Google Mail, which includes Gmail and Google Mail for your Domain, now includes free IMAP usage. What is IMAP? IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, is the alternate mail protocol to POP (Post Office Protocol). It allows you to manage email on the server. I used to teach this stuff. Essentially, you’re eliminating the need to synchronize your mailbox across multiple computers since you’re managing email on the server. You mark an email as read? You do it once. You want to create a folder to manage your family email? It’s done on the server. Most notably, IMAP supports push email in a sense. You don’t have to check for email every 5 minutes (in a sense). It’s pretty much done for you in the background and seems instantaneous. There are many more advantages of IMAP, but these are some that stick out in my mind.

Now back to Google. So far, Google mail has had few flaws save an interface overhaul for which Yahoo currently has the upper hand. Adding IMAP to the picture has made Gmail and more importantly, Google Apps for your Domain, an absolutely must have. Here’s why:

• Free email with unrestricted POP and IMAP access
• 4.3GB email storage
• Email, Chat, Calendar, and Google Office (Docs, Presentation, Spreadsheet) for your domain for free
• iPhone / Blackberry / Windows Mobile / Symbian users now have semi-push email, for free

It boggles the mind how attractive this is. If you’re a startup business, and you’re looking for a corporate email solution, you have to consider Google Apps for your Domain now. You have no choice. If you’re a regular end user, and you’re not sold on Google mail yet, I think you have a huge compelling reason to switch. There’s almost no downside.

Official announcement

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