free email without frequent login requirement - recommendations?

[nudone]

i've been asked if there is a free email service that does not require frequent (monthly) logins to keep it active. it's for an elderly couple that always spend summer abroad for several months and wouldn't have a clue how to access their email unless it is on their own computer at home.

they have lost their email accounts several times because of infrequent use, and they are using a dial-up pay as you go service that does not provide an email account.

is there an email service that anyone can recommend, is free, and doesn't have the restrictions that yahoo and hotmail has (i don't know what gmail's service implies)?

thanks.

edit: i see that gmail's period of inactivity is 9 months. this might be enough but i believe it will be safer to use something that doesn't expire for at least 12 months.

[Steven Avery]

Hi Nudone,

You might try the smaller and friendlier services like Fastmail.

They are likely to have a longer period, although their free accounts may
be online only, without forwarding and you would have to check about
POP3 access.  That is the possible rub in the free accounts, however
you have good discussion forums for questions.

www.emaildiscussions.com host some forums where folks know all this
stuff well .. post the question there and you should get active response :-)

Such email biz folks are more likely to give you a personal response, or to do
an override if you ask.  Another to check is GMX, although they are larger,
they are making a USA push, and maybe 5-10 others, like inbox.com.

Try emaildiscussions, I think you will get informed answers, I used them
when I was trying to find better email.  And I am using Tuffmail on a
trial and Polarismail (domain email) as well as a free Fastmail account.

This is not to diss Gmail, it has a place, however specialty uses, such
as special attention, is not possible.  Very convenient also for those
'throwaway' (temporary) web accounts if you don't want to give out
your normal email.  However on a private account I have been pleased
with their keeping out spam, possibly because of using a long name
that is not advertised.  Another possibility would be for you to check
in your friends or families mail every month or two, if they don't mind.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

[Deozaan]

I'd recommend Gmail with POP access.

Or DonationCoder accounts. :-D

[wolf.b]

I have a gmail account and checked the first time for mail about 2 1/2 years after opening, and it still worked.


greetings


Wolf

[allen]

For that matter, I'm sure any of us here (myself included) with hosted plans would be glad to offer an e-mail address. I have google apps on jarday.com -- and I'm pretty sure I am the final word on account deletion, there. I have pop3/imap/squirlmail available on a number of other domains as well, with no account deletion going on.

[nudone]

thanks for the helpful suggestions everyone. i've set a gmail account up for them. they are likely to actually forget what email provider they are using after they've been abroad so picking an obvious one like google will help them remember - i hope.

this couple would win the award for most clueless pc users ever - bearing in mind they have had a computer since the windows 95 days.

i've made a new post about them here.

[Deozaan]

thanks for the helpful suggestions everyone. i've set a gmail account up for them. they are likely to actually forget what email provider they are using after they've been abroad so picking an obvious one like google will help them remember - i hope.

this couple would win the award for most clueless pc users ever - bearing in mind they have had a computer since the windows 95 days.

i've made a new post about them here.

Be sure to set up an e-mail client on their PC and set up POP download so they can just open it and go. Have it remember their password and stuff. They'll never need to remember who their provider is except to give out their e-mail address to people.

[nudone]

umm, i realise i should have done that now.

i'll have to think about whether it's worth doing it as they'll only probably send about 3 emails a year.

[J-Mac]

Gmail is definitely the best bet for them.

I have a Fastmail paid account, but their "free" account is really nothing more than a demo at this point; more of a sampler to see if you like it. Too limited to be of much use otherwise.

With Gmail you can even give them separate accounts. And if they need ongoing help and/or monitoring with their email, you can see if they will agree to let you have their password(s) and then set the Gmail account up as IMAP. That way they won't lose messages in error - they'll always be on the server, and you can access them anytime without downloading them from the server, therefore getting them before the couple can.

Jim

[rjbull]

Another to check is GMX, although they are larger, they are making a USA push

GMX have recently returned to the UK too.

'throwaway' (temporary) web accounts if you don't want to give out your normal email.

Spamgourmet is another approach for that, but looks too computerish for nudone's couple.