February 7, 2007 9:11 AM PST

Google opens Gmail to all

By Matt Loney
Staff Writer, CNET News

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January 9, 2007; Google launches new mobile Gmail
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October 19, 2005

Google on Wednesday said its Gmail service is now open to anyone who wants an account. Previously the service, which provides users with 2.8GB of e-mail storage space, has been by invitation only.

The service, known as Google Mail in the U.K., has proved very popular. When it was launched, Google raised eyebrows with its practice of indexing the content of e-mails so that the company could place contextual advertisements in them. Nevertheless, early ZDNet UK stories garnered hundreds of reader responses from people looking for free accounts.

Google ceded rights to the Gmail name in the U.K. following a court case with Independent International Investment Research, which registered the trademark Gmail in the time between Google's Web-based e-mail launch and the search firm's own attempt to trademark the Gmail name.

Its woes did not end there: across western Europe, a quiet battle rages on between Google and Daniel Giersch, a German-born venture capitalist who insists he'll never relinquish his 6-year-old trademark registration of "G-mail...und die Post geht richtig ab" (translation: Gmail...and the mail goes right off).

Google said it has also launched an application to let U.K. users access Gmail or Google Mail on their mobiles. The application, which will run on any Java-based phone with data services, synchronizes Google Mail on the phone with the user's Web-based account. E-mail attachments such as photos, PDF and text documents can all be viewed from mobile devices, said Google. The application is free of charge. Google said it will be available for download from here.

Matt Loney of ZDNet UK reported from London.

See more CNET content tagged:
Gmail, Google Inc., U.K., e-mail

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 46 comments (Showing first 20 comments)

Never-ending Beta done?
by airwalkery2k February 7, 2007 10:48 AM PST: Alright--if anybody still wanted an account and didn't get one by now, they are not trying hard enough.

I'm surprised they actually stopped calling it Beta, though.; Reply to this comment

Never-ending Beta done?
by airwalkery2k February 7, 2007 10:48 AM PST: Alright--if anybody still wanted an account and didn't get one by now, they are not trying hard enough.

I'm surprised they actually stopped calling it Beta, though.; Reply to this comment

So how the heck do you get a Gmail account?
by aabcdefghij987654321 February 7, 2007 11:05 AM PST: ...without giving Google your mobile phone #?; Reply to this comment View all 4 replies
Processing

So how the heck do you get a Gmail account?
by aabcdefghij987654321 February 7, 2007 11:05 AM PST: ...without giving Google your mobile phone #?; Reply to this comment View all 4 replies
Processing

Beta is finally over??????? About time! LOL!
by pentium4forever February 7, 2007 1:57 PM PST: It's about time Gmail is out of beta, it's been in beta for ages it seems like. It's rock solid as far as stability goes, is as easy as pie to use, and the storage is nearing 3GB. Go Google! Yeah!; Reply to this comment

Beta is finally over??????? About time! LOL!
by pentium4forever February 7, 2007 1:57 PM PST: It's about time Gmail is out of beta, it's been in beta for ages it seems like. It's rock solid as far as stability goes, is as easy as pie to use, and the storage is nearing 3GB. Go Google! Yeah!; Reply to this comment

Still Beta
by ScottMo February 7, 2007 1:58 PM PST: Checked my gmail account. Still says "Beta" underneath the gmail logo.; Reply to this comment View reply
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Still Beta
by ScottMo February 7, 2007 1:58 PM PST: Checked my gmail account. Still says "Beta" underneath the gmail logo.; Reply to this comment View reply
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I wish it was still beta
by Jyuujin February 7, 2007 9:16 PM PST: Let the spamming begin I suppose.....how long are you giving Gmail before spam bots are created using name generators like Yahoo! and MSN? I give it less than 6 months.; Reply to this comment View reply
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I wish it was still beta
by Jyuujin February 7, 2007 9:16 PM PST: Let the spamming begin I suppose.....how long are you giving Gmail before spam bots are created using name generators like Yahoo! and MSN? I give it less than 6 months.; Reply to this comment View reply
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Just in time for Europeans to register @gmail.com addresses
by hadaso February 8, 2007 12:30 AM PST: Just in time for Europeans to register @gmail.com addresses - before registration is limited to @gogglemail.com like in the UK due to TradeMark dispute.; Reply to this comment

Just in time for Europeans to register @gmail.com addresses
by hadaso February 8, 2007 12:30 AM PST: Just in time for Europeans to register @gmail.com addresses - before registration is limited to @gogglemail.com like in the UK due to TradeMark dispute.; Reply to this comment

This is news?
by thedreaming February 8, 2007 7:25 AM PST: I thought this already happened and was already posted on cnet? Why are they bringing this up again? Slow news day?; Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
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This is news?
by thedreaming February 8, 2007 7:25 AM PST: I thought this already happened and was already posted on cnet? Why are they bringing this up again? Slow news day?; Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
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Not ready for prime tame
by fmsorigaay February 9, 2007 2:05 AM PST: How about fixing their intermittent SSL login problem that comes and goes, knocking out POP service for weeks at a time? I spent an hour trying to fix someone's no-email problem the other night and found dozens of hits showing server problems about this.; Reply to this comment

Not ready for prime tame
by fmsorigaay February 9, 2007 2:05 AM PST: How about fixing their intermittent SSL login problem that comes and goes, knocking out POP service for weeks at a time? I spent an hour trying to fix someone's no-email problem the other night and found dozens of hits showing server problems about this.; Reply to this comment

Nor is your spelling.
by ralfthedog February 9, 2007 8:47 AM PST: No offense. My spelling is as bad as it comes.; Reply to this comment

Nor is your spelling.
by ralfthedog February 9, 2007 8:47 AM PST: No offense. My spelling is as bad as it comes.; Reply to this comment

See all 46 Comments >>

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