On a recent Google Gmail to Office 365 migration project I cam across a cool Gmail feature sometimes known as “throwaway addresses”. I enjoy finding out new things related to email – and this was a good one!
In Gmail if you had the address test123.person@gmail.com then it will accept emails addressed to test123.person+test@gmail.com
I was skeptical if this would actually work, so I tested it with my own Gmail account, and yes, I can confirm it works. See the link below for more information.
Even dot variations are allowed, for example:
In Gmail if you had the address test123.person@gmail.com then it will accept emails addressed to test123.per.son@gmail.com
https://gmail.googleblog.com/2008/03/2-hidden-ways-to-get-more-from-your.html
Gmail allows the user to make use of temporary addresses, which can then be subject to Inbox Filters. Very useful if you want to signup for a web service, and do not want to use your mail email address. Also, saves you asking the Help Desk to add an extra alias on your mailbox.
Gmail also allows other trickery with your email address, that allows for what I call “loose” address matching. This feature is also used in Domino Lotus Notes in a similar way.
Issue for Gmail Migration to Office 365
This becomes an issue for an email migration off Google Gmail to Office 365, as these “throwaway” email addresses will not be picked up by the migration tool. And will not be present on the user’s target Office 365 mailbox. If a redirect is placed on the Google Gmail mailbox post-migration, and the MX record still points to Google, then these emails will still arrive. But when the MX record is cutover to Office 365, these emails will stop working.
Be aware of this pitfall to an email migration off Google Gmail to Office 365.
My recommendation is to cover this in user communications, so folk can check their Gmail for any extra email aliases they wish to keep, and request that they are created as additional email aliases in Office 365 under their Exchange Online mailbox.
If you need help with your Google Gmail migration to Office 365, then please get in touch.
