Best, basic free webmail service?

UKSBD

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  • Dec 30, 2005
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    What do people recommend nowadays as a Free webmail service I can just set up for computer illiterate people?

    Gmail has just too much baggage now.

    Hotmail makes you jump through loops and sign up with Windows Live

    Yahoo looks about the same

    Is there just an absolute basic webmail service anymore, or is Hotmail still the best?

    I could just set up multiple emails on one of my sites and give seperate wemnail access, is that a good option?
     

    UKSBD

    Moderator
  • Dec 30, 2005
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    I'd have thought the spam protection with the bigger providers would balance out the baggage / sign up processes :)

    Yeah, I'm inclined to agree with you.

    I'm trying to set it up so 3 or 4 people in my village can just send me stuff by email every now and then though.

    Chances are they probably already have email addresses but just don't know how to use them :(

    I thought it would be simpler to set up webmail rather than faff with their email settings, I can just see what would happen though.

    I'll get a call a week later saying instant messenger has appeared or something keeps asking to update :(
     
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    Talay

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    Mar 12, 2012
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    I've used Gmail almost exclusively since inception and whilst I like it 95% of the time, I feel as though the crap which comes with it is starting to overpower it, which I think is what you are saying.

    I suspect the alternative is a paid for service, but from whom ?
     
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    UKSBD

    Moderator
  • Dec 30, 2005
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    I've used Gmail almost exclusively since inception and whilst I like it 95% of the time, I feel as though the crap which comes with it is starting to overpower it, which I think is what you are saying.

    I suspect the alternative is a paid for service, but from whom ?


    Yeah,
    I'm talking about people who haven't a clue.
    If it means setting up gmail for them it means setting up a google account and then all that comes with it.

    If I set up gmail I know I would get questions about all the messages they receive (ads to you and me)

    The only reason for setting this email up for them is so they can send me stuff, I'm thinking set them an email address on my own domain and setting them up seperate webmail may be the best route.
     
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    123Simples

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    Jul 10, 2011
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    Hampshire, UK
    The only reason for setting this email up for them is so they can send me stuff, I'm thinking set them an email address on my own domain and setting them up seperate webmail may be the best route.

    Which might be okay but wouldn't a better option be (rather than use your own domain) setup a domain for exclusive email use for your customers? They could then have a generic email address each still and use webmail, but not directly through the domain you use yourself for your own business
     
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    UKSBD

    Moderator
  • Dec 30, 2005
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    Which might be okay but wouldn't a better option be (rather than use your own domain) setup a domain for exclusive email use for your customers? They could then have a generic email address each still and use webmail, but not directly through the domain you use yourself for your own business

    Thanks,
    yes, that is what I meant really, just use one of my spare ones.

    I have horde, squirrelmail or roundcube.
    Which would you say is best (best as in, idiot proof and simplistic, rather than features)
     
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    123Simples

    Free Member
    Jul 10, 2011
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    Hampshire, UK
    I would probably suggest Roundcube from those 3 choices. But cmcp is also correct in who is going to shoulder the responsibility - it depends on how many emails they will send you, and also will they be using to then send other people emails?

    Do you have your own server or are you using someone elses server? Because they all have varying terms and conditions on email usage
     
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    F

    FirstClassVirtualOffice

    Roundcube, but when they wise up they will want something much better like gmail. A lot of people claim to be technophobes... then you find out they've got accounts with ebay, facebook, etc. so they're not all as clueless as they lead you to believe!
     
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    UKSBD

    Moderator
  • Dec 30, 2005
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    I would probably suggest Roundcube from those 3 choices. But cmcp is also correct in who is going to shoulder the responsibility - it depends on how many emails they will send you, and also will they be using to then send other people emails?

    Do you have your own server or are you using someone elses server? Because they all have varying terms and conditions on email usage

    Thanks, but this really is just one of those very basic things where it is for people just to send me stuff just once a month at the most.

    To give a bit of background info,
    I maintain the village website and it's basically so the person who does the local pcc minutes can send them to me, the person who does the bell ringing can send stuff to me twice a year, etc. etc.

    Why they can't email this stuff to me now I have no idea, it's obviously typed out on a PC as it appears in flyers and on village noticeboard etc.
     
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    ecenica

    Free Member
    May 26, 2010
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    Leeds, United Kingdom
    The only reason for setting this email up for them is so they can send me stuff, I'm thinking set them an email address on my own domain and setting them up seperate webmail may be the best route.

    Have you considered hosting your own ticket system as an alternative?

    I know of Ecenica customers using the free OS ticket for similar uses;

    http://osticket.com/

    Rich
     
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    fisicx

    Moderator
    Sep 12, 2006
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    www.aerin.co.uk
    If you have the village website why can't you use your squirrlemail (my fave) and set up some new accounts. It takes about 30 second using cpanel.

    Or am I missing something?
     
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    Jeff FV

    Free Member
    Jan 10, 2009
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    Another thought (although you've probably already had it), could you have a private section on your (village) website with a contact form that will accept attachments?

    That way, all you have to do is bookmark that page for your correspondents, give them the password and show them how to use it and you needn't worry about any emails that they will get as its a one way process.

    Just a thought

    Jeff
     
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    UKSBD

    Moderator
  • Dec 30, 2005
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    If you have the village website why can't you use your squirrlemail (my fave) and set up some new accounts. It takes about 30 second using cpanel.

    Or am I missing something?

    That's basically what I said in the OP.

    Just thought if there was an equally as good Free webmail option I could set that up for them so they could use it elsewhere and I'm not involved in anyway.
     
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    UKSBD

    Moderator
  • Dec 30, 2005
    13,033
    1
    2,831
    Another thought (although you've probably already had it), could you have a private section on your (village) website with a contact form that will accept attachments?

    That way, all you have to do is bookmark that page for your correspondents, give them the password and show them how to use it and you needn't worry about any emails that they will get as its a one way process.

    Just a thought

    Jeff

    Yes, I may occasionaly want to reply to them too though.
    (if they ever check their webmail that is)
     
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