Technology, business and change
New Gmail account requires SMS verification
I had to create a new gmail account yesterday for a project and was greeted with the following screen right after creating the new email address:
That’s right, big G was asking for my mobile phone number to verify the new email. I was kinda surprised honestly. You know, Google already has a lot of information on me and probably already have my mobile phone number somewhere, but I just feel it’s information I shouldn’t have to share for a free email address. Then, I asked myself: “Let’s say I don’t have a mobile phone, can I still create a gmail account?”.
No phone, ask a friend
The process is not flexible at all. If you don’t have a mobile phone, you’re screwed, ask a friend:
If you’d like to sign up for a Gmail address, you need to have a mobile phone that has text-messaging capabilities.
If you don’t have a phone, you may want to ask a friend if you can use his or her number to receive a code.
What’s going on big G?
We’re Google, of course we store your mobile number
Google will use your phone number to send an invitation code in a text message to your phone. In doing so, we store each phone number to make sure it is used to create a limited number of accounts.
Your number will also be associated with your account to avoid unnecessary future verifications for other Google services. For more information, please review the Gmail Privacy Policy: http://mail.google.com/mail/help/privacy.html. In accordance with this policy, your number will never be sold or shared for marketing purposes without your permission, nor will we contact you using this number without your express permission.
Your country is not available, ask a friend
There are a number of countries and carriers for which we don’t provide service because of varying limitations. If possible, you may want to try a friend’s phone on another carrier.
Can it get less flexible?
I don’t think so. I mean, you have to admit the limitations and conditions are a little crazy for creating a free email address. But, if it happens to you and don’t want to give your phone number, go through the process again, you might not have to verify by SMS. That’s what happened to me: I just started over and everything went fine. So, I don’t know exactly what triggers this SMS verification process, but it’s annoying.
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I heard rumors about that. I think it's definitely an unnecessary precaution.
It most be in relation with the new "Google Voice" project they are working on… The bigger the database of cell number, the better for them…
I didn't think of Google Voice, but it's definitely a possibility. Google does everything for a reason and I doubt this SMS verification is only to cut spam!
They did this a couple of years ago too. At the time, I didn't have text on my phone, so I couldn't do it. I forget if I got my first account as a request from a friend, or if it was after they stopped the sms thing. Ever since, though, I simply send a request to one of my other email addresses for extra accounts.
A couple of years ago? I thought it was "recent news", but apparently not…That's interesting.
I hope everything is good with you Lori, how are your projects going?
Yes, You are right its really strange feature Google have introduce. I will surely check it my self. Thats really surprise for many users. Thanks for update
I think it's only for security reason because a lot of gmail user today using it as a scammer or spammer. Even it's annoying but i think i like it.
Well it's certainly effective, but at the same time it's not consistent so spammers are still able to create addresses.
I agree with Fazli that it is a way to prevent more accounts created only to send spam. And from that point of view that is reasonable and understood. But from average user this is really disturbing. I don't want google to store all informations about me, including my home adress, mobile number, my hair and eyes colour, my preferences, what I like, what I dislike, who I'm talking to and who am I dating with. That is the way all of this is going to.
Yes, for the average user it's extremely disturbing. I tried to imagine a regular user (non tech-savy) creating its first Gmail account and having to enter a mobile phone number. I mean, there's no way it's going to happen.
Spams, virus, terrorists. They changed the system in such a way that it seems that faith is lost. Now google started sms confirmation for free email accounts, thank GOD almost everyone has a mobile phone in this era.
Yes, well everyone has one, but it's not a traditional process. It's just like everything else, people are shocked at first, but will get used to it (fortunately or unfortunately depending how you look at it).
I think this is another movement from Google to catch data from his users, a start a new kind of mobile marketing.
Craiglists does the same thing, I never thought Google would start doing it too, I wonder how long it will last.
Till then,
Jean
If google really gonna apply then it can
-prevent the spam use of G mail
-provide google a big list of phone numbers for advertise purpose
- track terrorism activities as well
isn't it..?
Fuck off Google, you can't have my number. I got a hotmail account instead
I think it's require for prevent to fake email ID. Good one trick of sms verification.
I heard before for this event but I do not understand the purpose of this engagement. I think that this is definitely unnecessary step.
This is hilarious and annoying. I think google needs to omit this step
Yes, I don't like this sms verification method of Gmail. I hope Google will remove this steps in earlier.
I know this is supposed to clamp down on spam but all it does is move spammers from Gmail to yahoo etc. Eventually they will get past it, Craigslist phone verification has failed miserably to reduce spam and Im sure this will follow.
Recently i created a new gmail id and sms verification not required for that. I think this step may be remove.
That was hilarious. Either the spammers are winning their war by making companies resort to these hilariously paranoid measures (which will alienate potential users), or the google folks are too confident in the necessity of their products. Either way, I just signed up for Yahoo instead.
Is that so? I've just created an account in google, they didn't ask my number. Maybe depends on the country you are living? or they've removed it?
Thanks for this blog
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I also heard before for this event but I do not understand the purpose of this engagement. I think that this is definitely unnecessary step.
Gmail account requires SMS verification is make me suck, but may this one of google marketing trick? I know this from this article
I deleted my old account completely and create new a/c but at a time of verification code there is a message which i seen many of time i.g. Phone is registered to another user.
You can send messages from Google itself by clicking the channel you just created, you can send sms in many languages like Hindi, English, Tamil etc.
i have sms availbility from sms or emails. i unblocked emails. It is taking forever. I have all the things neeed for it to work. I dont want another site i just want phonezoo to work.
this is big brother bullshit
and i think its clearing your cookies that triggers it….cuz i made an account last night ..and with youtube uploaded 2 vids spent alot of time on it… i wake up its still signed in…cleared cookies so i had to sign in and BANG…they hit me with this crap….i was like this sux but oh well i guess, punch in my phone number….and have yet to recieve a text…now i cant sign into my accounts….all they say is "if you dont recieve the text code in 24 hours try again"… what kinda help is that ?….so in 24 hours when i try again i'm sure it wont work…what do i do?…try again?…ive had it with these Nazi Googly Fucks …i wish people would stand up for there privacy and just fucking boycott there asses…I'm Pissed !
Yes even i faced same problem i have mobile but one of my friend created more than 5 or 6 account for different purpose after that when again going to create a/c using his cell no. Gmail shown error that you have reached maximum and not create more a/c using cell no. so its very frustrating. Gmail need to be remove such things.
Yesterday i was creating my account but it didnot asked me for my mobile number. May be it applys on some countries and the restriction surely removed soon.
This is very interesting. It will definitely keep me from getting a gmail account. I was actually considering switching from hotmail, but I'm not going to risk getting occasional spam text messages.
how about if we change our number, in case of losing one ?
i wake up its still signed in…cleared cookies so i had to sign in and BANG…they hit me with this crap….i was like this sex but oh well i guess, punch in my phone number….and have yet to receive a text…
Yes! You can send messages from Google itself by clicking the channel you just created, you can send sms in many languages like Hindi, English, Tamil etc.
are you serious
thank's god I already have 5 GMAIL ACcount ! lol !
Thank you "hosting" for your suggestion. To avoid spam they are taking some preventive measures.
I guess I'm lucky I made an account already, this is ridiculous.
solution
1. when you create a new account- give secondary email id (of an old legit gmail or yahoo mail etc account)
2. try again
Funny, i have one mobile, so if i want to create email accounts to my 4 kids and my wife, i have to buy 5 mobiles too?
Hell that sucks
[...] are some people who object to this type of verification. As we read in New Gmail account requires SMS verification, this process was implemented in the summer of 2009 and, quite understandably, many people do not [...]
[...] are some people who object to this type of verification. As we read in New Gmail account requires SMS verification, this process was implemented in the summer of 2009 and, quite understandably, many people do not [...]