UPDATE: Rather have a look at Google apps for this.

Yes, you can. You can use yourname@yourdomain.com while using the gmail interface.

Here’s how…

1. Go to Gmail.com and sign up for a new account. Use whatever name you like, but preferably one relating to you and one you’ll remember. Use your current work email address as the secondary account (joe@joeblogs.com).
2. Click on “I’m ready, show me my account”.
3. Click on “settings” at the top right of the window.
4. Click on the “Accounts” tab in the main content area.
5. Click on “Add another email address you own”.
6. Make sure your name is correct and put your primary email address (joe@joeblogs.com) into the email address field and click “Next step”.
7. Click on “Send verification”.
8. Check your main email and copy/paste the code supplied into the field waiting and click “Verify”.
9. Now you have 2 email accounts showing. Click on “make default” next to your work account.
10. Click on “Compose Mail” on the left, and send an email to your work account. It should come directly to your gmail interface, and from your work account.

You’re done… give yourself a pat on your back.

If you’re wondering why someone would do this then you’ve either never used the gmail interface, or you don’t like the way it works.

I have been working like this for a good few months now. I can check my email from any device from anywhere. I occasionally download all my mail into Thunderbird to keep a backup, but on a whole, I’m embracing the cloud and it makes life so much easier and cleaner.

If you want to modify things like a signature, display settings, filters etc. then fiddle around in the settings area until you’re happy.

But you want to write emails while you’re offline? No problem, just download Google Gears. It downloads your last few month’s emails and allows you to compose emails even when you’re offline.