Having an email address is probably the most basic thing to have before using almost anything on the web. With the many email services to choose, Google's Gmail is one of the most widely used, and it's trying to deliver the bests of it to non-Gmail emails.
Google started its attempt to get non-Gmail users to use Gmail app in 2015 when its Android's Gmail app started allowing users to manage external email accounts within the app. Now the search giant is taking step further by introducing a feature called Gmailify. This will bring the advantages of Google without having the user the change their email address.
What Google has to offer are some of its most important features: spam protection, inbox organization through smart categories and other filters (e.g. Social, Updates, Promotion). Furthermore, users can also use Google's advanced search within the app to search their non-Gmail emails, receive notifications on mobile, and have their hotel reservation and travel to appear on Google Now.
Not just limited to Google's advantages, users can also manage their accounts as if those emails were hosted on Google's own servers.
Non-Gmail users can Gmailify their external email accounts as long as those accounts are under two other email giants: Yahoo! and Outlook (@yahoo.com, @hotmail.com and @outlook.com email addresses). Any action a user takes in Gmail will be reflected in their third-party's mailbox with duplicate labels and folders also being created there.
While to some people, Gmailify won't matter much to them if they weren't needing more advanced feature, but to those that are "stuck" on using Yahoo!'s or Outlook's email because of the hassle they will probably endure when changing their email addresses, Gmailify does make sense.
Easing The Steps
To use Google's Gmailify, users need to opt-in to the feature. They'll need to open their Gmail app and login into their non-Google account to enable Gmailify, explained Google in its blog post.
In practice, by enabling Gmailify, users link their non-Gmail accounts to Gmail. In the app's Settings screen, they can tap on the non-Gmail account they want to link to, then choose "Link Account". The feature is available on both Gmail app and its web interface.
Gmailify is a feature to simplify users to connect their external accounts. As simple as it could, it allows users to easily opt-in and opt-out: users can choose to unlink the accounts at any time, the company notes.
In short. Gmailify is Gmail's way to treat external non-Gmail emails as its own. Treating them as native, it's like having Gmail without a Gmail.
At launch, Gmailify on Gmail app only works Android Lollipop or newer. While its only available for Yahoo! and Microsoft's Hotmail/Outlook, Google says more providers will be supported in the future.
Google Is Not Alone
Email addresses are needed when you want to use practically anything on the web. From a simple blog comment post to registering on forums, to accessing social media accounts, downloading legitimate software and others that aren't limited to work or personal.
Since owning at least an email is something that everyone have in common, tech companies saw this as an opportunity to expand their wings.
Gmailify is one thing, and that is from Google. The search giant is not alone.
Both Yahoo! and Microsoft have worked their ways to aim similar cause. In 2015, Yahoo! started allowing users to manage Gmail through, allowing them to use things like Yahoo!'s smart contacts and password-free sign-in. Microsoft's Outlook.com also offers something similar by introducing an import tool to help the transition of Gmail to its app easier.