Google's Gmail has recently taken one step forward into becoming a full-blown webmail client. It After so long, it has finally left the beta stage. This means that officially, Gmail is now a full-pledge Google web product. What's new with Gmail? Read on to find out more.
Since its launch five years ago, Gmail has struggled to become one of the major webmail client battling it out with major webmail players such as Yahoo! Mail and Microsoft Hotmail (now known as Live Hotmail). And having used Gmail for several years now, I would have to say that the struggle is well worth it. Gmail has become a formidable force in the webmail market and have gained enough followers and users to earn its current status as a full-pledge Google web service.
Feature-wise, Gmail got a lot in store up its sleeves. The Gmail Labs has consistently introduced useful enhancements and features that were embraced and loved by Gmail loyal users.Just recently, it has introduced a facility to hide labels in inbox view to make the subject lines of email readable. It has also made it easier for users to unsubscribe to newsletters and other regular updates from various services, among other small and yet useful features.
Another characteristic of Gmail which made it tick among web users and which it has consistently maintained is its web user interface. Five years after its launch, Gmail has maintained its simple and classic look/interface which many have grown to love. Hopefully, Gmail would continue to do so.
So given that Gmail has successfully established itself as a reliable, useful and dependable webmail platform with tons of features, it is but the right time that Google finally takes out its "beta" branding. This would pave the way for Gmail's acceptance as an official Google product - ready for enterprise adoption through Google's enterprise-ready suite of applications.
Taking out the "beta' branding is a step Google needs to take to tell its competitors that Gmail is ready for battle. Gmail is no longer a test product - it is now a major Google product.
For those who remained with other webmail services, it is now the right time to try out Gmail and see how it compares with other webmail platforms.
But the challenge lies most with Google. Taking Gmail out of beta entails more attention from them. Google must ensure that there will be minimal downtime and less spam attacks. I'm not saying that other webmail platforms are free of these webmail problems. But for Google to succeed in getting into the top of the webmail market, it must do to Gmail what it did with Google Search.
The signs are very positive, as reports from comScore indicate that Gmail is now the number 3 webmail service in the U.S.
It might just be a matter of time before Gmail overtakes Microsoft Hotmail and perhaps Yahoo Mail.