ATT did a stupid partnership deal with Yahoo a couple of years ago to provide email services through Yahoo, and they have done it without proper warning to customers. That means that some of you using services such as Gmail to pop3 your Bellsouth email in - suddenly find it not working. I've also had customers who try to login to webmail.bellsouth.net and get redirected to the Yahoo portal - and then can't login.

First, QUIT using your Bellsouth / ATT email. Second, sign up for Gmail. Pretty simple - and you won't lose any email.

If you are already "popping in" your Bellsouth to Gmail (or another email service), you will probably need to modify the settings for gmail to pull in your Bellsouth email. Here are the steps:

1. In Gmail - click "Settings"
2. Click "Accounts" tab
3. Find the Bellsouth account in "Get Mail from Other Accounts" - click "Edit Info"
4. Change the POP3 server to pop.att.yahoo.com
5. Change the port to 995
6. You may need to check "Always Use a Secure Connection (SSL) when retrieving mail".
   

An alternate method is to login to your Bellsouth email and have it forward to your Gmail. Yahoo only allows forwarding and POP3 with premium accounts, so I'm guessing the partnership allows both.

Labels: bellsouth, gmail, yahoo

Labels: gmail, google, google apps, iphone

Labels: email, gmail, google, google apps

As many of you know, I made the decision several months ago to switch to a totally web-based email system. Of course my preference was Google's Gmail so naturally I went with Google Apps for my domain.

6 months later - I don't regret it at all.

There are just too many advantages to name them all, but let me list a few:

• All my email - everywhere. I have migrated email dating back to 2004 up to Google's servers. This means I can search my archives anywhere I have a connection.
• Searching using the power of Google - Lets just say that searching with other email systems is silly compared to Google's. I can find anything I need quickly and efficiently.
• Labels - only when needed. Rather than put 1 email in 1 folder (traditional way), you can put multiple labels on the same email. Efficient and just works.
• Unbelievably powerful filtering for dealing with email.
• SPAM filtering that is top-notch.
  
• Integrated calendar, RTM Tasks, Chat w/ SMS, Google Docs - shall I go on?
• Ability to easily backup my email using a local client (Thunderbird) or one of several apps such as Gmail Backup.
• Easily export or import contacts.
• IMAP and POP support if needed (for backup, etc).
• Persistent SSL connections now.
  

So far these are the only disadvantages I've found.

• No offline email unless I have a current backup in Thunderbird. Not really a big deal though.
• Attachments are 1 at a time. That can be a pain - but I can always use Thunderbird with IMAP for multiple attachments if needed.

Once you start using Google (Gmail or Google Apps), there is really no turning back. Yes, the interface is simple looking - but that is part of its beauty.

What if Google fails or has an issue?
I periodically backup my email locally and those are backed up online. There have only been a few times that Google has had problems. Compared to previous issues with ISP's, etc, Google comes out a winner again.

Labels: email, gmail, google apps

When Gmail first came out I started using it as an address for message board registrations and things like that. Since I've owned my own domains since about 1999, I've always used them for my primary email. My old method of backup was to use Outlook or Outlook Express and finally Thunderbird for POP3. Periodically, I would backup the appropriate files for those applications.

The problems with that were several. First, I have a LOT of email. As the Outlook .pst file or the Thunderbird files began to grow in size, performance suffered. If I "archived" email to a CD/DVD and then removed old ones from Outlook or Thunderbird, searching archives meant restoring them, searching, then cleaning up again.

A couple of years ago, Google released a service called Google Apps for your Domain. Among other things, it allows you to use Google's GMail "engine" to handle the email for your domains. You have the advantage of basically unlimited storage, alternate port usage (SSL and TLS) which comes in handy for ISP port 25 filtering, web access, POP3 access, and more recently IMAP support. One of the cool things is that even if you use POP3 access, Google Apps archives a copy of your received and sent email. This means you can access all of your email from your browser, its very searchable through your browser, and it provides a great backup solution!

The Trust Issue

Several people have commented about "trusting Google" with your email. Well, here is the reality check. Trust is a relative thing. We trust that MS's software (Windows, Outlook, OE, etc) is not doing anything behind our back. We trust that our ISP handles our information correctly, but that has proven to be a shaky deal lately.

Most of those same people "trust their ISP" with their email or another 3rd party email service. In my opinion, I trust Gooogle far more than anyone else.

ATT/Bellsouth, Verizon, and a host of other service providers have given me far more reasons to distrust them than Google.

One other thing to mention about "trust" is that at least Google gives you all the mechanisms to move your email away from Google should you choose. By providing contact import/export, POP3 access, and IMAP support, you have full control of your mail. In contrast, Yahoo requires a premium subscription for export and POP3 access, most of the major ISP's such as ATT/Bellsouth don't provide any contact export, and POP3 access only helps retrives your received email - not your sent email.

I migrated my email service over a year ago and have been very pleased with it. I have email dating back to 2004 stored online and have plans to push email archives dating back to 2002. Many of my clients are now migrated to the service and love it.

Web Access or Local Application

As the line continues to blur between web-based applications and local applications (software on your computer), it gets more difficult to recommend which is best. About 2 months ago, I made the decision to go 99% web-based email. This means I use my browser (Firefox) for my email. The advantages are many, but mainly it gives me access to my email anywhere I have a connection. Plus I don't have to worry about contact synchronization.

There are a few disadvantages though:

• Must have a connection to read any of your email.
• Adding attachments is not as easy as drag/drop for multiple attachments.

This is one of those things that you just have to try both and see which works best for your situation and tastes. Now I said "99%" of my email. If I have an email that I need to attach several files, then I will use Thunderbird with IMAP. This gives me an easy way to attach multiple files quickly and easily.

Following Rule #1

Rule #1: You are only as good as the last successful backup from which you can recover.

As much as I trust Google, ultimately I trust myself more than anyone. Periodically (about once every 2 months), I POP3 down all of my received email and IMAP a copy of all of my sent email to local Thunderbird files. Then I export a copy of my contacts to CSV. Then I backup email adn contacts to DVD.

If something does happen to Google's service, at least I have a local copy.

References:

What is EFF's Lawsuit Against AT&T About?
http://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/att/faq.php#1

Google Apps for your Domain
http://www.google.com/a

Backing up your System
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/06/backing-up-your-system.asp

You like Yellow Dots from your Printer?
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/02/you-like-yellow-dots-from-your-printer.asp

AT&T and Other ISPs May Be Getting Ready to Filter - Bits - Technology - New York Times Blog
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/01/at-and-other-isps-may-be-getting-ready.asp

Labels: backup, gmail, google apps