Google Email - 1Gb Storage

[RIR]

Google are to introduce a free email service called Gmail, with 1 gigabyte of storage space.

More details here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3588933.stm

and here:

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/about.html

Ian.

[Anonymous]

and its already blocked from my mailbox.....

Another wonderful service for the spammers to use, great :roll:

[RIR]

Not judging it, just informing about it. :o)

However, Google says


7. What about spam?

Google is committed to keeping unwanted messages out of your inbox. Gmail includes a sophisticated spam filter that we're continuing to improve. The Report Spam link in Gmail is a way for users to help with this effort. It removes spam from the inbox and sends valuable data to the Gmail team working on spam blocking.

Ian.

[Colin Manson]

Ian,

That's for stopping inbound spam, i.e. Spam that has been sent to your google account. It doesn't help people with 'real' email addresses that have been provided by their ISP or from a hosted server like Caithness.org.

We get loads of spam every day and if we bounce it back to the company then the account will be full in a short time, if you give that account a 1GB storage limit then you are just increasing the time that it takes to disable the account. Spammers will create a few accounts and then flood everyone with loads of spam.

Cheers
Colin

[RIR]

Colin

Yes, I am familiar with the problems associated with unsolicted mail. I receive enough of it. ;)

As I said, I was merely drawing attention to a forthcoming service, that has been already been reported by the BBC, The Register, CNN-Money, etc.

I was making no recommendations or otherwise. :o)

Cheers

Ian.

[George Brims]

Google will (they claim) block outside spam, but to pay for the service they will scan the content of your email and target you with ads for products and services they figure will interest you. I may actually get an account just to see how easily this facility can be manipulated, either for fun or to find vendors for things I actually need. I will however refrain from using the words "length" or "endowment". I get enough email like that already. :eek:

[norscot]

I wouldn't go near this service if you paid me. Take a look at their terms and conditions as regards privacy. While not illegal they fall far short of what might be expected.
For example emails stored on their computers will not be deleted even after an account has been cancelled. They've also refused to rule out linking internet search records, recorded by cookies, with Gmail account information. Gmail will use scanning technology to analyse subject and content of email so it can automatically attatch text adverts to messages. The idea is that if you sent a message discussing photographs for example, Gmail would attach text links to sites selling cameras, photo printing services etc. Now I know that can be thwarted by turning off cookies but do the majority of people know how? Google don't exactly go out of their way to say this can be done or how to do it.
If you decide to go with the service, be careful.
You can read all about this in the lates issue of ComputerActive or take a look at their website here http://www.computeractive.co.uk/News/1154174

[RIR]

No, I wouldn't go near it either.

However, Google may be in breach of European privacy protection laws:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/08/gmail_germany/

Spymac has also introduced a service with 1Gb of storage, plus web space, etc:

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2004/4/emw116016.htm
http://www.spymac.com/network.php?p=tour

Ian.