Do I need a gmail account to setup my Android device? Or can I use my icloud email address?

CaliforniaMan · October 19th, 2011, 10:19 AM

Do I need a gmail account to setup my Android device? Or can I use my icloud email address to setup google account and to setup android?

~~sitlet~~ · October 19th, 2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Do I need a gmail account to setup my Android device?

Yes.

chanchan05 · October 19th, 2011, 10:28 AM

You need a GMail account AFAIK. Because Google Account = Gmail account. You need that to access the Android Market.

Martimus · October 19th, 2011, 10:30 AM

No you do not need a Gmail account to set up Android! That said you lose functionality when you use a third party email account.

As for iCloud, it doesn't exactly have a lot of history so it's anybodies guess. The best way to find out will be to try it. If it works, great! If not, do a factory data reset and set up the phone using a Gmail account.

aysiu · October 19th, 2011, 10:54 AM

If you want to install any apps through the Android Market, you need to sign in with a Google account.

CaliforniaMan · October 21st, 2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martimus

No you do not need a Gmail account to set up Android! That said you lose functionality when you use a third party email account.

As for iCloud, it doesn't exactly have a lot of history so it's anybodies guess. The best way to find out will be to try it. If it works, great! If not, do a factory data reset and set up the phone using a Gmail account.

What functionality will i lose if i use my mobilme email as my google account? thanks

Crashdamage · October 21st, 2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaMan

What functionality will i lose if i use my mobilme email as my google account? thanks

Mostly the ability to use the Android Market and to sync contacts, etc. to Google. That's all I use my Gmail account for. Actually using it for email is up to you.

evanmjones · January 26th, 2012, 03:19 PM

You can't use the Android Market without a GMail account? I /just/ bought the Android because Apple is clearly evil and insists on locking me in and now I find out I can't use all of my phone unless I sign up to anohter big corporation's brand? Shit, I might as well have bought the iPhone. Say it 'aint so......

aysiu · January 26th, 2012, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanmjones

You can't use the Android Market without a GMail account? I /just/ bought the Android because Apple is clearly evil and insists on locking me in and now I find out I can't use all of my phone unless I sign up to anohter big corporation's brand? Shit, I might as well have bought the iPhone. Say it 'aint so......

You can use your phone--you just can't use the Android Market. Of course, if you don't like Google, I don't know why you'd get an Android phone. Android is made by Google.

jerofld · January 26th, 2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanmjones

You can't use the Android Market without a GMail account? I /just/ bought the Android because Apple is clearly evil and insists on locking me in and now I find out I can't use all of my phone unless I sign up to anohter big corporation's brand? Shit, I might as well have bought the iPhone. Say it 'aint so......

You don't have to use the Android Market, either. There are alternatives.

Amazon AppStore

GetJar | Mobile |

SlideME | Android Apps Market: Download Free & Paid Android Applications

Each have their own downloadable market app.

You also don't have to use Gmail. You just have to have an account with Google. Gmail comes with that. If you never use it, it has no effect. The Google account is just to keep a record of apps you purchase at that point. You can use whatever email account you wish as your primary email, but Google requires you have a Google account to access the Android Market. Just like Amazon requires you to have an Amazon account to access their market. It's nothing evil or locking you in. They just need to have an account with you so you can purchase apps (if you do end up buying apps).

DoctorBrown · January 26th, 2012, 03:54 PM

So, it appears that you need the Gmail account for certain functionality, but there is nothing that says you have to use it as your main email address, contacts or calendar, or other functions. With a little bit of work, (and a lot of patience) I'm not using Google for anything significant, unless I chose to use a particular service.

I am using DejaOffice for my Contacts, Calendar, Memos, etc., and using Companion Link to sync that to my PC running Palm Desktop. (Haven't found a good equivalent desktop app that I like.) I disabled sync to Google so my contacts, calendar,etc stay where I want them. If you are willing to work with the quirks, it does the job. I use the email addresses that I have with my main ISP, Comcast. I handle email via K-9 Mail which allows POP3 or IMAP syncing.

I also avoid as much as I can, storing any of my data 'in the cloud'. I know that limits some flexibility in accessing my data, and may be a bit paranoid. ALL the data on my phone is synced with my Windows PC via various apps. So if I loose the phone, I haven't lost any data.

DoctorBrown · January 26th, 2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aysiu

You can use your phone--you just can't use the Android Market. Of course, if you don't like Google, I don't know why you'd get an Android phone. Android is made by Google.

The main reason that I got a Droid was that I liked the Droid device in general but once I started using it, I found the Google apps to be really lame. I was very disappointed after that. I also hated that they tried to make you use their online services. So I've spent considerable time finding 3rd party apps that I do like, or at least that I think work better. It's made syncing a bit more of a chore, but worth it for me.

I also didn't consider an iPhone because I didn't want to get locked into Apple because I don't use Apple for any of my other PC work.

Crashdamage · January 26th, 2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorBrown

I also avoid as much as I can, storing any of my data 'in the cloud'. I know that limits some flexibility in accessing my data, and may be a bit paranoid. ALL the data on my phone is synced with my Windows PC via various apps.

Your biggest security risk - BY FAR - is using Windows. That should make anyone paranoid.

aysiu · January 26th, 2012, 05:49 PM

I'm glad people have found workarounds, but it's not exactly a big secret that Android phones use Google services. I'm also not surprised by the iOS devices needing iTunes. I'm also not surprised by Microsoft OneNote requiring Windows.

DoctorBrown · January 26th, 2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashdamage

Your biggest security risk - BY FAR - is using Windows. That should make anyone paranoid.

You do make a valid point.

But NO OS or environment in this day and age is completely secure. I also take what measures I can to monitor and protect my Windows system. I still prefer to control the data on my system than trust it to 'the cloud.'

davidchsw · January 27th, 2012, 07:54 AM

I don't think Google makes you use their services. There are plenty of alternatives available to their services. If they prevented alternatives then I would agree with you. I don't use my Gmail account for email. I do use their calendar because it works well enough for me. I realize there is the potential for someone to get into my calendar and see I have a doctors appointment next month or my son goes to scout meetings on Thursday nights. I can live with that risk. The platform is versatile enough to accommodate many different people.

Kicksilver · January 27th, 2012, 10:14 AM

You need a Google account.

If you have a login at Youtube or Orkut, you can use that e-mail in the market already.

My gf uses her hotmail e-mail on her Xperia.

Frisco · January 27th, 2012, 11:32 AM

Yes, you can get an Android device and have nothing to do with Google/Gmail, etc. At least for now, as mentioned they haven't locked the alternatives out as yet. I do expect it at some point down the line, though.