How to Sign Up for Gmail

Posted on September 9th, 2009 by Marck

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While Google is synonymous with search engines, the company that redefined the World Wide Web is also at the forefront of new technologies that make computer and Internet access more accessible, efficient, and fast. One of the innovations developed by Google is Gmail.

What is Gmail?

Gmail, also known as Google Mail, is Google’s free web mail service for consumers all over the World Wide Web. Gmail was first released as an invitation-only beta product for a limited group in 2004, and became available to the public on 2007. Gmail is part of a group of Web applications called Google Apps, which is composed of many programs run from the Web.

Gmail Features

In principle, Gmail works just like any other email client or application, but with the following unique features:

Large storage space. Gmail raised the bar for free email services when it was announced to have the potential to provide one gigabyte of storage space, all for free. For people who need a lot of space for attachments, messages, and large files sent over email, Gmail’s 1 GB space offer was very inviting to customers. Google’s initiative triggered many competitors to also increase their storage space limits.
Built-in GTalk. Google Talk, also known as GTalk, is Google’s own instant messaging client. While a GTalk program is available for download, a Chat panel is also available on the Gmail application while it runs on a browser window.
Interface. Gmail uses a unique interface that keeps track of email exchanges as conversations, which makes it much easier for users to keep track of online correspondences.

Signing Up for Gmail

Before Gmail was released to the public, the only way you can get a Gmail account - as well as access to other products by Google - was to get someone to send you an invitation to use Gmail. Now that Gmail is public, you can easily sign up for it from any browser, with any operating system:

Direct your browser to the Gmail homepage (http://mail.google.com).
Select “Create an Account.”
Fill in the details of your account. Make sure to have a secure password, that your chosen address is still available, and that you have secure security questions.
Read the Terms of Service carefully to check what you can and cannot do with Gmail.
Click “Create My Account,” and you’re good to go.

While there are many competitors to Gmail, it’s always good to have your own free, flexible, and versatile Google account that brings you to a world of applications and possibilities made possible by Google’s latest developments.