Creating a Gmail or Google Apps account

Creating a standard Gmail account is easy but not necessarily what you want. To find out, ask yourself these questions:

Are you planning to have a web site now or in the future?
Do you want your email address to look professional?
Have you already registered your own domain name?

If you answered yes to any or all of the questions above, then do not get a standard Gmail account. Instead, get a Google Apps account. If you do not know the difference, please read this article:

The Difference Between Gmail and Google Apps

If you’re certain that all you need is a standard Gmail only account, then simply go here to set up your new Gmail account:

http://www.gmail.com

If you wish to take our advice, then you’ll need a Google Apps account. To begin with you’ll need to have already registered your own domain name (something.com). To register a domain name, use regiSTAR.com! All domain names registered with regiSTAR.com are pre-configured to use Google Apps. The setup process which you are about to learn, is already provided by them. You simply go to http://email.your_domain.com, login, and you’re off and running.

If you have a domain name and it is already registered with another domain name registrar, then you’ll need to have a working knowledge of DNS, CNAME Records, MX Records and A Records or URL Forwarding. The process can be time consuming if you don’t understand these terms or how they work. We recommend using our new quick and easy installation of Google Apps but should you decide to do it yourself, then here is checklist of what you will need to get started:

• Have already registered a domain name.

• Know what DNS servers your domain name is pointing to.

• Have the ability to modify those DNS server. If your domain name is pointing to your web hosting providers DNS servers, you will need to contact them and ask if you are able to make changes to your current MX Records. Please note that most hosting providers will not give you access to their DNS servers. If this is the case, ask if they can make MX Record and CNAME record changes for you.

• If your domain name is already pointing to an existing mail server, you’ll need to make sure that you pull your latest email off of your current mail server before pointing your domain name to Google’s mail servers. You’ll need the current mail server addresses or IP address(s) of that mail server in the event you screw things up and need to go back to your original configuration.

• If you’re managing a large list of email accounts, be sure to get the current user name and password for each account before proceeding. This will help make the transition process easier for your existing email account users.

Once you’ve made sure your checklist is completed, follow this link to establish a Google Apps account:

http://www.google.com/apps/

** Please note that attempting to establish a Google Apps account then stopping half way simply because you don’t fully understand CNAME Records, modifying domain Host records, A Records or MX Records, can make it even more difficult for someone else to help you finish the process. Unless you are well versed in DNS administration we strongly suggest you hire an IT administrator to help you, transfer your domain name to regiSTAR.com or use our new Google Apps installation service.