Free UW E-mail for Alumni
The UW Alumni Association and UW Technology are proud to announce new, improved e-mail services for all alumni! We've partnered with Microsoft and Google to offer two free (and ad-free!) e-mail systems especially for UW. Not only do you get lots of nifty features and a rock-solid e-mail program, you can also showcase your Husky pride.
You can choose between:
UW Windows Live
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The UW Windows Live suite of services includes UW Outlook Live, an ad-free e-mail service with 10 GB of storage and continued use of your @u.washington.edu or @uw.edu e-mail address. UW Outlook Live has all the great features of MS Outlook (calendar, contacts, etc.) along with the UW purple and gold you love! Learn more and sign up today.
UW Google Apps
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The UW Google Apps suite of services includes UW Google Email, an ad-free service with 7 GB of storage, plus a host of other features such as Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sites and Google Talk. Like UW Windows Live, UW Google Apps also has the familiar UW purple and gold you love! Learn more and sign up today.
About UW Alumni E-mail Services
Below are a few questions and answers about this new e-mail program for alumni. Be sure to check UW Technology's "Cloud Services" section for lots more detail, particularly about technical issues.
Who is eligible for these service?
At this time, all alumni as well as current and former UW students are eligible. UW Technology also now offers the service to UW faculty and staff (including those who are also alumni). There are some complications for some faculty/staff so we recommend that you check with your department's IT staff before signing up.
Do I have to be a UWAA member to get free e-mail?
No—all alumni and former students are eligible to sign up free of charge. Membership dues help support programs like this (not to mention providing lots of great benefits), so we certainly encourage you to join the UWAA if you're not already a member.
Do I have to pay anything to have UW e-mail?
No. Both the Microsoft and Google services are free to alumni (and students) of UW. UW Technology continues to build our partnership with both these companies.
Why are there two choices? How should I choose?
The university is proud to work with both companies to offer e-mail services to our graduates. The offerings are somewhat similar, with the main feature being a robust e-mail system that's tailored for UW. There are some differences—compare the Windows Live and Google Apps info pages to learn more. You'll be able to receive e-mail at your UW address with either one. Beyond comparing the features, it may be a matter of personal preference. We're pretty sure you'll like either one!
No ads? Don't Hotmail and Gmail have ads?
Just your e-mail and a splash of purple—UW Outlook Live and UW Google Email are ad-free, unlike their comparable standard e-mail services. We're proud to offer them sans advertising.
What's the difference between UW Windows Live and UW Outlook Live? Is this the same thing as Hotmail?
UW Windows Live is the entire suite of services we're offering (including Skydrive, Spaces, Messenger and more). Outlook Live is the e-mail program within Windows Live—it's the heart and soul and what we expect alumni to find most valuable. It has e-mail as well as calendaring and contact management—if you've ever used a desktop version of Outlook you'll find this very similar. UW Outlook Live is a bit like Hotmail as well, but includes the more powerful features of Outlook.
Is UW Google Email the same as Gmail?
It's very similar, but tailored speficially for UW. There's the UW theme plus no advertisements. All the features you may have used within Gmail are also available, such as chat, contacts as well as Google Docs and Calendar.
Can I sign up for both services?
Short answer: yes, but it can get confusing, thus we don't recommend it. It's technically possible to sign up for both, but you're only able to set your UW e-mail to go to one at a time. So we suggest avoiding the confusion and sticking with one. If you're the inquisitive sort, you can test out both then set your forwarding to the one you prefer.
How much e-mail storage space is included with each account?
Each UW Outlook Live account will accommodate 10GB of e-mail while UW Google Email has 7GB of storage space.
I already have a UW e-mail account and messages stored there. Can I transfer my messages to UW Outlook Live or UW Google Email?
Yes, the process is a bit complicated, but UW Technology has put together a step-by-step guide for both services. Check out their instructions for UW Outlook Live or UW Google Email.
I have my UW e-mail set to forward to another address. Can I keep doing that and still use these services?
No. Your @u.washington.edu address can only be forwarded to one other address. If you want to use UW Windows Live or UW Google Apps to receive your UW e-mail, you'll have to switch your forwarding address. You can view your forwarding information on the Manage UW NetID Resources page.
I'm having trouble signing up for UW Windows Live or UW Google Apps. Where can I get help?
For problems activating either service or changing you password, please contact UW Technology's Help Desk. They also have some other answers on their Frequently Asked Questions page.
