Is there such a thing as a permanent e-mail address that one can get and just carry with them as they change providers. I have been through AOL, SBC, and now AT&T. Each time the address is changed, it presents problems. Someone mentioned to me that I can get a g-mail e-mail address and get all mail there and that should allow me to use the internet for everything else. That sounds too eacy. Can anyone help?

There is actually a way to set up G-mail in Outlook, although I forgot how.

You can get email accounts through G-mail, Yahoo! and Hotmail. No matter who your internet provider is, your email stays the same because it is a web based email rather than an ISP based email.

**EDIT** - Here, you'll find a couple of different tips on how to set up web based emails with Outlook. The tips are inside of each link.

Outlook Tips, Tricks and Secrets - About Email (http://email.about.com/od/outlooktips/Outlook_Tips_Tricks_and_Secrets.htm)

There is hot mail, Yahoo, g mail and several others I am sure, you can buy a web site and have your own email address you own.

I have had my own hotmail address for over 12 years though almost that many servers. And my same Yahoo since about the same time.

There is no such thing as a permanent address, but if you are looking for portability then a webmail address, such as gmail would be good.
This way it doesn't matter who your ISP is you will be able to access it from ANY internet enabled device.

I have had Yahoo! -- Hotmail -- G-Mail is GREAT -- They all seem to be fine when you

Change ISP providers -- that is why I don't get attached to ISP eMail services...

You can go search this place for free emails to your heart's content:

Free Email Address Directory : Guide to free email and other services (http://www.emailaddresses.com/)

Coincidentally, at this moment they have a "Spotlight On" for fastmail.fm, which is what I have, except I have one of their paying levels. But their free level is pretty good too and includes lots of stuff most free ones don't have.

Some geeks I know who have a second free account seem to like gmail. Personally, I wouldn't go with Hotmail. They just constantly screw with everything and I just don't think much of it anymore, and am thinking about dumping my account there. That's my "main junk account," and I'm quite sick of them.

I have to disagree with Curley Ben. I have one of these non-existant permanent addresses.
Alumni of certain colleges are offered these and they only forward. The idea is that they are used for the Alumni associations to find you. I wouldn't dare consider using it on a permanent basis.

I think Curlyben may have been implying that you never know when something might just go POOF! Therefore, nothing is permanent.