Here are some reasons for having unsatisfactory email service:
- Internet Service Providers may not use effective SPAM filtering
- Home email accounts may be shared with other users
- Email using POP3 for delivery is not accessible on public computers
- Email using provider POP3 accounts is not persistent
- Mail may not persist in the cloud, so information is lost
- Organizational coordination requires standardization of email addresses
The first step in cloud development is to have a web identity. Google's Gmail is an excellent email service which is available free for individual accounts. Use the following instructions to sign up for a Google account and Gmail.
GMail Signup
In your web browser, right-click the following link and open it in a new tab:
https://accounts.google.com/SignUpWidget
Then fill out the GMail Signup form as follows:
| Name | Actual first name, then Last name |
| Choose your username | alt.Firstname.Lastname |
| Create a password | Use 8 or more letters or numbers |
| Confirm your password | Retype your password |
| Birthday | Use your birth date, year < 1999 |
| Gender | Make a selection |
| Mobile phone | Enter this if you want to |
| Your current email address | Required for notifications |
| Prove you're not a robot | type word <space> word |
| Location | United States |
| I agree to the Google . . . | Check this box |
Warning
An account application with a birth year of 1999 or later will be rejected. Even worse, when using Google's Chrome browser, you will have to switch to a different browser such as Firefox to enter an application once a rejection occurs.
Click button :guilabel:`Next step` to complete the form. You will see your profile page display. Again, click button :guilabel:`Next step` to continue. A welcome page will display, showing that your new account is ready.
Click :guilabel:`Next step` one last time to view the final account setup page. Now go to your new Gmail account. Right-click the link https://mail.google.com and choose :menuselection:`Open in new tab`.
Note
You will receive an email at your current email address with a verification code. You may wish to print out that email, and forward the email to your new mailbox. An example verification email is shown following:
