Tip of the Week: Turn Your Favorite Email Client into Gmail on Your Android Device

Even though Google would prefer it if everyone switched over to Gmail as their primary email client, this simply isn’t going to happen. Many businesses are set in their ways, and would prefer to use Microsoft Outlook. Other users might still be in the days of Yahoo Mail for their personal email account. It’s to the users of other email clients that Gmailify is targeted.

With Gmailify, you can add Gmail features to your non-Gmail account, so long as you’re using Outlook or Yahoo on the Android Gmail app. Doing so lets you take advantage of the features of Gmail, without making a Gmail account. Currently, Gmailifying your inbox is only available for Android devices, but you might find it useful to view your work-based Outlook email system within a Gmail-like inbox.

According to Google, you can reap the following benefits:

• Gmail's spam protection
• Automatically sorting email based on type (Social, Updates, Promotions)
• Faster search, with advanced search operators
• Travel and hotel reservations appearing automatically in Google Now
• All your mail in one place.
• Better mail notifications on mobile

Before you can use the Gmail app for your non-Gmail accounts, you’ll need to link the accounts to the Gmail application. To do so, open the menu in the top-left corner and tap Settings. Next, tap the non-Gmail account that you want to add. Now all you have to do is select Link Account, and you’ll be able to see your email inbox in the Gmail app for Android.

For those interested in Gmailifying their inbox, you might be interested to know that your emails will also appear in the web-based version of Gmail. This helps you view your emails in a Gmail-like interface with all of its benefits, without actually using Gmail.

Of course, Gmail wouldn’t be offering these services if they didn’t have some sort of reason to do so. According to ITProPortal, Google has an ulterior motive for providing Gmail features to non-Gmail users:

This way [Google] gets to scan your messages and get its hands on your data which, understandably, you may not be too keen on. If you prefer the look of your existing email app, then you probably won’t be in a rush to start using the Gmail app either.

Gmailify might have its quirks, but there’s a reason why it’s loved by so many people. It’s a way to take advantage of Gmail’s benefits without sacrificing too much in the process. Still, other businesses might see this as a cause for concern, so it’s best to check with your IT provider before changing the way you view your email inbox. So… are you interested in trying out Gmailify? Leave your thoughts about it in the comments section below.

For more great technology tips and tricks, subscribe to Computerware’s blog today.