AOL’s Webmail is very good — Really it is
I’ve been with AOL since circa 1992. Over the years, I’ve graduated from dial-up, to AOL DSL (huge mistake), and then onto BYOB (bring-your-own access). With BYOB I still paid for the AOL service, but I accessed the Internet through my own cable provider. I’m finally on the AOL “free” plan and I’ve considered dropping them completely for quite a long time. There are only a couple of problems: I’ve had my AOL address forever and I don’t want to do a, “change of address,” and my wife and daughter still use the member’s-only content. At least for now, I’ll continue my AOL membership.
While I’m not a big fan of the AOL Windows client, I’ve been impressed with AOL’s webmail client. It is a very well-done, very modern, Web 2.0 client. It has everything you’d expect and is very easy to use. I’ve found it to be superior to GMail and other third-party webmail clients that I’ve tried. The only issue that I have with the service is that it doesn’t work with my other email accounts. Let’s face it, swhitley@aol.com is not a professional address and I try to avoid using it for business contacts. If AOL would allow me to send email from my business email address, and if it would allow me to read my business email via POP3, I’d throw away every other webmail client and use AOL exclusively.
I sent an email to AOL requesting these features. Unfortunately, their customer service is really poor and I never received a response. On the positive side, they must be doing amazing work with focus groups because I’ve seen the web client go through multiple transformations. The client was upgraded a while ago from a very basic design to something much more interactive. Then it became too hover and ajax heavy. They recently took a few steps back, simplifying the interface and making it easier to use. It’s been rock solid in the browser, unlike some other clients that have become resource hogs.
I highly recommend the AOL webmail client. If they just add a few more features that would allow me to consolidate my many email accounts, I’d continue my membership for years to come.
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Hey, good points. Just to let you know you CAN use your own domain name on AOL’s email!
Check out https://domains.aol.com/personaldomain/app/domainMainSearch
Tell others that may not know…
Cheers!
PS…give it a try and post a follow-up if it was what you were looking for.
FAQ’s https://domains.aol.com/personaldomain/html/faq.html#6
Cheers!
Hi Jack,
It looks like I would have to transfer my domain to AOL. My domain is already configured and pointing to my production web host. This process could interrupt my service. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
I don’t want that at all. I just want a service like GMail where I can send from a “non-AOL” address and retrieve messages via POP3 from a “non-AOL” account.
Thanks for trying to help!
Hey,
I am pretty sure that when you sign up at the AOL Personal Domains it only gives you MX records to configure.
So, if you host the name servers yourself, you only need to change the MX records. The A records will remain pointing to your host, but the MX records will be AOL MX info and you can manage the mail accounts from the control panel that gets created at AOL.
Check out the FAQ: https://domains.aol.com/personaldomain/html/faq
Remember, there is a difference between using one of AOL’s domains and bringing your own name. By bringing your own name I mean it will remain your domain only your MX records would change:
4. How do I register for AOL My eAddress?
There are two different options you can chose from when signing up for AOL My eAddress. You can a) choose a popular custom domain or b) bring your own domain. The registration process varies slightly for all two.
a) Choose a popular custom domain
Click on your favorite domain listed.
Fill out the information requested in the registration form
b) Bring your own domain
Enter your domain in the “Bring Your Own Domain” field.
AOL will check to make sure the domain is available for use.
Fill out the information requested in the registration form
Make the necessary MX changes to your domain
7. Can I use my domain for web hosting?
If you use the “Bring your Own Domain” option, you can use any hosting company you like while using AOL mail.
Just be sure to follow the “Bring Your Own Domain” instructions and ignore the “Choose a popular custom domain” instructions (those are AOL owned domains for beginners that dont want emailaddy@aol.com).
The “Bring Your Own Domain” instructions allow you to associate the AOL mail client to your own personal domain. For example, you could have the AOL Mail features but send from shannon@voiceoftech.com and receive mail at shannon@voiceoftech.com. You will have webmail access in addition to POP3.
I saw that option, but doesn’t that require me to change my existing domain registrar to AOL?
Can I keep my existing domain registrar (APLUS.NET), or does AOL have to transfer the domain? It’s not clear.
Thanks!
Nope, AOL does not act as a retail registrar. For this particular product you only get MX records. Like you, a lot of people asked for the ability to apply AOL mail to their own domain name and thats why they created this free product.
In the instructions it onlu tells you how to adjust your MX records. There is no mention of transferring the domain name, with authorization codes and unlocking. Just sign up, then send the MX settings to your hosting provider and presto!
Go ahead through the steps and you’ll see. I know some folks over there and will pass along your comments on the confusion about the product.
OK. I’ll give it a try. The form just looks very scary because it is so official looking. I’m used to just providing an email address and quickly verifying ownership.
I’ll give it a shot and post the results.
That still doesn’t solve my other problem, right? I want to READ all my email from all my accounts in the AOL reader.
Thanks again!
Oh, so you want to read ALL your emails from other providers in the AOL interface too?
Presto!
Use the AOL Desktop application!
http://daol.aol.com/software/desktop/
Streamlined Email
Now you can see all of the emails that you have open at once. With the new tabbed interface you can see the emails that you are writing and reading — no matter how many you have open. And you can send and receive mail using multiple email accounts — including Gmail?, Verizon® and more — right in the same window.
I think AOL has SOOOOOO many tools that they dont really get the word out on all of them.
So, check out AOL Desktop to combine all your emails to be viewed in the AOL Mail UI.
Then, use the Personal Domains feature to apply the AOL Mail UI to yourname@yourdomain.com
Cheers! TGIF
Question,
I currently have “bring your own access” for 14.95. If I drop that, do I lose my email addresses???
Thanks
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