Google’s GMail is for real

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April 2, 2004

If you haven’t yet heard of it, Google’s upcoming e-mail service, Gmail, has been under contention for one of the biggest April Fool’s jokes ever. People all over have either first believed it (reservedly) and then laughed it off when they saw the press release on April 1st (like good old Simon Willison, or were thoroughly suspicious and wary of being conned yet again (like me).

The verdict? Yes, Gmail is for real. The Straits Times (local print newspaper) even published an AP article on Gmail today.

I won’t inundate you with the details on what Gmail offers, but it is interesting to note that e-mails will come with targeted ads a la Adsense. Google says “no humans read your email to target the ads”.

Posted by Chu Yeow at April 2, 2004 SGT |

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| Category: Neat Stuff

12 Comments & TrackBacks ()

If GMail handles e-mail the way Google handles searches, I’ll sign up. All Hail Google!

Posted by: Jonathan Dobres on April 2, 2004 12pm

There is a spooky underbelly to this Gmail. Wired has an interesting story on it. Here is an excerpt:

Google’s plan to offer free Web-based e-mail has raised worries among privacy advocates that the service could make it easier for law enforcement to conduct surveillance of its users.

Posted by: Rob on April 2, 2004 10pm

I thought it was a hoax. I still have trouble getting the economics of funding a gig straight (though advertising is notoriously profitable, so I hear). Glad to find this out though…

Posted by: Luke on April 3, 2004 10am

ha!
i think gmail servive works ny invite system like orkut–means u cant sign up… so has any1 tries the gmail?
can u invite?

jus waana check it out!
thanx.
digitallydigital@yahoo.com
digital guy

Posted by: digital guy on April 4, 2004 4pm

I personally thing this was a stroke of marketing genius. How clever is it to release a product so far out of the norm, and do it on april fools so that every geek on earth tells everyone else. Brillian. Kudos to the marketing folks at ‘G’. I am in awe.

Posted by: Chrispian on April 5, 2004 10am

GMail Screenshots : What is it really going to look like
Found some screen shots of GMail online, they have been there for a few days - But I thought I would just hang back and make sure these were real. Some here from fury.com and from the horses mouth. Another one here.

I am not really sure if I am excit…

Posted by: Karanbir Singh - Thinkability on April 6, 2004 2am

Hello,

Let me introduce ourselves. We are the operators of http://www.gmails.co.uk . On the site you will see a brand new Google Gmail question and answer forum which we intend to build on with membership in the future. We wish to build a team of experts at a forum for this exciting new product.

Regards,
John Carver
http://www.gmails.co.uk

Posted by: John Carver on April 11, 2004 9pm

would anyone please invite me???

i would like to test it out also

please, pretty please??

fernando_vargas@myrealbox.com
fjv

Posted by: Fernando on May 2, 2004 3pm

Hello,

Let me introduce ourselves. We are the operators of http://www.googlegmails.com . On the site you will see a brand new GoogleGmail question and answer forum which we intend to build on with membership in the future. We wish to build a team of experts at a forum for this exciting new product.

Regards,
John Carver
http://www.googlegmails.com

Posted by: John Carver on May 13, 2004 1am