I'm looking for a reliable email hosting service that can do the following:


Webmail Access
Mobile Webmail Access (I don't like downloading mails to my phone using IMAP or POP)

I don't mind if it is a full version of the Webmail. As long as it renders properly on my phone, I'm happy with it.

Ability to download all the emails (sent/received) to my computer as backup
99.9% Uptime MINIMUM

Having features like calenders will be nice. As far as I know, Rackspace and Gmail seems to offer them. What's your experience with them?

I'm using Gmail's free service currently though.

It might be worth noting that British Telecom offers POP3 and unlimited email storage. I would say that they all offer downlading of emails to your computer.

Google Apps Standard its free for up to 50 users and up to 500 emails a day. :)

I've had a much better time using Google Apps than Rackspace's Exchange hosting, especially for large inboxs (tens of thousands of messages or more) where Exchange can be sluggish and cumbersome but Google's infrastructure handles it with ease. It's tough to beat Google's intuitive search and filtering functionality as well. Overall Google delivers a superior product.

Google delivers a superior product.

I totally agree with you. I also use google's email service for about1 year now and haven't regret using it. i have used exchange before but i usen't satisfiable with it.

Are you syncing up to outlook or just using webmail?

Going to be needing mobile access?

I use RackSpace email for about 10 clients. Non exchange version. I like it alot. Clients can use it and it is rock solid.

I believe that Google stores all email data in more than one geographic location, but don't believe that Rackspace does. Please correct me if I am wrong!

I like Google Apps.

Are you syncing up to outlook or just using webmail?I only use Webmail but I download the emails to Thunderbird as backup using IMAP.

Going to be needing mobile access?Yep. Currently, I'm having no issues with Gmail's HTML version on my mobile (not Mobile version).

I use RackSpace email for about 10 clients. Non exchange version. I like it alot. Clients can use it and it is rock solid.Thanks for the review! :)

I believe that Google stores all email data in more than one geographic location, but don't believe that Rackspace does. Please correct me if I am wrong!

I like Google Apps.I'm interested to know it as well. I'll do a quick Google search later on their redundancy. :)

it sounds like google is winning this one. but that was a given

it sounds like google is winning this one. but that was a given

Rackspace also lost data on their "cloud" servers recently. Another reason to go with Google.

Do you have a link to that?

Do you have a link to that?
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1008324&highlight=rackspace+cloud+outage

I've heard of that outage.... that was the time I was serious about signing up with RS-C

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1008324&highlight=rackspace+cloud+outage

Thanks. Checking it now.

I believe that Google stores all email data in more than one geographic location, but don't believe that Rackspace does. Please correct me if I am wrong!

I like Google Apps.

I don't know if it's stored in more than one location, but I do know the emails are served from more than one location. Much lower inbox access times around the world.

OK found it!

For Google Apps customers, our RPO design target is zero, and our RTO design target is instant failover. We do this through live or synchronous replication: every action you take in Gmail is simultaneously replicated in two data centers at once, so that if one data center fails, we nearly instantly transfer your data over to the other one that's also been reflecting your actions.

http://googleappsdeveloper.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-google-does-disaster-recovery.html

Awesome.... does rackspace have this??

Rackspace also lost data on their "cloud" servers recently. Another reason to go with Google.

wow thats amazing I wouldn't think it would be that bad I mean rackspace is huge how could they engineer their cloud so poorly.

wow thats amazing I wouldn't think it would be that bad I mean rackspace is huge how could they engineer their cloud so poorly.

A little known fact is that Rackspace's "cloud" isn't exactly redundant in the sense that you're basically just getting a VPS with local storage. When Rackspace acquired Slicehost, they basically turned the same concept into a cloud offering. So if the hardware node your "cloud server" is on fails, you go offline.

Have you thought about other Exchange-based services? They would give you the calendar functionality and web access that you are looking for.

Have you thought about other Exchange-based services? They would give you the calendar functionality and web access that you are looking for.

Rackspace email has both web only access and exchange services ;) Separate plans, but same backbone.

I don't trust google not to read my mail, so I use rackspace email (IMAP), but I've had a lot of headaches with it. I'm open to suggestions on email providers.

Mind sharing what kind of imap problems you had with rackspace email? I was thinking of moving some stuff over there too.

I don't trust google not to read my mail, so I use rackspace email (IMAP), but I've had a lot of headaches with it. I'm open to suggestions on email providers.

I've used google for personal and businses mail and think they are great. Love the inbox and the easy functionality to sync to blackberry, iPhone, or any smartphone.

They won't let you change your primary email domain once you sign up with them, without either paying them a lot of money or deleting the domain and recreating it. So when we started with them, we need reliable email before all the details of the organization were setup, and we've long since changed our primary domain for our website and everything else, but you effectively can't change your domain with them without an exuberant fee (or deleting, and recreating your account), but you can use a secondary alias domain so your email looks ok. In a previous case, they left me stuck on a test domain. I also had an issue with emails bouncing recursively, and filling a user's mailbox with the same bounce message (in part because of their forced domain weirdness).

I value my email privacy too much to use google email, which is why I was using rackspace in the first place.

Mind sharing what kind of imap problems you had with rackspace email? I was thinking of moving some stuff over there too.

I've had lots of issues with IMAP connection timeouts with Rackspace when using an email client like Thunderbird. Their support was never helpful in resolving the problem. They've had a few outages too, more than I've ever had on Google Apps. Overall, Google Apps just seems to work better.

I agree that changing a domain should be easier with Google Apps, but I guess that's just something you need to be aware of before setting things up.

They won't let you change your primary email domain once you sign up with them, without either paying them a lot of money or deleting the domain and recreating it. So when we started with them, we need reliable email before all the details of the organization were setup, and we've long since changed our primary domain for our website and everything else, but you effectively can't change your domain with them without an exuberant fee (or deleting, and recreating your account), but you can use a secondary alias domain so your email looks ok. In a previous case, they left me stuck on a test domain. I also had an issue with emails bouncing recursively, and filling a user's mailbox with the same bounce message (in part because of their forced domain weirdness).

I value my email privacy too much to use google email, which is why I was using rackspace in the first place.

Interesting - how much do they charge to change domain ?

with the recent gmail deletion fiasco are you still willing to use google email hosting?

with the recent gmail deletion fiasco are you still willing to use google email hosting?

Yes I am still willing to use them. Are you no longer interested in the services Google has to offer after one slip up?

I would still be interested. I still like them loads, but I was just curious on how willing others would be. Every company has slip-ups. Let's hope those people affected get their stuff back and everything goes well.

Very true. I think like everything else people that are used to using Gmail would still be willing. I've been using them for a few years now.

Like anything else though some people may stray away but then find themselves back after a few weeks/months/ or even years.

See :) ... most consumers are very attached to what they are used too. If you are so comfortable with one setup and knowing where everything is, when that gets changed you become more apt to settle back with your old provider. Granted you take the good with the bad, but most of the time they make up for their shortcomings.

Just like how browsers are. I love my Firefox. I'm sticking with it.

The gmail fiasco reminded me how much I love my setup; I've been using Google Apps since day 1 but I also check my email via FastMail's POP (enhanced account) as a backup. That way, if Google looses any mail, I've got a copy elsewhere.
{snip}
Am currently looking for an email hosting solution, and this Fastmail option seems very interesting - thx for the suggestion.

Technical Information

FastMail provides one of the most secure and reliable email environments in the industry. Rock Solid Reliability. More safety.

Secure Email using WebMail, IMAP, POP and SMTP
Secure DAV file access, FTP
LDAP access to Address Book
XMPP Jabber support for Instant Messaging


Really like the DAV file access and Jabber support extras, I can definitely make use of these.

How's their customer & tech support?

It depends on the features that you need. With Rackspace you can create company directories, share company calendars, access to restore emails instantly from previous 2 weeks, you can mix and match exchange & rackspace mailboxes - all from the one login.

How's their customer & tech support?

Eh, it's okay. Their system hardly has any problems and when it does, their status page is updated instantly. When I've had to actually contact them, it's a slow response. Not awful... but slow (more than 24 hours.). I love FM though... great service.

Gmail for employees offer the facility that you want. Right now I am also using free Gmail service but it has option to upgrade.

I prefer google, always ;)

Didn't we just have a discussion somewhere about why RackSpace is still in business and etc?

As the discussion went, RackSpace is nothing great except the name. They have the money to advertise and they are big. That's why they stay alive because most of the bigger companies tend to choose big companies to deal with.

Google has made more of an impact either way. They tend to be out of the norm. Do things differently and etc. To me Google is always better as compared with others.

But if you ask me to choose Google or Rackspace - Google gets my vote without a grain of doubt.

Didn't we just have a discussion somewhere about why RackSpace is still in business and etc?

As the discussion went, RackSpace is nothing great except the name. They have the money to advertise and they are big. That's why they stay alive because most of the bigger companies tend to choose big companies to deal with.

Google has made more of an impact either way. They tend to be out of the norm. Do things differently and etc. To me Google is always better as compared with others.

But if you ask me to choose Google or Rackspace - Google gets my vote without a grain of doubt.

Do you mean that without looking at specifications, cost etc you always go for Google?

Erm... Well... to tell you the truth, with the experience that I have with Rackspace, it definitely gives me the idea of who is going to be charging more and who is going to be doing better.

Personal experience with RackSpace does matter too. I have been with them for the beginning of my career in Web Hosting and well... I could tell you for a fact that if the average cost outside is $10, they will be charging at least $50. They need to be at least 5 times more expensive than the rest. (And that's the least we're talking about)

I have never for a small moment seen or heard or known of RackSpace being cheaper than anyone else in anything they offer.

I am a reseller for RackSpace Email. Nothing else. And I love the hell out of it. Try and get someone on the phone at Google when you have a Gmail issue. JUST TRY THAT! RackSpace Email rules all and my only hope is that they keep on providing reasonably priced, UNOBTRUSIVE email for folks like me that just want fast, reliable, robust, SPAM free, NO AD email service. Thanks to all who work at Rackspace!

Google will work very well 99.9% of the time but when something goes wrong, I have little faith in Google's support team. Obviously with Gmail, you basically can't do anything if something goes wrong since it's a free service, but even when you pay for Google Apps, they can be extremely unhelpful and hard to reach.

I don't think you can go wrong with Google Apps.

I don't think you can go wrong with Google Apps.

Completely agreed. It's a bit pricey, but completely worth it.

I'm with Google (Google Apps), pretty much rock solid. I believe they have an SLA that you can depend on.

I have been using Google Apps email for both personal use and for business, and I must say I really like it, it's the best I've ever used.

Any place you go, there is always the possiblity of something that can go wrong. Its the nature of the beast. But what you can do is find a place that takes care of you no matter what. I host with Convergent Internet Solutions, they have taken care of me from day one. Something you can't say for Google, you ever need support... Good luck with that. There is nothing personal with them. Rackspace is nice, but can be expensive. Look CIS up, there a good group to work with.

Reviving a thread after months isn't the way to go. This is months old!

Google will work very well 99.9% of the time but when something goes wrong, I have little faith in Google's support team. Obviously with Gmail, you basically can't do anything if something goes wrong since it's a free service, but even when you pay for Google Apps, they can be extremely unhelpful and hard to reach.
It's wrong. I had my gmail hacked couple of years earlier and it took less than half an hour for them to help me in retrieving the account. The only thing matters is providing the right information. It was Gmail Free and I should say I was extremely pleased.

It's wrong. I had my gmail hacked couple of years earlier and it took less than half an hour for them to help me in retrieving the account. The only thing matters is providing the right information. It was Gmail Free and I should say I was extremely pleased.

Then you are lucky. That doesn't make my statement wrong.

Then you are lucky. That doesn't make my statement wrong.
Just wondering, have you got any bitter experience with Gmail support? You seem to be very strong on your argument.

Google APS is superb , if you only needs free emails . 100% Free and Best

Rackspace is known for their excellence focus on customer support.
Gmail you more of less on your own.
Depends how important your company is and how much money you want to spend :)

I don't know how much I want to have to do with Google... They are really not doing right by their "Do no evil" mission statement recently.

Do you really want to give google all that data?