|
|
This is the original April 1, 2004 press release from Google announcing
the beta release of their new free Web-based email service called "Gmail".
Google Gets the Message and Launches Gmail
A user complaint about existing email services lead Google to
create search-based Webmail. Search is number two online activity
and email is number one: "Heck, Yeah," said Google Founders
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - April 1, 2004 UTC - Amidst rampant
media speculation, Google Inc. today announced it is testing
a preview release of Gmail - a free search-based webmail
service with a storage capacity of up to eight billion bits
of information, the equivalent of 500,000 pages of email.
Per user.
The inspiration for Gmail came from a Google user complaining
about the poor quality of existing email services, recalled
Larry Page, Google co-founder and president, Products.
"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 email like crazy to stay under the
obligatory four megabyte limit. So she asked, 'Can't you people
fix this?'"
The idea that there could be a better way to handle email
caught the attention of a Google engineer who thought it
might be a good "20 percent time" project. (Google requires
engineers to spend a day a week on projects that interest
them, unrelated to their day jobs). Millions of M&Ms later,
Gmail was born.
"If a Google user has a problem with email, well, so do we,"
said Google co-founder and president of technology, Sergey Brin.
"And while developing Gmail was a bit more complicated than we
anticipated, we're pleased to be able to offer it to the user
who asked for it."
Added Page, "Gmail solves all of my communication needs. It's
fast and easy and has all the storage I need. And I can use it
from anywhere. I love it!"
Today, a handful of users will begin testing the preview version
of Gmail. Unlike other free webmail services, Gmail is built on
the idea that users should never have to file or delete a message,
or struggle to find an email they've sent or received. Key features
of Gmail include:
-
Search:
Built on Google search technology, Gmail enables people to quickly search every email they've ever sent or received. Using keywords or advanced search features, Gmail users can find what they need, when they need it.
-
Storage:
Google believes people should be able to hold onto their mail forever. That's why Gmail comes with 1,000 megabytes (1 gigabyte) of free storage – more than 100 times what most other free webmail services offer.
-
Speed:
Gmail makes using email faster and more efficient by eliminating the need to file messages into folders, and by automatically organizing individual emails into meaningful "conversations" that show messages in the context of all the replies sent in response to them. And it turns annoying spam e-mail messages into the equivalent of canned meat.
According to Page and Brin, Google will make the preview test version of Gmail available to a small number of email aficionados. With luck, Gmail will prove popular to them – and to the original user who sparked the idea.
Those interested in learning more about Gmail can visit the official Google
Gmail Web site at
Gmail.google.com.
About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around
the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D.
students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property
in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program, which
is the largest and fastest growing in the industry, provides businesses
of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web
experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices
throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
For more information, visit
Google.com
|
Gmail Topics
|
|
|
Kathie Fry
Editor
|
|
Write About Gmail
|
Share your knowledge and expertise
with other users by contributing an article, review,
tutorial, or commentary to GmailUsers.com.
You will retain the copyright to any articles you
contribute [Contacts]
|
|
|
