3. Email and messaging

Email (electronic mail) is a way to send written messages — and files — over the internet to anyone with an email address. Think of it as a digital post office: you write a message, type the recipient's address, and it arrives in seconds anywhere in the world.

Why email matters in Ethiopia today:

• Job applications — most employers in Addis Ababa and other cities now require a CV sent by email.

• Bank and TeleBirr notifications — transaction alerts and monthly statements are sent to your email.

• Registering for services — banks, government portals, and learning platforms (like this one) ask for an email address when you sign up.

• Sending documents — contracts, receipts, ID scans, and forms can all be shared as attachments.

• Staying in touch — email works even when the other person's phone is off or has no internet at that moment.

Abebe runs a small import business in Addis Ababa. He receives invoices from his suppliers by email, forwards them to his accountant, and keeps a record — all without printing a single sheet of paper.

Gmail (by Google) is the most widely used free email service in Ethiopia. Here is how to create an account:

1. Open the Gmail app on your phone (download it from the Play Store if it is not already installed).

2. Tap "Create account" → "For myself".

3. Enter your first and last name (use your real name — employers and banks will see this).

4. Choose a username — this becomes your address, for example: almaz.tadesse@gmail.com. Tips:

• Use your real name so people recognise it.

• Avoid numbers like your birth year (privacy tip).

• Once chosen, the username cannot easily be changed.

5. Create a strong password: at least 8 characters, mixing UPPERCASE letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (e.g. Alm@z2024!).

6. Add a phone number for account recovery — this is very important. If you forget your password, Google will send a recovery code to this number.

7. Accept Google's terms → your account is ready!

Your full email address is your-username@gmail.com. Write it down and keep it safe.

Sending your first email in Gmail:

1. Open Gmail and tap the Compose button (the pencil icon, usually bottom-right).

2. In the "To" field, type the recipient's email address carefully — one wrong letter means the message goes nowhere.

3. In "Subject", write a short, clear description of what your email is about (e.g. "Job application — Almaz Tadesse").

4. In the body area, write your message.

5. Tap the Send button (the paper-plane icon).

Reading incoming email:

• Your inbox shows all emails received. Unread emails appear in bold.

• Tap any email to open it.

• To reply, tap the Reply arrow at the bottom of the email.

• To reply to everyone in a group email, tap "Reply all".

• To forward (send the same email to someone else), tap the three-dot menu → Forward.

Attachments — sending a file:

• In the Compose screen, tap the paperclip icon.

• Choose the file from your phone (a photo, a PDF, a document).

• Attachments are limited to 25 MB per email. Larger files should be shared via Google Drive (tap the Google Drive icon instead of the paperclip).

Sara applies for a university scholarship in Gondar. She attaches her scanned ID and transcript as PDF files and emails them to the admissions office — all done from her phone in five minutes.

While email is formal and permanent, messaging apps are fast and conversational. The two most popular in Ethiopia are WhatsApp and Telegram.

WhatsApp:

• Used by individuals, families, and businesses across Ethiopia.

• You register with your phone number — no separate username is needed.

• Features: text messages, voice messages, voice calls, video calls, photo/video sharing, and group chats (up to 1,024 members).

• End-to-end encrypted — only you and the recipient can read your messages.

• Useful for small businesses: many shop owners in Addis Ababa use a WhatsApp Business account to send product photos and price lists to customers.

Telegram:

• Popular for news channels and large community groups (up to 200,000 members).

• You can set a @username so people can contact you without knowing your phone number.

• Supports large file transfers (up to 2 GB per file) — useful for sharing documents or videos.

• Many Ethiopian businesses, news services, and government offices use Telegram channels.

Key difference: WhatsApp is better for personal and small-group conversations; Telegram is better for large broadcast channels and file sharing.

Keeping your inbox organised makes you look professional and ensures you never miss an important message.

Organising email:

• Labels / Folders: in Gmail, you can create labels (like folders) to sort emails — e.g. "Work", "Bank", "Family". Tap the three-line menu → Create new label.

• Archive: if an email is done with but you want to keep it, archive it (swipe right in Gmail). Archived emails do not clutter your inbox but are searchable.

• Delete: delete emails you no longer need to free up storage (Gmail gives 15 GB free).

• Search: the magnifying-glass icon at the top lets you search all emails. Type a name, subject, or keyword.

Email etiquette (good manners online):

• Use a clear subject line — "Hello" alone is not helpful.

• Be polite and professional: start with a greeting ("Dear Sara," or "Hello Mr. Abebe,") and end with a closing ("Best regards," followed by your name).

• Do not write in ALL CAPS — it looks like shouting.

• Proofread before sending: a spelling mistake in a job application looks careless.

• Reply within 24–48 hours if the email requires a response — this is a professional courtesy.