public function open()
    {

        //check for mail
        $host = "{" . $this->host . ":" . $this->port . "/" . $this->protocol . "/notls}INBOX";

        //open the mail box for reading
        $this->inbox = \imap_open($host, $this->address, $this->pass);

        if (!$this->inbox) {

            $this->connected = 0;
        } else {

            $this->connected = 1;
        }

        return $this->connected;
    }