February 7, 2005 7:09 AM PST

Gmail gearing up for full launch?

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Gmail, the Web mail service operated by search engine Google, could be gearing up for its official launch, as people using the service have found recently that the number of invitations they can send out has increased from four to 50.

Gmail, which was launched in April 2004 and is still officially in a testing phase, is not open to the general public.

At first, Google let only select family and friends open accounts at Gmail. But it has slowly opened up membership more broadly to friends of those already holding accounts.

This latest development could indicate that either Google is hoping to significantly expand its user base for further testing or that the company is gearing up for a full launch.

At the time of writing, Google was not available for comment.

Gmail's popularity has already been targeted by online criminals. In September, scammers sent phishing e-mails to existing holders of Gmail accounts, offering them the opportunity to invite three or six of their friends to join Gmail.

The fraudulent e-mail, which claimed to originate from the "Gmail Team," asked people to disclose their Gmail account passwords to receive the additional invites.

Munir Kotadia of ZDNet Australia reported from Sydney.

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

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 18 comments

rumors rumors galore
by xpgeek February 7, 2005 9:00 AM PST: This is really just another rumor, what Cnet thinks google is up to now. They're really keeping everyone in the dark with zero info.

I think, since I got 50 invites now too, and its really like more invites then people know what to do with, that another rumor I have heard recently, that Gmail is never going to go public, and stay an invite only system forever, could be true.; Reply to this comment View reply
Processing

Invitations Gone
by February 7, 2005 9:04 AM PST: I logged into my Gmail account after reading this article to see if I had been given the additional invitations mentioned. Not only do I not have 50 invitations, but several invitations that I previously had have now disappeared, and it is not showing any invitations. Anyone else experienced this problem?; Reply to this comment View reply
Processing

I Still Have 6 Invites...
by 201293546946733175101343322673 February 7, 2005 11:49 AM PST: Oh well, most of my friends already have GMail anyway; Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
Processing

Yes this is true.
by j1cumbee February 8, 2005 3:36 PM PST: Believe it or not this is the case. I started out with a measily 6 invites. I spent three of those. In return I got 7. I spent 3 of those. Now all the sudden there's a little box beneath my "inbox" link that says "Invite 50 people to gMail." I'm sorry for the people who don't have all 50, maybe you should spend some of the ones you have and maybe you'll get more.

Josh; Reply to this comment

I now have 50....
by PCCRomeo February 8, 2005 5:44 PM PST: After having only 6 for the past 5 months I now have 50. lol, I don't even know 50 people.; Reply to this comment

Does anyone want this?
by sanenazok February 8, 2005 9:53 PM PST: I don't think Gmail is that revolutionary any more. The reason I keep it is because I have a Firefox notifier and that's about it.
Yahoo offers 250MB of free space and it won't be fingering all of your messages to determine what ad to serve next. Doh for Gmail.; Reply to this comment

I have 50 ...
by RustyR February 9, 2005 12:50 AM PST: I had the option collapsed, but after reading this article I went
and checked, and I have 50. I hope that they take this live,
because I am ready for others to experience the awesome Gmail!
I haven't logged into my Hotmail account since ... lol; Reply to this comment

Office running in your email
by iqula February 9, 2005 3:30 AM PST: It looks like Gmail has started a new revenue model with up start services like CosmoPOD.com Office in your email ariving on the scene.; Reply to this comment

anyone have gmail account !
by krishna_kumar724 February 9, 2005 8:42 AM PST: hi
i need 5-6 gmail account, anyone having gmail account would like 2 pass it to me.
my mail id is - krishna_kumar724@yahoo.com

thanx in advance; Reply to this comment

hi Gregory Miller, I need 2 invitations
by February 9, 2005 7:37 PM PST: hi Gregory Miller,

I need 2 invitations, can u send it to me.
Thanx in advance if u can,

my mail id is- rose_only@sify.com

bye
waiting 4ur reply; Reply to this comment

thanx if anyone send me a gmail invitations
by krishna_kumar724 February 10, 2005 12:09 PM PST: hi everybody
is there anybody having gmail invitations. i need gmail invitations . Anyone can send it to me .

my mail id is - krishna_kumar724@yahoo.com

thanx in advance.
krishna; Reply to this comment

50 invites available
by dhiGu February 16, 2005 6:10 AM PST: I have 50 invites available if anyone still wants them. Visit my blog at http://www.dhigu.com/archive/2005/02/16/gmail_50mb.aspx and add a comment and I'll invite you.; Reply to this comment

If you need more Gmail Invites....
by Highway March 17, 2005 10:03 AM PST: Check out the automated webservices of http://www.highwayman.org/gmail ... the site distributes and collects Gmail invites. Taking away the hassle of people asking you, "Can I get an Gmail invite?"; Reply to this comment

free gmail invitations
by alanpro18 January 2, 2007 7:35 PM PST: Hi, i haven't used up any of my gmail invitations and google has given me about 10 more, so now i got 60 invites. First 5 to post get free invites. Just send me an email at:
alanpro18@gmail.com, subject: gmail invitation, comment: thankyou.

I hope ur happy! happy new year and new gmail!
dont forget ur plz and thankyous!; Reply to this comment

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