AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University students have a new e-mail system powered by Google. The new system is called "CyMail," but it looks and feels like Google's Gmail.
ISU students have been clamoring for a more versatile university mail system that offers such features as calendars, collaborative document sharing, word processing, spreadsheets and more storage space. Google provides those features and more.
"Our primary objective in switching to Google was to respond to student needs," said Jim Davis, vice provost for Information Technology and chief information officer. "Google's product offers powerful features that are unmatched at most universities."
More features, no charge
With input from student government, they settled on Google and recently completed the contract for services.
New students who created their Iowa State e-mail accounts in early August were the first students on the CyMail system. This week, IT officials opened CyMail to the rest of the student body. For many students, moving from the current WebMail to CyMail will be as easy as changing their passwords. Those who want to bring their old mail into the new system will need to take a few additional steps.
E-mail addresses will stay the same
Savings from the switch
The impetus for the Google partnership was to provide better mail services to students, but an added bonus is budget savings. "When the current WebMail system reaches the end of its life cycle in a few years, there will be no need to refresh and replace that equipment," Davis said.
For more information about the new CyMail system, go to
www.it.iastate.edu/cymail.