How to migrate from Gmail to Google Apps for free and take your messages with you

Step 2: Get the ball rolling at Google Apps

Sign up for the standard version of Google Apps -- it's free, and you can even buy a US-style domain name, such as .com or .net, if you haven't got one already. Once you're all logged in, you can start setting up that email.

You'll have to prove you own the domain, either by uploading an HTML file with a specific name to your Web site, or adding a CNAME record to your domain.

Uploading the HTML file is easiest, if you have a Web site that's up and running -- just create it, give it the name that Google Apps specifies when you sign up, and upload it by FTP.

If you don't have a Web site, just a domain name, you can add a CNAME record instead. Like the MX record we mentioned in step 1, a CNAME record is another 'postcode' that makes up the DNS record. Add it in your domain name's control panel and give it the name that Google Apps specifies when you sign up.

Google has lots more detail on this step on its help page. Either way, make sure it's up and working before you go on.

The key thing now is to avoid any downtime. Assuming that you're already using the email address you want, by forwarding it to Gmail, for example, you don't want to miss an important Viagra-related message. So the swap has to follow the right steps.

First, log in to Google Apps and set up a new user. If you want people to email you at ian@androidfanboi.com, set up the user 'ian'.

Test this before you go on to make sure the email for your new user is up and running. In Google Apps, the user account has a temporary email address that looks like ian@ androidfanboi.com.test-google-a.com. Be sure you can send and receive email from that account.

Next comes the hard part -- changing your MX records to point at the Google Apps servers. This is where things can get messy, so give yourself some breathing room by doing this in the evening or whenever you get less email.