Patent ID: 8539093

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a portable electronic device configured with an email client: (1) when creating an email account on the portable electronic device: (a) attempting to connect to an outbound email server using a first port/security combination according to a first preferred sequence of port/security combinations; (b) if connection is made using the first port/security combination, storing the first port/security combination as a stored configuration for the email account; (c) if connection is not made using the first port/security combination, repeatedly attempting to connect to the outbound email server using second port/security combinations distinct from the first port/security combination according to the first preferred sequence until connection is made with a particular second port/security combination; and (d) storing the particular second port/security combination as the stored configuration; and (2) subsequently employing the stored configuration to connect to and send email via the outbound email server.