Gmail's "use own domain" service

[Gerrit]

Can anyone explain me in easy words (I am not a very technical person, although I'm learning!) how I can set up a Gmail account using my own domain (Gmail Hosted)?

Is it needed to buy a domain (for example Moniker, Namecheap, etc) and move it away from their servers, putting the domain on Gmail's server? Or does the domain remain at the registrar's DNS while I have to change the settings there to link it to Gmail?

Also, where exactly have I got to request the mailbox? I'd like two of them for my own domain, I know I have to write Gmail to make a request (and apparently they rarely refuse) but does anyone know the exact address?

PS: I am talking about Gmail's service where you actually have a mailbox using @your-domain.com , I am NOT refering to a regular @gmail.com mailbox with changing the 'from address' for every outgoing mail.

 

[owntype]

You should have your own domain, e.g. reg with Moniker

Then login your moniker account, choose domain name and IPs option. Set record type as MX, host name as @, address as aspmx.l.google.com.

After the setup in your moniker account, you could then signup and login your google account at http://www.google.com/a/

Now you could active your email account and google will check if you have set the MX record to aspmx.l.google.com, if yes, then your account will be actived.

Finally, just set the prefix username for your own domain email e.g. [email protected], and the email function is exactly the same as GMAIL. There is a benefit of Google's service that Google support 1 character prefix for your email (while Microsoft live domain doesn't support). This is especially very useful to me, because I am using the email: [email protected] :yell:

Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[greggish]

I just use the "Send mail as:" feature in Gmail that you find in Settings/Accounts. I just add my domains that I want to send and receive from in gmail and then set the the email forwarding for those domains to my gmail address. You can choose from a dropdown menu in gmail from all your domains you can send from and gmail automatically replies to mail sent to those domains with that domain email as the "reply to:". Very simple, and mostly hides the fact that the mail is going through gmail unless the other party takes a close look at the headers.

 

[cdboard]

the website for your domain can be anywhere you have webspace. it's just the email functions that have to be set for google.

Also, where exactly have I got to request the mailbox? I'd like two of them for my own domain, I know I have to write Gmail to make a request (and apparently they rarely refuse) but does anyone know the exact address?

signup link is on this page >> http://www.google.com/a/


if you need two email addresses, ask for 25, so you don't have to go back later and ask for more.

 

[faisj]

Can users sign up themself for there own new @domain.com (gmail) account?

 

[DJ]

Can users sign up themself for there own new @domain.com (gmail) account?

yep, but you need a google account before you can apply and control over the domain.com of course. Been using it for some time now (love the gmail spam filter) and have no complaints yet

 

[cdboard]

the last time I checked, the user accounts had to be set up manually by the person controlling the domain.

 

[WizKid101]

Yes, you must own the domain to use it as your email address.

If you want to use the domain with Google Apps, you need to change the name servers on your domain.

If you just want to be able to send and receive email from the domain, just set up email forwarding on the domain (don't pay for it if your registrar doesn't offer it for free, use the free DNS tools at MyDomain.com or ZoneEdit.com), and add the address you set up to you Gmail account by clicking: Settings --> Accounts --> Add email address.

Here's what Google says:
Google apps: http://www.google.com/a/
Forwarding: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?ctx=gmail&hl=en&answer=20616

I personally just use the forwarding and it works great. I <3 Gmail. :yell:

 

[floatingworld]

Yes, you must own the domain to use it as your email address.

If you want to use the domain with Google Apps, you need to change the name servers on your domain.

If you just want to be able to send and receive email from the domain, just set up email forwarding on the domain (don't pay for it if your registrar doesn't offer it for free, use the free DNS tools at MyDomain.com or ZoneEdit.com), and add the address you set up to you Gmail account by clicking: Settings --> Accounts --> Add email address.

Here's what Google says:
Google apps: http://www.google.com/a/
Forwarding: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?ctx=gmail&hl=en&answer=20616

I personally just use the forwarding and it works great. I <3 Gmail. :yell:

just had a quick browse through zoneedit.com ... looks very interesting!

 

[WizKid101]

IMO, ZoneEdit ROCKS.

 

[faisj]

Does anyone have screenshots of how showedit looks like?

 

[AzN]

I use the google domain application for my domain jfiz.com

You can see the login at http://mail.jfiz.com

It's really good now... I used to try before and sometimes it wouldn't receive most emails from php sendmail fuction but now it does and the spam/bulk folder is much better than yahoo. With yahoo my inbox would have ~100 spam messages and now with Google, I get none!!!!

 

[shockie]

interesting... i shall try this some time... gmail's my fav

 

[rokoroko]

settings - accounts -- downline :

Have your own domain? Use Gmail with your domain for free. Learn more

clïck learn more

new window will open with Google Apps for Your Domain

down the site is a botton Sign up

and it is



howk

 

[Gerrit]

So the domain physically remains on the server of your registrar?

Also, does Gmail have to verify and approve every request or does the signing-up go as quickly as with Gmail.com's regular mail service? I did hear they never refuse to offer the mailbox so hopefully it is a smooth process?

 

[Coopey]

So the domain physically remains on the server of your registrar?

Also, does Gmail have to verify and approve every request or does the signing-up go as quickly as with Gmail.com's regular mail service? I did hear they never refuse to offer the mailbox so hopefully it is a smooth process?

Unless you register a new domain direct with Google then the domain remains with your registrar. (You just change the MX record, I believe).

I think it's a case of almost every one gets accepted pretty quick, (maybe they're not accepting porndomain.com or ihatesomeethnicity.com type domains, so the 'approval' thing is an excuse to filter these sorts out?)

I tested Microsoft's offering, Windows Live Custom Domains (domain.live.com), and it was easy to set up, took less than five minutes to set up and I was sending and receiving email not long after that.

 

[Gerrit]

Being relatively new in the domain business, is Google itself a reliable registrar? Secure and stable?
I think I will go for an external registrar and just link the domain to Gmail.

In your experience, how many days/hours does it take to have the mailbox set up and working?

 

[floatingworld]

Being relatively new in the domain business, is Google itself a reliable registrar? Secure and stable?
I think I will go for an external registrar and just link the domain to Gmail.

In your experience, how many days/hours does it take to have the mailbox set up and working?

Nobody has yet reported on google as a registrar in the registrar feedback thread, so maybe you? can be the first!....in the meantime good luck with the link-up...............

 

[muchacho]

Unless you register a new domain direct with Google then the domain remains with your registrar. (You just change the MX record, I believe).

Domains registered through Google (paid through Google Checkout) are really at enom or godaddy (mine is at enom).

Yes, if the domain is registered elsewhere you just have to change MX records. If it's "registered" through Google everything is already configured. There is also available a small control panel (at enom) for advanced DNS settings and to change contact information.

 

[Gerrit]

So I have my desired domain (it's a .co.uk but normally Gmail does accept all extentions?) with Moniker.

May I ask just an additional question before setting it all up: imagine the domain would ever crash or not be renewed or so... (I know, unlikely to happen, but out of interest I will complete my question) Can you still access your mailbox somehow to recover your stored mails, even when the domain is not set up properly to Gmail anymore?
(bit like Everyone.net where users' mailboxes are still reachable even if the domain owner terminates the deal with everyone.net)

I doubted a bit between opening a regular gmail.com mailbox and then using domain forwarding with my .co.uk domain (and changing the 'from' address with every outgoing mail) but guess it's a lot easier to just set up the service that my own domain is the standard email address.