Can't install Comcast Business email in Thunderbird.

Additionally, this issue occurs with Windows and LInux.. it is independent of the operating system. There is either a Comcast failure to provide the correct IMAP or POP server and SMTP server info or it is a Password issue where Thunderbird is not recognizing the password. The password is recognized in Outlook and the IMAP and POP servers work fine in Outlook. So, I believe there is an incompatibility issue in passing the password between Thunderbird and Comcast - specifically Comcastbiz.net. I hope Thunderbird can cure this quickly as I don't want to have to migrate to Outlook or some other compatible email program such as Opera, or Seamonkey ..it works with Seamonkey according to others with this issue.

Seamonkey is basically Thunderbird with Firefox. It is developed by many of the same people and many of Thundebirds patches go directly into Seamonkey verbatim.. So for that to be the case there are really only a couple of options.

1. An external program such as an antivirus or firewall is blocking Thunderbird. Most probable as Seamonkey has infrequent major releases being at Version 2 still. But this does not solve it for Linux. Linux is not usually plagued with Anti virus programs to slow it down, but probably accounts for those that think Seamonkey works and Thunderbird does not.

2. Do Comcast actually offer IMAP and SMTP or POP with their business accounts? I just looked at their web site.http://businesshelp.comcast.com/help-and-support/email/

They connect Outlook direct to their exchange sever using outlooks native communications. This is not available in Thunderbird. Thunderbird does not offer Microsoft proprietary interfaces. So there is no value in comparing Outlook and Thunderbird.

They connect an iPhone using exchange active sync. Again a proprietary Microsoft protocol.

I see no support at all for anything but Microsoft proprietary communications protocols. Perhaps as a customer you could check on that.

So lets move back a little an see what this means.

I looked at their support forum and it would appear that the Comcast biz servers do not support secure connections, at least for sending mail.

I found this http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r28252501-Business-Comcast-Business-Email-Settings-For-Thunderbird-Email

Can you please log into your business portal and extract the IMAP POP and SMTP server names. With those you can manually update the setup wizard information. Without them Thunderbird is looking for something that does not exist anywhere but in comcasts walled garden. That thread actually contains some really good advice.

The setup recognizes both pop3 and imap setups for comcast.net not comcastbiz.net. However, in neither case when it validates the password, it fails in both comcast.net and comcasbiz.net

in the email account website email setup info - Comcast has DNS settings for mail servers as either pop.w14d.comcastbiz.net, imap.w14d.comcastbiz.net and smtp.w14d.comcastbiz.net. In these settings it doesn't even find pop or imap configurations.

If you are using your comcast provided website it is then pop, imap, smtp dot websitename.___ in this case it is websitename.us

Seamonkey was stated to work in the same blog you sent the link to me on.. I have been there already... If she has to port all her client emails, she might as well do so to Outlook since it is working.

I am working on the setup on Linux... Her system is on windows and the same errors occur. It has to be in the software as I am using ClamTK /ClamAv and she has Norton.. so I don't think it is a blocked password and the password works in logging into the comcast account on both the LInux and Windows comcast logins.

I would prefer keeping her on Thunderbird rather than having to retrain her on Outlook as well as moving all her client and business prospect lists from TB to Outlook.

Any help you can provide would be appreciated. I will continue to contact Comcast for their solution as well.

Spoke with Comcast tech again...after about 10 mins, they responded they only support Outlook. Told me to Contact Mozilla for support. So Here I am again..still attempting to use Thunderbird instead of Outlook. I need Mozilla to respond with emailusername (i.e. John, Terry) @companyname (i.e. brickworks) .comcastbiz.net (no spaces) email setup [example: emailname@companyname.comcastbiz.net] or I will have to switch the client to Outlook which I have already tested and it automatically sets up.. Bob

The configurations that thunderbird recognizes are for comcast home not comcast business emails... just to clarify...

The settings Thunderbird gets come from here. https://autoconfig.thunderbird.net/v1.1/comcast.net

Otherwise Thunderbird tries using the email domain part to probe for a mail server. This fails dismally with comcast with their specialized server names and other rot that no one in their right mind would have. But I digress.

Assuming you want to use IMAP.

Start the new account wizard and give it your email address. Let it go and fail.

Then manually enter the server name

imap.w14d.comcastbiz.net   Port will be (I am guessing)  993 with SSL.

SMTP will be

smtp.w14d.comcastbiz.net.  Port 465 and with SSL or STARTTLS

I am guessing because Comcast in the wisdom simply don't publish the information. It is not Thunderbird that creates the settings. It is comcast. IF they have the hide to again tell you they only support Outlook, ask them if they support email and what the email connection settings are for email. They are universal settings used by all email clients. Other than those that use the Outlook native exchange protocols.

The next issue is is the Comcast modem you use and old one? If so what model? They actually have in use modems that they have previously programmed to block their current email ports. Somehow they can only fix such when someone taps them on the shoulder and says hey fix it.