N.C. State will officially announce a transition from the current e-mail service that the University uses to an e-mail service run by Google. ‘

The University, currently using Squirrelmail, plans to make a full transition to Google Mail, or Gmail, by Fall of 2010. ‘

Starting today students will be able to log on to Google Apps at State and sign up for the beta version of Google applications at State using their unity ID and password. ‘

A number of advantages have been identified which makes Gmail an improvement over the traditional Squirrelmail system. According to Stan Martin, a computing consultant for State, Gmail will provide many more features for students. ‘

‘The nice thing is that students will be able to keep their unity ID, but it will provide them with more than seven gigabytes of service which is huge compared to what we are able to provide and in the process we are going to be able to save some money,’ Martin said. ‘The service will be terrific from the student perspective.’ ‘

According to Martin the inspiration to switch to Google mail was driven by student interest. Last year faculty from the Office of Information Technology performed an extensive study where they spoke with students, ultimately resulting in strong support from students to move to Google applications. ‘

‘It was driven by student interest in having more file space and a better user experience,’ Martin said. ‘

Martin said that Google Apps is a familiar interface for students and students from other universities who have transitioned to Google really enjoyed Gmail and transitioned easily. ‘

Rebekah Zabarsky, a sophomore in political science, already uses a Gmail account and said it is the only service she uses. ‘

‘I never check my Webmail, I have my Webmail forwarded to my Gmail [account],’ Zabarsky said. ‘It’s extremely effective and I’m a big advocate of Gmail.’ ‘

Martin said Information Technology will be targeting specific groups of students with invitations to test out the beta to guarantee covering the basis of the student body when the University goes live with Google applications. ‘

Martin said OIT was aware of student frustration due to the lack of file space provided with Squirrelmail and they had been working to provide a better service for students. Gmail was the ultimate solution, providing over seven gigabytes of service. ‘

‘Applications like Google provide a lot more functionality in addition to just a better e-mail service,’ Martin said. ‘We’re excited about the other kinds of features students will be able to have access to as well. That’s a bonus in addition to having a lot more file storage.’ ‘

The additional applications that Martin refers to are Google Talk, Google Calendar and Google Docs, all of which will also be available through the service. ‘

Samantha Van Ollefen, a junior in biological sciences, said she is looking forward to the additional storage space. ‘

‘I’ve run out of storage space multiple times and had to delete e-mails I didn’t want to get rid of yet,’ Van Ollefen said. ‘It will be really nice to have extra space to keep everything I need.’ ‘

Martin expects to go live with the beta around spring break and to have all students transitioned to Gmail by fall 2010. To request an invitation students may visit