Gmail is a free e-mail service released by Google on April 1st, 2004. When Gmail first came out, new users needed existing users to send email invitations. As of February 7,2007, Google announced that Gmail registration is fully open. The Beta logo was officially cancelled on July 7,2009, and after more than five years of launch, it was finally converted to the official version. On October 26th, 2018, Gmail had 1.5 billion active users. Gmail has become an indispensable e-mail software service for us.
Before Gmail was launched, there were rumors that Google, which focused on search functions, would launch mail software. It caused a great sensation at that time. Google’s storage capacity is said to have reached 1 GB, which is 500 times that of Microsoft Hotmail. It was unbelievable at the time. What’s interesting is that Gmail will go online on April 1st. Many people even think that this may be a prank Google gave everyone. Let’s take a look at the picture of the first page of Gmail service the day before it was launched.
In fact, since August 2001, the founder of Gmail, Paul Buchheit, has been developing Gmail. Gmail was regarded as a huge and arduous project by Google. After nearly three years’ development, it was officially faces users. Even in August 2003, that is, two years after the project started, the front-end framework of Gmail was still very elementary. Therefore, Kevin Fox, a new employee at Google, was assigned to design the service interface. At that time, Google did not have G Suite, so it was difficult for Kevin Fox to challenge the Google-style Gmail design page. Gmail is the first software web application launched by Google at that time, which is quite different from the previous Google website. After Kevin Fox’s design, Gmail’s interface was finalized the day it went online. In the following development, Gmail added chat and calendar functions in 2006. The Priority Inbox feature was launched in 2010. In 2013, categories were added, which made it more convenient for users. The following is a comparison of Gmail’s Android and iOS mobile phone user interface in 2014.
The launch of Gmail not only easily defeated the two free mail giants at that time ——Hotmail and Yahoo Mail. Gmail is also the first important cloud computing application because of its huge storage space, easy-to-use interface, fast and instant search and other advanced functions.
Cites
Blogoscoped.com. 2008. Kevin Fox Of Gmail & Friendfeed On User Experience Design. [online] Available at: <http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2008-06-02-n56.html> [Accessed 17 November 2020].
Knoblauch, M., 2014. The Many Faces Of Gmail: A 10-Year Retrospective. [online] Mashable. Available at: <https://mashable.com/2014/03/29/gmail-design-evolution/> [Accessed 17 November 2020].
Mccracken, H., 2014. How Gmail Happened: The Inside Story Of Its Launch 10 Years Ago. [online] Time. Available at: <https://time.com/43263/gmail-10th-anniversary/> [Accessed 17 November 2020].
NDTV Gadgets 360. 2019. Gmail Turns 15 Today, Here’s A Short History Of Google’s Email Service. [online] Available at: <https://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/gmail-turns-15-today-heres-a-short-history-of-googles-email-service-2015822> [Accessed 17 November 2020].
When I first saw Google’s storage capacity is about 1 GB, I laugh for I forgot that was in the 2000s. Then I realized that it actually was about 500 times Microsoft Hotmail, I was shocked.
I am learning something new from your post! I didn’t know the Gmail on android looks so different from now.
Hi Elena, thank you for sharing Gmail. The success of Gmail is also highlight how Google does business – user focus and free of charge.