The email Relay service is the simplest email provider of its kind on the Internet. Our system is designed to be the most reliable and the easiest to use service of its kind, all at a very affordable cost. Nevertheless, in an effort to better help our users in understanding how our service works, we have created this frequently asked questions section. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please contact us today and we will rapidly answer your query.

I'm hooked! I want to sign up. What do I do?

That's very simple. Once you have chosen the type of email package or model you need, simply click on the appropriate button for the email package that you need. That's all there is. After that, you will soon receive the information you need to get you going fast with our reliable email service!

Why would I pay to get an email address when I can get a free one at Yahoo, Hotmail or Google? Even my ISP (Internet Service Provider) offers me one included at no additional charge in my access package.

While most free email services offered by the above-mentioned companies are generally satisfactory, there are times when their systems go down temporarily, lose some emails or their systems are simply out of service at certain times. Add to that the large quantity of advertisements present on some of their pages and the inherent influx of spyware and/or viruses present and it's starting to deteriorate most users' experiences.

Our email Relay service runs on high-speed, high-reliability email servers that are connected to multiple OC-192 1000 Megs Internet backbone connections which are fully redundant at all times. Additionally, we don't use Tier 2 resellers in any way. All of our network is strictly composed of large Tier 1 backbone providers such as AT&T, MCI, Verizon, Level 3, UUNet, Sprint, Telus, Bell Canada and numerous others.

All of this provides you with unmatched reliability, scalalability and performance. Additionally, all of our many data centers offer full-power battery back-up, plus industrial-grade diesel power generators in case of a power outage. You will then never lose any emails, and you will always be able to send them anywhere. Last but not least, you will never see any advertisements in ANY of the emails you receive or the ones you send.

When I click on any Order Today button, it sends me to a PayPal page that talks about Avantex Hosting. Who is Avantex and why must I pay to them instead of paying to Email Relay?

Please read the next question for your answer.

Who is behind Email Relay? Is it a big company?

Email Relay is fully-owned and operated by Avantex Hosting, one of North America's oldest and largest Web hosting providers. Avantex has been in business since 1994, and is a profitable business with no debt. Additionally, since 1999, we've had a combined growth rate exceeding 15% per year. What's more, Avantex is a fully-owned subsidiary of GCIS, the General Center for Internet Services Inc., one of Canada's oldest and largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in existence today.

Committed to the success and the reliable operation of its user's email requirements, Avantex has invested massively in the construction of its most modern and state-of-the-art data centers. Strategically located in some of the largest cities in North America, including San Diego, CA., Dallas, TX., Hoboken, NJ., Fort-Lauderdale, FL., Kelowna, BC., Toronto, ON. and Montreal, QC., Avantex's data centers integrate the latest in high technology equipment, data routers, Linux servers, Windows 2003 servers, Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), industrial diesel power generators, etc.

How long does it take to set up my email address?

Once we've received your order, less than thirty minutes. We will then send you a confirmation email at your current email address, along with all the instructions to easily setup your Outlook or email client.

What will my email address look like?

All email addresses purchased on the Email Relay website look like this:

Can I have my domain name instead of the @emailrelay.org address?

All packages offered on this site are without any domain name provided. However, you can register the domain name of your choice on the Avantex website, and we will have it point to our own servers. Avantex (our parent company) offers .com, .net or .org domain names for only $ 0.99 for a whole year, provided you purchase an email-only hosting package from Avantex.

Note: Avantex already offers email-only hosting plans on their site and we will be happy to introduce you to them. Those plans are offered at only US $3.95 a month for up to 15 email addresses that will be personalized with your domain name.

If you decide to go that route, your email addresses will then look like this: