How to use Outlook as the interface to Gmail

1. Get your contacts into Gmail:

1. Open Outlook and select File -> Import and Export
2. Choose Export to a file and select Next
3. Choose Comma Separated Values (Windows) and select Next
4. Highlight the Contact folder to export and select Next
   
5. Select a filename and location to store the contacts and select Next
6. Select Finish
7. Now log into your Gmail account
8. Select Contacts from the left-hand navigation area
9. Click the Import link in the upper right of the contact area
10. Browse for the file you created in the first 6 steps and select Import Contacts

That's it. All your Outlook contacts will now be in your Gmail account. From Gmail you can click on any contact to fully edit their information. I know the purpose is to use Outlook as the main interface for Gmail but having your contacts duplicated in Gmail is to ensure that you are never without easy access to your email and contacts.

Next we have to setup how to check and send out emails through your Gmail account from Outlook.

2. Setup Outlook to check your Gmail account and use Gmail to send emails out:

Luckily Google has made this very easy by allowing users POP3 and SMTP access to Gmail.

First - Allow POP access to your Gmail account:
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=13273

Leave the email on Gmail and have it pushed into the Gmail archive. The reason is if your system ever crashes or your on the road you will have complete access to your emails.

Second - Get a new email account setup in Outlook to handle Gmail:
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=13278
(version of Outlook before 2003)

Gmail combined with Outlook is a powerful combination that ensures you're never without your email.