What is the simplest free webmail service?
June 24, 2009 4:24 PM
What is the simplest free webmail service?
I work at a public library and there are a lot of very technologically inexperienced people here who need to sign up for email accounts.
Usually, they are trying to get a job that can only be applied for online.
Gmail apparently restricts the number of accounts that can be applied for from the same IP address, so that's out (and it took me FOREVER to figure this out because it doesn't TELL you that, it just sends you back to the form, over and over and over and over again).
Yahoo is slightly better but it still requires you to fill out a long form with all kinds of information that has to be in a particular format, plus then you have to do the CAPTCHA, and even if I do it for the person it generally takes at least six tries before it will let them through. (Maybe this is another IP address thing?)
It also makes you choose two different security questions, which is totally incomprehensible to most people.
Generally, the whole thing is extremely frustrating, especially for people who have never really used computers before. And usually the job they are trying to get doesn't even require computer skills.
/rant>
Is there any other type of webmail they can use that is really easy to sign up for? (Like the original Gmail where you just chose a username and password and that was it?)
Alternatively, suggestions for workarounds? They will usually need to check back in the email account, so a fake address won't work.
Gmail apparently restricts the number of accounts that can be applied for from the same IP address, so that's out (and it took me FOREVER to figure this out because it doesn't TELL you that, it just sends you back to the form, over and over and over and over again).
Yahoo is slightly better but it still requires you to fill out a long form with all kinds of information that has to be in a particular format, plus then you have to do the CAPTCHA, and even if I do it for the person it generally takes at least six tries before it will let them through. (Maybe this is another IP address thing?)
It also makes you choose two different security questions, which is totally incomprehensible to most people.
Generally, the whole thing is extremely frustrating, especially for people who have never really used computers before. And usually the job they are trying to get doesn't even require computer skills.
/rant>
Is there any other type of webmail they can use that is really easy to sign up for? (Like the original Gmail where you just chose a username and password and that was it?)
Alternatively, suggestions for workarounds? They will usually need to check back in the email account, so a fake address won't work.
Not sure how this will help..
I work at a large community college - and we recently switched all of our students onto gmail. I'm sure the school has some sort of deal made with google.
Why not try contacting them and see if there's a solution that can work for you.
posted by royalsong at 4:49 PM on June 24, 2009
I work at a large community college - and we recently switched all of our students onto gmail. I'm sure the school has some sort of deal made with google.
Why not try contacting them and see if there's a solution that can work for you.
posted by royalsong at 4:49 PM on June 24, 2009
Wouldn't really recommend anything other than gmail, but Wikipedia's Comparison of webmail providers might be useful. In addition to Yahoo and Hotmail, AOL and Lycos still offer free webmail. As far as the B-list names go, I've only used Hushmail, which is adequate.
posted by unmake at 4:55 PM on June 24, 2009
posted by unmake at 4:55 PM on June 24, 2009
I think what royalsong is talking about is the Google Apps Partner Edition. I don't know if that would work for you but it might be worth checking out. There's also the Google Apps for Non-Profits which may be a better fit. Both of these programs seem to be designed to allow many users from the same IP address to have gmail/google calendars/chat/etc so I hope one of them works for you.
posted by kate blank at 5:33 PM on June 24, 2009
posted by kate blank at 5:33 PM on June 24, 2009
You could try GMX: http://www.gmx.com/service/features.html;jsessionid=F1C571C2883BD4323F3059272910CE3F.www-us001
I did a Google and found it right away. I know nothing about it but Wikipedia says it has been going since 1997.
posted by lungtaworld at 5:42 PM on June 24, 2009
I did a Google and found it right away. I know nothing about it but Wikipedia says it has been going since 1997.
posted by lungtaworld at 5:42 PM on June 24, 2009
betamail is nice and simple. Takes a little while to load though, on my computer. Nothing serious, but if speed is an issue...
posted by alon at 5:46 PM on June 24, 2009
posted by alon at 5:46 PM on June 24, 2009
gmail is really the simplest free webmail for library patrons. Can you get links for signing up from other people? I ask because I've got a ton of invites, would that matter? Seriously, for novice computer users one of the most important things is that they have an interface that they understand and that is familiar. An interface that their friends have is good. One that they see over and over is also good. You might want to try asking about this over in gmail support to see if you can get some sort of way for you to be able to sign people up for accounts despite the IP limitation, possibly? I've actually gotten someone to give me a hand over in the gmail google groups every now and then.
Really until AARP or someone smartens up and realizes that very easy, simple interface, good for low-vision folks email is the killer app for the baby boomers, we're gonna be stuck in this terrible situation in public libraries. Good lukc, I'm sorry I don't have better news for you.
posted by jessamyn at 6:05 PM on June 24, 2009
Really until AARP or someone smartens up and realizes that very easy, simple interface, good for low-vision folks email is the killer app for the baby boomers, we're gonna be stuck in this terrible situation in public libraries. Good lukc, I'm sorry I don't have better news for you.
posted by jessamyn at 6:05 PM on June 24, 2009
Are you sure Gmail restricts you like that? We do an email class every other Saturday and sign up about 8-10 patrons each session and have never been bounced back like that.
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 6:14 PM on June 24, 2009
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 6:14 PM on June 24, 2009
Yes, I know the problem. I run informal classes at an old people's centre in the UK. We have never standardised on one email provider, talking through the issues a bit. Even if people don't understand the issues, they will maybe remember they exist.
The BBC used to seem a safe pick, but they stopped offering email.
Discussing Gmail is an opportunity to go further with our lessons about privacy on the web. Also, folders seem a more natural way of working to our naive users than labels.
Hotmail, now Livemail, doesn't seem to log you straight in to email, causing confusion. Cue discussion of the Microsoft Empire.
Yahoo seems to have the best web interface. But will the company last?
I have had email addresses with various smaller outfits closed down over the years as they hit trouble (including both Lycos and GMX in earlier incarnations), so I tend not to go for oddball accounts for students.
posted by Idcoytco at 6:28 PM on June 24, 2009
The BBC used to seem a safe pick, but they stopped offering email.
Discussing Gmail is an opportunity to go further with our lessons about privacy on the web. Also, folders seem a more natural way of working to our naive users than labels.
Hotmail, now Livemail, doesn't seem to log you straight in to email, causing confusion. Cue discussion of the Microsoft Empire.
Yahoo seems to have the best web interface. But will the company last?
I have had email addresses with various smaller outfits closed down over the years as they hit trouble (including both Lycos and GMX in earlier incarnations), so I tend not to go for oddball accounts for students.
posted by Idcoytco at 6:28 PM on June 24, 2009
AOL webmail is free, open to everybody and has an easy process to sign-up.
posted by Gerard Sorme at 6:57 PM on June 24, 2009
posted by Gerard Sorme at 6:57 PM on June 24, 2009
At my library, we encourage folks to go for Yahoo. The signup process is a little cumbersome, granted, but it provides teachable moments and promotes skills that are common to browser and computer use in general (plus, it might be a teensy bit closer to the standard webmail interface than Gmail is). And Yahoo is reliable, and people have heard of it--among our patron base (we're in a low-income inner-city neighborhood), it probably has higher name recognition than Google.
posted by box at 6:58 PM on June 24, 2009
posted by box at 6:58 PM on June 24, 2009
Installing Tor on the library computers and activating it when you're doing the signups should get you around any annoying IP-based restrictions.
posted by flabdablet at 7:06 PM on June 24, 2009
posted by flabdablet at 7:06 PM on June 24, 2009
Stick with one of the major providers like Yahoo or Gmail. Both are very user-friendly and are always adding features that make it easier to manage everything.
I strongly recommend Gmail, as I've found it to be much better at keeping spam out of my inbox than Yahoo.
A lot of the other free email providers are second rate or bombard the user with advertising.
Contact gmail support, I'm almost certain there has to be some workaround for this problem. I'm sure they would be willing to help solve it, especially since you could be generating hundreds of new referrals. If things are still not working out, then I would second AOL webmail.
posted by mtphoto at 12:09 AM on June 25, 2009
I strongly recommend Gmail, as I've found it to be much better at keeping spam out of my inbox than Yahoo.
A lot of the other free email providers are second rate or bombard the user with advertising.
Contact gmail support, I'm almost certain there has to be some workaround for this problem. I'm sure they would be willing to help solve it, especially since you could be generating hundreds of new referrals. If things are still not working out, then I would second AOL webmail.
posted by mtphoto at 12:09 AM on June 25, 2009
STAY with gmail. I am a Network IT guy in a library. SIGN up for google apps. Google apps education has a limit of 50 users. Unless you are a bigger library that should be all you need.
http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/edu/index.html
It rocks.
This also incloods the google document stuff and gmail. If you have a domain already you can link it to there to have email that says example@example.com
Their usernames will also be their logins to all other google services.
Trust me look into it. It rocks. If you need anymore help let me know. We used this product . We still have it but are paying for premier because we reached the 50 user limit and decided we like the producty so much its owrth it.
posted by majortom1981 at 4:57 AM on June 25, 2009
http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/edu/index.html
It rocks.
This also incloods the google document stuff and gmail. If you have a domain already you can link it to there to have email that says example@example.com
Their usernames will also be their logins to all other google services.
Trust me look into it. It rocks. If you need anymore help let me know. We used this product . We still have it but are paying for premier because we reached the 50 user limit and decided we like the producty so much its owrth it.
posted by majortom1981 at 4:57 AM on June 25, 2009
Also if maybe paying for new users is out then i also second Aol mai. My home account is with aol and it is also really good. I use the google apps premier (was converted from free education) for here at the library and aol for home use.
Both are really good and both work really well with the iphone.
posted by majortom1981 at 5:20 AM on June 25, 2009
Both are really good and both work really well with the iphone.
posted by majortom1981 at 5:20 AM on June 25, 2009
Not sure about all the people recommending Google Apps...
exceptinsects, if you do that, you'll be using it with your own domain name -- their address won't be @gmail.com but rather @yourdomain.com
May not be ideal if there aren't people who are closely affiliated with your library.
posted by polexa at 6:22 AM on June 25, 2009
exceptinsects, if you do that, you'll be using it with your own domain name -- their address won't be @gmail.com but rather @yourdomain.com
May not be ideal if there aren't people who are closely affiliated with your library.
posted by polexa at 6:22 AM on June 25, 2009
Unfortunately I think Google apps is out because we are quite a large library system, and my branch is one of the largest. I think we would run through the 50 users pretty fast.
Tor isn't really an option either because along with a giant library system comes an even gianter IT bureaucracy and it's basically impossible for us to install additional programs on the public PCs, especially something like that.
I agree that Gmail is the simplest to use once you get signed up, so I'll try in their forums and see if they can suggest something.
In the meantime, I think fastmail/hushmail/betamail may be a good solution, since a lot of people aren't really wanting to use their email for much except filling out an application. Basically one step up from mailinator is all they need, so the absolute simplest signup process is what I'm looking for.
Thanks everyone for your help, and if you think of anything else let me know.
posted by exceptinsects at 9:44 AM on June 25, 2009
Tor isn't really an option either because along with a giant library system comes an even gianter IT bureaucracy and it's basically impossible for us to install additional programs on the public PCs, especially something like that.
I agree that Gmail is the simplest to use once you get signed up, so I'll try in their forums and see if they can suggest something.
In the meantime, I think fastmail/hushmail/betamail may be a good solution, since a lot of people aren't really wanting to use their email for much except filling out an application. Basically one step up from mailinator is all they need, so the absolute simplest signup process is what I'm looking for.
Thanks everyone for your help, and if you think of anything else let me know.
posted by exceptinsects at 9:44 AM on June 25, 2009
Oh, I just looked at fastmail and was all excited until I found out that you have to have a backup email account in order to get their free account. Boo.
They actually suggest you set one up at Yahoo. Haha!
posted by exceptinsects at 9:49 AM on June 25, 2009
They actually suggest you set one up at Yahoo. Haha!
posted by exceptinsects at 9:49 AM on June 25, 2009
I have this problem, and have asked about it a few times on here. A colleague told me today though that gmail is now only accepting account activation via text-message to mobile phones, with a limited number of accounts per number. I didn't see it when I made a new account today, but I can ask him about it tomorrow.
posted by Iteki at 2:28 PM on June 25, 2009
posted by Iteki at 2:28 PM on June 25, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:33 PM on June 24, 2009