implementing free pop access

POP3 is a distinct protocol; if the mail provider does not provide a web access page allowing you to log in to your account and read your email in a normal browser (most, not all, but most, do), you're gonna hafta use a POP3 email client (such as Outlook, Outlooik Express, Netscape Communicator, or Thunderbird) to log into your account and retrieve your email into the email client, from where it can be read. Since you hafta log on to your account to access your emails, there isn't a legal way to gain free access to emails hosted by a for-fee service.

However, all sortsa free, web-accessible email providers are out there. You still hafta log in and access a specific user account, but no money need be involved, at least if you don't want any premium features.