Article 203

Talk about confusing! Google has many different services, but they aren't necessarily related.

1. A Gmail account is an email address provided by Google that ends in @gmail.com or @googlemail.com. (In other countries, there are other types of addresses.) CHCS does not have anything to do with these. 
2. A CHCS Gmail account is one of the services we offer to our clients. It is an email address using your own domain (like sample@your_domain_name.com) but which uses Gmail servers to send, receive, and store email. CHCS Gmail accounts are powered by Google Apps For Your Domain.
3. A Google Account is a service that can be used to log into many Google services, including Google Analytics, Google Reader, and lots more. It can also be used to create Google Groups.

Gmail accounts (#1) are automatically Google Accounts (#3). CHCS Gmail accounts (#2) are not automatically Goolgle Accounts (#3) but you can use a CHCS Gmail account to sign up for a Google Account. Here's how:

Go to 

https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount

In the text field marked "Your current email address:", enter your CHCS Gmail account. Fill out the rest of the form and click "I Accept". You will be sent an email asking to confirm your sign-up. Click the link in that email, and you will be signed up as a Google Account.

For more information on the differences between these types of accounts, see this explanation.