Google and Gmail

So, Google has been in the news quite a bit recently. By now, you’ve probably heard of their unorthodox IPO conditions, looking for $2.7 billion.

But let me talk briefly about the launch of GMail, which has gotten numerous bad publicity because it scans email for keywords and places relevant advertisements along the side. Gmail is currently still in beta testing, though you could sign up for an account if you want. If you use web based email, it’s very nice – they give you 1 GB of space to store your mail and use Google search technology so you can find old messages.

However, Google has recently been facing quite a bit of criticism over privacy issues. Many people are concerned that because their email is scanned for keywords, it’s a breach of their privacy. And it is a bit weird to find relevant ads tucked inside my email… but the scanning of the email bit isn’t that much different from anti-spam filters that scan my mail daily for porn, prescription drugs, refinancing my mortgage, and those Nigerian email scams. Of course, those filters delete my junk mail, while Gmail adds ads to it…

But I think a much more major concern is that with 1GB of space, I never have to delete email from my account. Unlike Yahoo, which gives me 6MB, and which I must constantly delete older messages to make room for new ones, with GMail, I can keep mail on the server for years. While I’m happy to do that on my own computer in the privacy of my home or office, having old emails on a web server where who knows who could possibly get to them is by far more of a concern. Though I can’t say it’s that much of a concern because I have been using Yahoo for quite some time…

Still, if you’re interested in some recent articles about Gmail – concerns and anticipations, check out these articles:

• Lawmaker Voices Google Privacy Concerns?
• Brad Templeton on “The Gmail Saga” – Google vs Privacy?
• This Is Your E-Mail; This is Your E-Mail on Gmail
• Gmail and Search/E-Mail Integration

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