SPAM from spreading, many ISP’s (Internet Service Providers) are limiting their SMTP servers to only accept connections from the ISP’s network, this means that if you move your computer to your parents, or if you take your laptop to a customer you will not be able to send any e-mails without changing the e-mail program settings. Another advantage if changing the SMTP server is that you’ll then connect to a SMTP server closer to you, and then probably get an higher transfer speed when sending all your large warez e-mails…There is some steps that you need to do after installing Mobile TCP: You have to configure Mobile TCP from the settings dialog, set up which networks has what server. And you have to configure your e-mail program to use localhost as SMTP server. If you come to a new network that is not recognized by the rules you have setup then you have to go into the settings dialog and add this new network as well, or change an available network to match this new network.
