Imail and Umail

Indiana University has partnered with Microsoft and Google to offer students two options for email and other online communication services, Imail (powered by Microsoft) and Umail (powered by Google), at no cost to IU.

Eligibility

Presently, the following are eligible to create Imail or Umail accounts:

• Newly admitted students can create Imail or Umail accounts using the Starter Kit; see How do I get my first computing accounts at IU?
  
  
• Any current student who does not already have an IU email account can create an Imail and Umail account using the Account Management Service (AMS); see At IU, if I already have some computing accounts, how do I get others?
  
  
• Any graduating student with an IU Webmail (Cyrus) account can create an Imail and Umail account using AMS; see At IU, if I already have some computing accounts, how do I get others?

Note: Students can have accounts on both systems, but must still choose one system as a preferred email address.

During the fall 2008 semester, UITS plans to offer all students with IU Webmail (Cyrus) accounts the opportunity to create Imail and Umail accounts using AMS. At that time, students with IU Webmail (Cyrus) accounts may choose to continue using them or opt into one (or both) of these services. If you choose to move, you will not be able to switch back to IU Webmail. IU faculty and staff will not be eligible for Imail or Umail accounts, and will continue to use existing mail services (e.g., Cyrus and Exchange).

Things to consider

If you create an Imail or Umail account:

• Your full IU email address will contain your Network ID username and your campus domain regardless of the system you choose, because your preferred email address determines where you receive IU mail. Your reply-to address, however, will reflect the mail service you have chosen (e.g.,  username@imail.iu.edu  or  username@umail.iu.edu ).
  
  
• You are required to establish an IU email account and read email sent from IU faculty and administration; see official communications information.
  
  
• You will manage your mail accounts through the Account Management Service (AMS).
  
  
• While you are an enrolled student, advertisements will not appear in the IU-customized systems. After you graduate, you will have the option of keeping your account, at which time ads will appear.
  
  
• Any accounts with Google Gmail or Microsoft email (e.g., Hotmail, Windows Live Mail, or Exchange Labs) that you already have or create in the future will remain separate from your Umail or Imail account.

Important: Because much of the information shared via email to conduct university business is protected by privacy laws and other institutional policies, student employees must use their Webmail (Cyrus) accounts to conduct university business. Imail and Umail accounts are hosted by vendors external to IU; therefore you cannot use them to conduct university business. IU students who are employed by the university may use their Imail or Umail accounts to send student-related mail, but must use their Webmail accounts for work-related mail. For example, associate instructors may use Imail or Umail to send mail about academic work to their professors and other students, but must use Webmail to send work-related mail to professors for whom they work and students whom they teach. If you have questions, contact your campus Support Center.

Getting help

The Support Center provides help for all IU mail systems, including Imail and Umail. Both Microsoft and Google also offer 24/7 support.

Also see:

• At IU, what are Exchange accounts, and how do I get one?
• Email at each IU campus
• How private are Imail and Umail accounts?
• Reading your Imail or Umail mail using a desktop email client
• Why am I having trouble logging into Imail or Umail, and what can I do to correct this?