K-9 Mail

K-9 Mail
Original author(s)	Jesse Vincent
Developer(s)	MZLA Technologies Corporation, Christian Ketterer
Initial release	27 October 2008; 16 years ago
Stable release	6.804 / 7 June 2024; 5 months ago
Repository	github.com/thundernest/k-9 ;
Written in	Java, Kotlin
Operating system	Android
Type	Email application
License	Apache License 2.0
Website	k9mail.app

K-9 Mail is a free and open source email client for Android. It is designed as an alternative to the stock email clients included with the platform; it supports both POP3 and IMAP protocols and supports IMAP IDLE for real-time notifications. The project is named after the Doctor Who character K9.^[1]

History

The source code was first published to its git repository on October 27, 2008^[2] by Jesse Vincent and the first binaries were released to the public on the Google Code site the same month.^[3]

In 2015 the project received $86,000 of funding from the Open Technology Fund.^[4]

On 13 June 2022, it was announced that K-9 Mail had been taken over by MZLA Technologies Corporation, a subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation with current maintainer Christian Ketterer joining the team, and plans for K-9 Mail to be rebranded as Thunderbird for Android following the completion of a feature roadmap, including sync with Thunderbird on PC, integrating Thunderbird's automated account setup system, message filtering, and improvements to folders.^[5]

Reception

In the early 2010s it was widely reviewed, and was particularly praised in the media between 2011 and 2013 as a replacement for the default mail application.^[6]^[7] At the time, it was a leading alternative Android app, often recommended^[8] when a user did not want to use the default app. It was awarded the "Best App for Sending Email" in the 2010 "Best Android Apps" book.^[9]

Features

Works with IMAP, POP3
Folder Sync
Encryption with OpenKeychain support
Signatures
SD Card Storage

References

^ "About". Retrieved 1 February 2024.
^ "k9mail/k-9". Github. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
^ "Downloads - k9mail - K-9 Mail is an advanced email client for Android - Google Project Hosting". Retrieved 2013-08-15.
^ Open Technology Fund. "Projects we support - K-9 Mail". Open Technology Fund Website. U.S. Agency for Global Media. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^ Axon, Samuel (2022-06-13). "Email client K-9 Mail will become Thunderbird for Android". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
^ Paul, Ryan (2011-01-24). "Excellent K-9 mail app for Android keeps your messages on a leash". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
^ "K-9 Mail Receives First Significant Update In 9 Months - Improved Interface, Altered Widget, Bug Fixes, And More". Androidpolice.com. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
^ Begun, Daniel (2011). Amazing Android Apps for Dummies. Wiley. ISBN 9781118061428.
^ Hendrickson, Mike (2010). Best Android Apps. O'Reilly Media. p. 80. ISBN 9781449382551.

External links

Official Website
Github Development
Wiki Page
K-9 Mail on Google Play
K-9 Mail Android package at the F-Droid repository

[1] "About". Retrieved 1 February 2024.

[OriginalCommitt-2] "k9mail/k-9". Github. Retrieved 1 September 2013.

[3] "Downloads - k9mail - K-9 Mail is an advanced email client for Android - Google Project Hosting". Retrieved 2013-08-15.

[4] Open Technology Fund. "Projects we support - K-9 Mail". Open Technology Fund Website. U.S. Agency for Global Media. Retrieved 2022-03-13.

[5] Axon, Samuel (2022-06-13). "Email client K-9 Mail will become Thunderbird for Android". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2022-06-14.

[6] Paul, Ryan (2011-01-24). "Excellent K-9 mail app for Android keeps your messages on a leash". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2013-08-15.

[7] "K-9 Mail Receives First Significant Update In 9 Months - Improved Interface, Altered Widget, Bug Fixes, And More". Androidpolice.com. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2013-08-15.

[8] Begun, Daniel (2011). Amazing Android Apps for Dummies. Wiley. ISBN 9781118061428.

[9] Hendrickson, Mike (2010). Best Android Apps. O'Reilly Media. p. 80. ISBN 9781449382551.

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