Validating if an email address exists?

[NoCoolHandle]

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone would know how to go about writing code to validate if an email address exists - without necessarily sending a message (which doesn't always work anyway).

There seem to be some php scripts out there, but the only one I have seen for dotnet failed to resolve the domain on the first attempt. (it was on code project)

This is not an attempt at spamming. The goal of the app I am building is to resolve which cell provider a specific cell phone number is associated with so that reminders of appointments and alerts of backups can be sent directly to a Dr's patients cell number via a text message.

Thanks in advance..


Rob

 

[jmeckley]

the only sure way to know a message exists is to get a response from the email, or have them send the email to you to begin with.

it's a one time cost, that once configured you don't need to repeat. I would also think you would need a formal/explicit response from the patient with HIPA.

Jason Meckley
Programmer
Specialty Bakers, Inc.

faq855-7190
faq732-7259

 

[NoCoolHandle]

Jason,

what i am looking at is reproducing the functionality that you can get from

http://www.webservicex.net/validateemail.asmx

Bizzarly enough it isn't consistant when you call it from a webpage, but when you test the wsdl it runs fine..

http://www.webservicex.net/ws/wsdetails.aspx?wsid=51

There is also a product by hexillion that would be suitable. (both tend to give false positives - but after digging into this, that is probably to be expected as some smtp servers have a "wildcard" that returns everything as good.) e.g. sms.wcc.net returns a positive for EVERYTHING..

I guess part of what I am looking for is what objects I would need to emulate this functionality - I suspect that dotnet wont do it - code from

http://codeproject.com/kb/validation/valid_email_addresses.aspx

fails to connect to most servers that hexillion will.

I have also found stuff that would use telnet, but again not consistant and often will reject making the telnet connection.

For some reason, i think that the blackbox of hexillion will be the best option.

Rob