How to auto process emails when they arrive?

Question

i have the current scenario:

1. my app generates for each user an valid system email address of form lets say: [email protected]
2. when an user has a problem/question he can send an email from any address to that predefined system email address
3. the app should receive the emails sent by the user and process them(check for spam, insert in db)

in this scenario a possible first solution that i had in mind was to pool the emails addresses on a 15 minutes period, process them(spam or not spam) in an external desktop app(or similar) and insert them in a database.

because i want to do this in .net, C#, SQL server 2008, and it should run on a webserver is the below solution possible using WCF?

• i create a WCF webservice that when an email is received by an email address it captures it and starts the processing procedure.

One problem i see with WCF from the start is that i don't think that it can auto react, the only way i used wcf until now was only for calling it directly and receiving a result. So i think another layer should be put between the email server and the wcf service and that layer should "react" when something is received.

the main idea is to process the emails as they arrive not to be pulled out of the inbox periodically.

any pointers? thank you

Answer 1

You are right. A web service cannot capture anything for you. You will have to call(using an .ashx/or etc) the web service. That is what the web services are for, to be called.

the app should receive the emails sent by the user and process them

It sounds like you are looking to develop an email client; if so, then how about:

• Create an email client app (for instance here)
• Create a windows service, to help process the mails.

Assuming that you've tailored the client program, the windows service would work-with the client, look for new messages, and processes them accordingly.

For email client examples, checkout:

• This answer
• And this article