Google to offer state of the art email service

[Red Squirrel]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1559695,00.asp


It's nice to see google fighting back. I remember when MS wanted to buy them out and it freaked me out, but with this happening, I don't think google is willing to give up the company for cash. Instead they'll compete.

google actually has a very smart way of making money, and it does not involve stealing or using sneaky tactics.


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If you're still getting over the jolt of Microsoft's announcement that it will compete head-on with Google search later this year, then hold onto your hats, because it looks like the two technology giants are about to square off in the free Web e-mail space, too. Google chose April Fool's day to announce that it is offering a free Web e-mail service, Gmail, which should compete with Microsoft's market-leading Hotmail service. Google's service will differ from Microsoft's Hotmail in two key ways: Gmail will integrate some of Google's search functionality and will offer users a free gigabyte of storage—many times the two- and four-megabyte limits imposed by other free services.

Google's release included language which sounded like a ruse, but the Gmail service is now being tested, and more information is available online. For now, Gmail is available only in a limited test version, and Google officials will only say that the timing for the release of Gmail depends on the test results.

The search technology within Gmail is based on Google's Web search technology, and will allow users to search, by keyword or other advanced search methods, all messages they've sent or received. Hotmail does not include search functionality. Gmail also has a feature that will allow grouping e-mails pertaining to the same topic as conversations consisting of sent and received messages. Google is also claiming that the service will be free of pop-up ads, and will include a sophisticated spam filter.

Google co-founder and president Larry Page, in announcing the service, said that the inspiration for offering Gmail was a letter from a user complaining about the poor quality of existing e-mail services. "She kvetched about spending all her time filing messages or trying to find them," Page said. "And when she's not doing that, she has to delete e-mail like crazy to stay under the obligatory four megabyte limit. So she asked, 'Can't you people fix this?'"

"While developing Gmail was a bit more complicated than we anticipated, we're pleased to be able to offer it," added Google co-founder and president of technology, Sergey Brin.

PCMag.com will follow up as Gmail proceeds through its test period.

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[sintekk]

How they'll manage to give away a gig of free space with no ads whatsoever and still make money boggles the mind

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[Red Squirrel]

They are geniouses when it comes to that. They make their money, but without enoying people. Their main income is from sponsored ads when you do a search, and big companies are willing to pay the few thousand bucks to get their site apear for a certain keyword. Pretty cool. not sure how they will do it with email though. Maybe they will have ads but not in the emails, just in the interface.

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[Chris Vogel]

This is scary. One day we will be required to bow in the direction of Google headquarters at least seven times a day I can assure you.

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[Red Squirrel]

Google is Canadian, so I doubt it will get any worse then Ms in terms of coporate power.



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