Gmail
Gmail (or GoogleMail as it’s known in the UK and Germany) is a very popular online email service, created by the well known internet company Google.
What is it?
Gmail is Google’s free internet-based email service. That’s it really.
Why should you use it?
The search facility alone makes Gmail one of the best email services around. Instead of deleting your email, it can be archived so it is stored and no longer shown in the inbox, and at a later date the email title, content or sender can be searched for and easily found. There is a huge amount of storage available (currently 6.5GB – but it’s always increasing – with the option to buy more storage space at low cost) so you won’t have to worry about using up your allotment of space any time soon. Google make their profit on this service from showing users simple, unobtrusive ads, unlike other email providers who clutter the page with distracting flashing and sometimes noisy adverts. Google make sure that their main priority remains providing simple, easy-to-use email facilities.
What can you do with it?
There are numerous features which make Gmail so handy. As stated above, the archiving facility keeps your inbox clutter free so that you can easily stay on top of your incoming mail. The search feature compliments this, allowing you to use Gmail as a mini storage device, meaning you can send notes and documents to yourself so that they can be easily found later. There is a good contact management system, keeping track of everyone you email and allowing you to add further details such as phone numbers, address, photos etc. to each contact and then to group these contacts for easy reference if you wish. When you start to type into the “To:” box whilst composing an email, your contacts will come up automatically so that they can be easily selected.
You can also create labels for your emails, which allows you to sort everything for quick reference. Gmail provides the ability to filter your emails as they come into your account, sorting them according to rules which you set (for example, emails from your family’s email addresses can be labelled “Family” and archived, so that you can read them later).
There are many other features, such as keyboard shortcuts, which you may like to investigate after you have been using Gmail for a while.
How do you use it?
Gmail can be used through the online browser-based website. You can access it through your mobile phone by installing an application, making checking and sending email on the move simple. You can find more information on Gmail mobile here.
Gmail also provides the ability to download your email to a desktop client, such as Outlook, if you prefer to stay in touch this way. You can even forward your emails to another email address if you only want to access one account.
How can I get started?
You can sign up for a Gmail account here.
This will provide you with a Google account which you can use to sign up for other Google services, such as Google Calendar and Google Docs and Spreadsheets (which will be covered at a later date in this blog).
Then all you’ll need to do is start sending emails and you’re off!
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