Google Apps – field notes

by Eric Friedman

I have been testing out Google Apps for your domain for the past week in an effort to fully test out its functionality. Below are my field notes;

I love being able to be in a “gmail” interface and have all the search features I am used to.

It is also great to have keyboard shortcuts.

Putting in a logo helps as it will be a different look than gmail. IMAP setup to your gmail should alleviate the need to ever log into your new Google apps account though.

Setting up Google Apps is fairly easy if you have a hostregistrar that allows you to edit your MX records. In my case, setting up Google Apps with HostGator requires a quick support ticket email, and they do the rest (you cannot setup Google Apps with Hostgator manually – they have to do something to your account for you)

Once this is setup your mail should start working soon.

Management and permissioning is much better than any other cPanel or other web hosting mail client interface.

Storage @ 7+GB is amazing considering its free.

Calendaring + docs + other features are great.

Search “label:unread” will become your friend as you need to track down unread messages that are now “new” in your mailbox.

Setup for POP or IMAP for Google Apps is a bit confusing. These are instructions that I found that work – but note that the port # and details for “gmail” do not apply:

NOTE: the instructions for IMAP tell you port 993 but it has to be port 995 to actually work.

Incoming Mail (IMAP) Server – requires SSL: imap.gmail.com
Use SSL: Yes
Port: 995
Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server – requires TLS: smtp.gmail.com (use authentication)
Use Authentication: Yes
Use STARTTLS: Yes (some clients call this SSL)
Port: 465 or 587
Account Name: your full email address (including @gmail.com) Google Apps users, please enter username@your_domain.com
Email Address: your full Gmail email address (username@gmail.com) Google Apps users, please enter username@your_domain.com
Password: your Gmail password

I wanted to setup Google Apps email to be delivered to my Gmail address;

1. Settings (upper right)
2. Accounts > Add new account
3. Enter your email address
4. Enter data from details above

I have not ported my email over from the prior mailbox, but I do not really have a need. From now on I plan on keeping email at this location.

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