Changing the default email address

[JonV]

I'm a shocked to learn how difficult it is to change the default email address used by the Droid. I thought I'd run it by y'all to see if there isn't a better way.

When I first got my Droid on day one, we all had to put in an email address to get started. I chose my "main" address and have gone on my merry way for almost four months. Due to Google's inability to properly support "Google Apps For Your Domain" addresses (GAFYD), it is now dawning on me that that I should have used my Gmail account rather than my GAFYD account. I won't bore everybody but GAFYD accounts seem to only be given a subset of the google features available to regular Gmail accounts. Among the crippled apps are Maps, Listen, Picasa and Buzz. Google has been saying for those four months that they are aware there is a problem and are "working on it".

I'm tired of waiting and working around the problems, so I'd like to change my phone's email address to Gmail. The Gmail address already works fine as a secondary account but it isn't used when you are in Maps, etc. Only the default is used.

So it appears that the only way to change the default is to go back to factory defaults and start over. I can almost live with that as I've done it a couple times when cleaning up between ROMs but I've always used the same address and reinstalled my apps. I think I'm ready to switch as I've synced my contacts between the two accounts.

However I am now thinking that starting with a new address is really going to screw me with the Market, right? All of my paid apps and such are logged with my original address and Google won't know me by my new default address.

This certainly seems to be an issue for more than I. Am I correct in my worry and does anyone have a trick?

[banden]

You are correct in that Google Checkout as well as the Marketplace are tied to the account used for first time configuration. Being set up this way is two fold. On one hand you have the situation you are in which sucks. On the other hand, once set up with a permanent account, this system allows you to back up your settings as well as protecting you from needing to repurchase.

Are you on a rooted device?

[JonV]

Originally Posted by banden

You are correct in that Google Checkout as well as the Marketplace are tied to the account used for first time configuration. Being set up this way is two fold. On one hand you have the situation you are in which sucks. On the other hand, once set up with a permanent account, this system allows you to back up your settings as well as protecting you from needing to repurchase.

Are you on a rooted device?

Yes. Rooted and on AdamZ smoked glass 4.5.

The more I think about it, there sure should be a way to change the address and transfer settings. I am a rare person who got a domain primarily to stay with one email address. Most people change addresses every once in a while by design or by need. Marriages, divorces, whims would all require a possible email change. To lose track of purchased apps is hard to fathom.

[banden]

Well if you're rooted, and if you have the latest sprecovery, I believe you can do the factory wipe without the need to remove your apps.

Also, you can create backups of your apps, only thing is that you won't get updates on the paid ones.

Third, you can try contacting the developers of the paid apps and outline your situation. They may even be able to individually resolve this for you as well. Most of the community that I've dealt with are outstanding.

Good luck.

[JonV]

Originally Posted by banden

Well if you're rooted, and if you have the latest sprecovery, I believe you can do the factory wipe without the need to remove your apps.

Also, you can create backups of your apps, only thing is that you won't get updates on the paid ones.

Third, you can try contacting the developers of the paid apps and outline your situation. They may even be able to individually resolve this for you as well. Most of the community that I've dealt with are outstanding.

Good luck.

Good advice. Thanks, banden.