22 replies to this topic

[omarf]

Will IPB ever have the capability to integrate email like phpBB2 has with mail2forum or vBulletin has with its Email integration add-on?

It works like this: when a post is made in the forum, each subscribed member gets it by email. Members can also reply to these emailed posts and they are then threaded into the discussion just as if they were made through the web interface.

This feature combines the best of both worlds allowing members who prefer email communication to stay active and contribute, while those who prefer the web interface can participate online only.

Some time last year there was a thread here where a poster from IPS said that it was possible because of the recent technical developments with IPS, but somehow that thread is now gone from the IPS community pages.

[bfarber]

"Ever" is a long time.  I suspect at some point in time, IP.Board will support this natively (though when, I couldn't say).

The libraries necessary to accomplish this are bundled with IP.Board, however this is a feature that is not available out of the box at this time I'm afraid.

[omarf]

bfarber, on 23 January 2012 - 05:50 PM, said:

"Ever" is a long time.

Okay, let me qualify that a little more precisely: In the near future, perhaps 6-12 months?

[omarf]

To follow up, is there an extension that can add this functionality to IPB now?

[Noni]

Great suggestion omarf!
it would indeed be a great functionality

[teraßyte]

omarf, on 23 January 2012 - 06:20 PM, said:

To follow up, is there an extension that can add this functionality to IPB now?

I'm not aware of any extension that adds this functionality right now.

[Jinkler]

This would be a great addition as well. quicker and easier for people on the move to participate

[bfarber]

omarf, on 23 January 2012 - 06:19 PM, said:

Okay, let me qualify that a little more precisely: In the near future, perhaps 6-12 months?

I couldn't really answer that I'm afraid.  We have not announced any plans to include this in 3.3.0, which is our next release.  We have not announced any plans beyond 3.3.0 yet.

[omarf]

Thanks, Brandon. Can we add this to the official wish list, if such a thing exists?

[omarf]

It seems that creating this functionality wouldn't be a huge undertaking, since as you point out, Brandon, the "libraries necessary to accomplish this are bundled with IP.Board." What's missing is the mechanism to pipe incoming emails into appropriate forums and threads.

Even now, one can easily follow a thread and receive notifications by email, so the outbound procedures are available out of the box.

What would it take for IPS to start working on this feature?

[bfarber]

It's on one of our priority lists, but it is not a *huge* priority.

Note that this functionality is already included and working with Nexus, so realistically to copy the same functionality to IPB (posts instead of ticket replies) would not likely be a huge undertaking.

[omarf]

bfarber, on 26 January 2012 - 09:54 AM, said:

It's on one of our priority lists, but it is not a *huge* priority.

Can I send a case of beer to someone and nudge it up on the priority list?

[CheersnGears]

omarf, on 26 January 2012 - 10:10 AM, said:

Can I send a case of beer to someone and nudge it up on the priority list?

I'll throw in a few pizzas.

[Jinkler]

I've got some beer lids? (already drunk the beer   )

[Alfa1]

Email integration would be very nice to have. Its one of the top voted functionality requests @vbulletin and Xenforo.

[Misi]

bfarber, on 26 January 2012 - 09:54 AM, said:

so realistically to copy the same functionality to IPB (posts instead of ticket replies) would not likely be a huge undertaking.

Then please go for it and and we include  your name when praying!

[ForestForTrees]

bfarber, on 23 January 2012 - 05:50 PM, said:

The libraries necessary to accomplish this are bundled with IP.Board ...

Could you expand on this?

[Mark]

ForestForTrees, on 30 January 2012 - 03:11 AM, said:

Could you expand on this?

http://community.inv...gemailsphp-r371

[omarf]

Is there an official feature request list where we could submit this functionality, or are the IPS developers gauging what users want from forums like this?

[bfarber]

You can submit feature requests in these forums: http://community.inv...m/297-feedback/