If you have a domain name, you can use Gmail for your email needs without having to forwarding emails. Google Apps Standard Edition (known earlier as “Google Apps for Your Domain”) allows you to host your personal email at Gmail without having to use “Gmail.com” in your email ID.
You will need to register your domain name to use this service. A domain name costs $10 (approx.). Some TLDs may cost more or less. For example, a .info costs $1 (approx.) at GoDaddy.com.
When you sign up for a Google Apps account, you will have to configure your domain name’s email MX record to point to Google’s servers. Once you do this, you can access Gmail behind your domain name. Google Apps Standard Edition comes with Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Sites.
Google Apps has many advantages. For example, you can create other email IDs at your domain. For example, if I configure adiwebs.com for using Google Apps, I can create email IDs like user1@adiwebs.com, user2@adiwebs.com, etc. Everyone at my domain will be able to work together on documents and share a calender.
Another advantage is that you can switch to other email services very easily. For example, if you don’t like Gmail’s services, all you have to do is change the MX record to another host and you are done. You email ID will remain the same.
If you own a domain, give this a try. You will find it interesting and useful…