Question about gmail

dlb · Feb 24, 2011

Is it now required to have a mobile phone with text messaging to sign up for gmail? A friend is trying to create a new acct and does not have a cell phone (yeah, well, not everyone has a cell phone) and can't seem to get past the the "verification" stage. The sign-up process wants to send a text message to verify the new account even though a valid "recovery email address" was entered ... WTF??!!!??!?!??!!??!!!!??!?

Kestrel13! · Feb 24, 2011

This is all I am seeing while trying to sign up...

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(snipped, too much info not relevant to the post)

dlb · Feb 24, 2011

Yeah - I know how to create a gmail acct - I have several But a friend is trying to create one and the final step (which is unavoidable) asks for a mobile phone number. I logged out, rebooted my PC, cleansed my DNS and cookies and ran an ipconfig release/renew session, and tried to create my own new account, and I was also 'locked' in to needing a mobile phone to send a verification text msg to. Weird. I'm VERY familiar with setting up new email accts (I have about 15 across different providers including a free NetZero account, an AOL account, several Yahoo accounts, several Gmail accounts, several Hotmail/Windows Live accounts, an Excite account, and probably a few other from years ago that I can't remember)

EDIT - weird - I just now tried to create a new "bogus" account for the 5th time, and it went through w/o asking for a mobile phone verification number. Weird. I tried about 4 or 5 times - SERIOUSLY - and was required to add a mobile phone number EACH TIME. Suddenly, it's not required even though all the info I'm entering is EXACTLY the same.... I'm going to try again with totally different info just to see if it happens again.

dlb · Feb 25, 2011

OK - I just created a couple of 'dummy' account w/o any problems, but this is after attempting to create at least 4 or 5 accounts myself, and my friend tried at least 5 times himself. I decided to throw one of these new 'dummy' account his way since he is still unable to create an account. Maybe he/we entered invalid 'anti-spam' letters (you know, when they display some weird distorted lettering that you have to type in normally), but I have a hard time believing that I did it wrong 4-5 times in a row, and that he did it at least 6-7 times.

Anyway - mission accomplished. This thread can be locked, removed, flushed, whatever.

@ Kestrel13! - Thanks for your help, but I/we knew what we were doing and it appears to have been a temp glitch at gmail, or a repeated mental glitch involving 2 savvy PC people over the course of a combined 10+ attempts to create an account....
:-D

usafveteran · Feb 25, 2011

Is this the page you saw to create a new account?: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount. I see no mention there of a cell phone #.

DavidGP · Feb 25, 2011

usafveteran said: ↑

Is this the page you saw to create a new account?: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount. I see no mention there of a cell phone #.
Click to expand...

I know you have sorted this issue with a workaround but ranting on a service with WTF!!!!!!s serves no purpose as if you dont like to enter a mobile number or like the service/application then use another service.

I also dont see a cell/mobile must have enter option, I know its a user option if you wish to recover your account, just like adding a Fav Question or alternate email addy.

Just setup a new account off a name of a domain I own (actually will come in handy as it was not used) and no mention of cell/mobile numbers being needed.

I have to ask are they in a diffrent country or using DNS redirect server like OpenDNS or GooglesDNS as that may have been the issue?

dlb · Feb 25, 2011

The mobile phone requirement was showing up after the screen linked to above by usafveteran. It showed up 4 or 5 times in a row, then stopped showing up. All I can think is that maybe the "validation code" was entered incorrectly, but I can't imagine that both my friend and I each entered an invalid code 4 or 5 times in a row.... weird. Anyway, the account was eventually set up....

silas · Feb 25, 2011

I went to make a Gmail email for a fish forum since they didn't allow I guess regular emails. Anyways I forgot my many Gmails Ive made in pass and attempted to remake one at Google Gmail. At the end of the making the account. It asked for my cell number so it would send me my verification or whatever. And I tried many times to without my number. Eventually I said screw that and passed it on. Now a week later I go back to try again and same thing (needs cell number) so I punched it inrolleyes.

LauraR · Feb 25, 2011

From: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=114129

I don't have a phone. Can I sign up? If you're trying to sign up for a Google Account, you may be asked to provide a phone number to verify your account. You'll have the option to receive a verification code by text message (SMS) or automated voice call. If you choose the text message option, make sure the phone you use has text-messaging capabilities. If you don't have a mobile phone, try using the voice call option. If you don't have a phone, ask a friend to use his or her number to receive the code via text message or voice call. If you use the voice call option, you'll receive a call and hear an automated message with a verification code. Enter the code on the page to complete the process.
Note: Standard text messaging and calling charges apply.

Why am I being asked to provide a mobile number?
In an effort to protect our users from abuse, we sometimes ask users to verify their identity before they're able to create or sign into accounts. We take spam and abuse very seriously, so there are numerous things we do to block spammers and their messages. Sending verification codes to phones is one way to verify that real people, not robots, are creating and signing into Google Accounts.

Will Google keep or use my mobile phone number?
Google will not sell your personal information for marketing purposes without your permission, nor will we contact you using this number without your expressed permission. Google will only use your phone number to send you a verification code. We only store each phone number to make sure it is not being used to create or verify a large number of accounts. For more information, please review the Google Privacy Policy: http://www.google.com/intl/en/privacypolicy.html.
Click to expand...

So, while I"m not sure it's effective in stopping spam since I know how many spammers I delete with gmail accounts, I wish this was more of a practice with email services to help with internet spam. This has been for a while. I signed up for a gmail account probably 3 years ago and chose the voice verification. It's probably not for every registration.

Kestrel13! · Feb 25, 2011

Yeah - I know how to create a gmail acct - I have several
Click to expand...

I was not ttrying to show you HOW :-D Not my intention.

DavidGP · Feb 26, 2011

This mobile number thing for Gmail must be a local country thing as I'm still not getting it but if you enter 0000000000 for the number does it work or 1234567789

Although on another topic this is why Google is not the dogs! that most think they are, secretive gathering of data is happening.

plodr · Feb 26, 2011

I read a blog that mentioned google started this sometime in Feb. 2011 that you get verified by a cellphone by SMS or voice. I can't find the blog article but here it is on google
http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=114129#whynumber

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Question about gmail

dlb MajorGeek

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

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usafveteran MajorGeek

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LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

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