Graeme, A gmail account will work well, avoids the issues associated with changing ISPs. The problem with names being taken already at yahoo, hotmail and gmail is a big one - those 3 providers together service more than 2 billion email addresses (12 mths ago, so more now) - so the choices are getting more and more limited.
Possibly the gmail name checker is finding a space in your username? If you entered a name like graeme, it should tell you that is taken but offer some alternatives - choose one of those alternatives and check that to see whether the checker works in those cases. If you did choose you own domain, you are in the fortunate position of having graemewinters.com as an option. Not everyone gets this chance. Glenn Nicholas OM4 :: 2009/12/31 Graeme Winters <g.wint...@iinet.net.au>: > > Thank you Glenn for you helpful comments > Now retired and active with family history am not sure that I have a need for > a domain name > I attempted to obtain a gmail address today and met unexpected difficulties > I attempted to use an address similar to that currently being used but > received an error message that I should only use letters between a-z, numbers > between 1-9 and periods. > I was not told the address selected was not available just to use letters and > numbers as above. > > That I have done several times using variations including numbers with > g.winters but the error message has remained the same > Have scanned a range of common problems on gmail's site but cannot identify > this one > Any thoughts? > > Graeme > On 31/12/2009, at 2:12 PM, Glenn Nicholas wrote: > >> >> Graeme, >> >> Separating your email address from your ISP is important for several reasons. >> >> If your email is owned by your ISP, you have created a major reason to >> not move ISPs, even if there are better options available to you. >> Broadband options are only going to increase, and it won't help to see >> a great new broadband offer if you can't take it up without disrupting >> your email. Changing email address takes a while, you need to have the >> old and new operating together and give people some time to make the >> change, so best to get it organised well before changing ISP. >> >> If you run a business, it presents a much better image if you use your >> business domain for your email - an ISP based email address may create >> a bad impression. >> >> Getting your own domain based email is inexpensive. >> >> Register a domain with a domain registrar - a fee of between $10-25/yr >> will get you a domain from a good registrar (although some charge a >> lot more than this). >> >> Most domain registrars offer fairly cheap email hosting services, >> although they may be quite basic and not include spam/virus filtering >> features. >> >> If you are prepared to find out how to create your own MX records >> (some domain registrars offer a DNS Hosting service to enable this, >> others do it for free), you can use Google Apps Standard Edition. This >> is a free service from Google that gives you full strength Gmail (7Gb >> mailbox, 20Mb message sizes, POP/IMAP), Calendar and Docs accounts at >> your domain e.g m...@mydomain.com >> Google Apps: http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html >> Setting up MX records - US registrars: >> http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=140034 >> General MX setup: http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=48242 >> >> Google Apps Standard Edition is a great service. Note Google also >> offer a Premium edition that costs $50/yr per account - for that you >> get a 25Gb mailbox size rather than 7Gb, and access to a support line. >> The Standard edition works fine - Google's sign up process is designed >> to entice you to the Premium, so don't get distracted if you just want >> Standard. >> >> Glenn Nicholas >> OM4 :: >> >> >> >> 2009/12/30 Graeme Winters <g.wint...@iinet.net.au>: >>> Hi David >>> You raise an interesting point with gmail >>> I have been a long standing iinet user and while I do not have a problem >>> with them I just feel that separating my ISP from my email may be in my best >>> interests in the longer term >>> I use their voip system so my calls are bundled with my internet service >>> Do others see a benefit in separating the 2 functions? >>> Graeme >>> On 30/12/2009, at 7:58 PM, David Noel wrote: >>> >>> Hi Brett -- >>> >>> -- I've been meaning to put in a message about all the virtues of using >>> gmail. I haven't put the necessary thought into this as yet, but here is an >>> instance where it could be good for you. >>> >>> -- When you have set up a gmail account, you can ask it to check your other >>> email accounts (obviously you have to tell it your passwords for these) and >>> to forward on these messages to your gmail account. If you want, it will >>> then delete these messages from the other account. >>> >>> -- Most of the other advantages of gmail are the extensive free space >>> available (currently 7.4 Gb for each user), which with message labelling and >>> whole-of-area search means you never have to worry about email backups or >>> deletes again. You can send messages to yourself with data files attached, >>> as aquick backup of your current working file, scan of your passport, etc, >>> these are then permanently available anywhere in the world. HTH. >>> >>> Cheers -- >>> >>> David Noel >>> 2009 Dec 30 >>> >>> ============ >>> >>> On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 10:56 AM, Brett Carboni <bcarb...@bigpond.net.au> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi all, I'm thinking of changing from Bigpond to TPG but my >>>> "bigpond.net.au" email address is over 10 years old and I don't want to >>>> lose >>>> contacts. >>>> >>>> I am trying to get a nominal account which will let me keep this active. >>>> >>>> Does anyone know of an emailing program which will let you address an >>>> email to everyone in your Mail.app database so you can do a bulk mail out >>>> saying you have changed your email address? >>>> >>>> T.I.A. >>>> >>>> Brett >>>> Tsunami >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> >>> >> >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> >> > > > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au>
