In an important update to its email service, Google has come out with a new feature – it lets Gmail users in the United States switch their email addresses themselves. This change represents quite a departure from the company’s long-standing policy – one that previously locked users very firmly into their original Gmail username.
This update lets users alter the username part of their Gmail address – yet they still get to keep all their old account details, inbox messages, contacts, and related Google services. Until now, people wanting a different email address had to create a whole new account by hand – then painstakingly move their data across.
According to Google, the new feature will allow you much more flexibility if you need to update an outdated, unprofessional or even personally modified email identity – perhaps because of a name change or branding requirements. When your identity has been updated, your old email address will stay active – as an alias, so your communication never breaks off and no important messages get lost.
The rollout is currently confined to users in the United States – though a gentle expansion is scheduled for the next few months. You can get at the option via your Google Account settings within the personal info section itself.
However, this feature also has some restrictions. Users can only modify their Gmail username once every 12 months – and if they create a new one, it won’t be available for any other account either. Furthermore, users may have to change login details at all third-party services related to their email.
Industry experts see this change as yet another step in Google’s ongoing process of rejuvenating its entire ecosystem – and increasing our control over our digital identities even further, making Gmail more in line with our growing expectations for both personalization and account versatility.
The upgrade really is one of the biggest changes to Gmail’s core identity structure ever – since it was launched many years ago – and may affect how millions of users handle all their online communication.
