Is Google / GMAIL Account Required?

P

pupucashu

New member
Hi,

First post, my EVO is in the mail. While I wait, I'm trying to do any prep work I can.

Must I have a Google Account to use the Android? If so, is just a Google Account enough, or do I need GMAIL too?

I'll be moving from a BB Pearl 8130, and currently sync via Outlook (but not exchange).

Thanks
 
I don't know about the Evo specifically, but many new Android phones don't require a Google account at all (the Samsung Galaxy S and variants don't, for example).

Either way, I'd highly advise you use one. They give you some very big and important advantages such as access to paid apps on the Market, instant push notifications via Gmail, a backup of all your contacts, some settings, your calendar entries, etc in the Google cloud, and access to that data from anywhere and any device that has a browser. If you get a new phone then this data will automatically appear on it.

So, assuming you do use a Google account, you can use any that you already have (either a proper Google account or a Google apps account if you own your own domain), or you can create a new one using the wizard when your phone first starts up. You do not need to use the Gmail part of your Google account, but unless you turn off the Gmail notifications you will be notified every time you receive an email on your account.

You can sync via Exchange if you perfer. I've never tried syncing just on Outlook, but there are ways to do that too.
 
Thanks. I do have a Google account, not Google apps. I do own several domains, just none connected to Google. I'm not against using the Google account, at least to get started. Just trying to do some homework to know what my options are. Months ago, talking to a sales guy, I was told I had to use a Google account.



My Google account doesn't have a Gmail part. Do I need to set one up and connect the two? I was hoping my existing email (IMAP account) used as logging for my for Google account would suffice.

For sync, long term, I'm leaning towards the open source version of Zarafa, or something very much like it. Host everything at my domain, on my Unix box.

Thanks.
 
I thought all Google accounts have Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Docs, etc? If you go go mail.google.com and log in with your Google user/pass do you not have an email account?

You won't be able to access paid apps on the Market without a Google account - that's probably the biggest thing. The receipt goes to your Gmail account... but maybe you can change that.
 
My Google account doesn't have gmail (yet.) Part of my motive for this thread is to understand what I really do (and don't) need. I'd rather all this setup beforehand.

I have setup Google contact and calender via Google Account. Not YouTube, or GMAIL, as both are (technically) separate accounts, that I can "link" together.
 
Highly recommended you get a google account. You will be missing out on a lot of brilliantly integrated features without one.

To restate what others have said, you can still use your phone without a google account attached to it- but you'll be missing out on many things you phone can do for you.

You *can* set up your other e-mail account to work with your android phone as well [ Exchange ActiveSync / POP3 / IMAP ]. Of course I've never done that since I have been using gmail since it was in it's 'invite only' beta stage years ago-- so I can't comment on the functionality, but it is in there with the 2.2 release.
 
Thanks. I *have* a Google account... you all talked me into it.

The question now is do I need a GMAIL account. They are different things.

The EVO arrived, setting it up now.

My IMAP/SSL account is working. This is my email (e.g. not GMAIL) which is used to sign into my Google and YouTube account.

That's as far as I got, just one IMAP account. Tried Sprint Navigation (GPS) and the device powered off(??? not sure, saw email re this post and turned my head.)
 
Sprint navigation? What's that? Google's Navigation app is very good.

I get 34 hits for "Sprint Navigation" on the forums. Check it out: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=%2Bsite%3Arabroad.com+%2B%22sprint+navigation%22
 
Turns out that the EVO just happened to lock due to my not touching it. Everything is behaving.


The EVO is with Sprint, and my BB already setup Sprint Nav with all my locations... so using it (for now) is quickest.

As for my original question, it seems GMAIL is needed for the Android Marketplace. Just a Google Account isn't enough. I was able to connect with just my Google Account email ([email protected]), but the first thing I was told is that this Google Account didn't have a GMAIL account and I was kicked out.

So for the archive, you need GMAIL account, if you setup is similar to mine.

Thanks all for the help
 
Back
Top