How to Set Up BosonMail

Start with BosonWare Identity

BosonMail is managed through the BosonWare Identity Platform. Your Identity account is where you manage your domain, purchase inboxes, and access your BosonMail service.

Visit identity.bosonware.com to get started.

After signing in, open your Identity dashboard. You'll use it for the remaining setup steps.

Connect a domain you control

To create an address such as hello@example.co.ke, you need a domain you control. You can use an existing domain; you don't need to buy a new one if you already have one.

1. Open the Domains tab in the left-hand sidebar.
2. Choose the option to add a domain and enter your domain name.
3. Copy the TXT verification record displayed by the dashboard.
4. Sign in to the service managing your domain's DNS and add the record.
5. Return to BosonWare Identity and complete the verification process.

The TXT name above is an example of the expected hostname. Your DNS provider may automatically append your domain name. Always follow the format required by your DNS provider and use the exact token from your dashboard.

DNS updates may not be visible immediately. If verification doesn't succeed, double-check the hostname and token, then allow time for DNS propagation before trying again.

Choose your business email address

Once your domain is verified, open the BosonMail tab in the dashboard.

1. Click Buy Inbox.
2. Choose the verified domain and the email address you want.
3. Select a monthly or yearly billing frequency.
4. Review your selection.
5. Click Purchase to generate your invoice.

Each inbox has its own billing period. For example, you can purchase hello@example.co.ke annually and later purchase sales@example.co.ke on a monthly plan.

After you click Purchase, the dashboard generates an invoice containing the payment instructions for that inbox.

Complete your payment through M-PESA

Open the generated invoice and follow the payment instructions displayed there. Make sure you use the correct payment details and amount shown on your invoice.

After making the payment, return to the invoice or payment screen and follow these steps:

1. Click I've paid.
2. Enter the phone number you used to make the M-PESA payment.
3. Click Submit to send your payment confirmation.

Submitting the payment confirmation tells BosonWare that you have paid; it is not itself proof that the payment has cleared. Please submit accurate details and contact support if your inbox is not activated within the stated timeframe.

Your inbox is being prepared 🎉

Once your payment has been verified and your inbox enabled, your BosonMail login details will be sent to the email address linked to your BosonWare Identity account.

Check that email account for the login instructions. If you don't see the message, check your spam or junk folder as well.

Set up receiving and sending

Domain ownership verification and email configuration are separate steps. After your inbox is activated, the BosonWare dashboard will display the DNS records required for your domain.

MX: Receive email

To route incoming messages to BosonMail, add the MX record specified for your domain. BosonMail uses the following mail exchange hostname:

Use the priority and other record settings specified in your dashboard. If you already receive email through another provider, check the consequences before changing existing MX records.

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC: Authenticate outgoing email

The dashboard will also provide the records required to configure email authentication:

Copy the exact records from the dashboard into your domain's DNS settings. Do not guess the SPF, DKIM, or DMARC values.

If your domain already has an SPF record, do not create a second SPF record blindly. Multiple SPF records for the same hostname can cause authentication problems. Follow the provider's instructions for updating an existing record.

Send your first message 🥳

Once the inbox is activated and your DNS records have been configured, test your setup:

1. Sign in using the BosonMail login instructions you received.
2. Send a test email to an address outside your domain.
3. Reply to that email and confirm that the reply arrives in BosonMail.
4. Check the receiving inbox's spam folder if a message is missing.
5. Confirm that your dashboard shows the required DNS records as configured or verified, where status indicators are available.

DNS changes can take time to propagate. If email doesn't work immediately, review the records and status shown in your dashboard before making additional changes.