An Open Letter to Gmail: Happy Halloween! We love your costume!
Posted Oct 31st 2008 12:56PM by Webmail Team
Happy Halloween Gmail! We knew you would have the best costume at the party, and who can blame you? We think it's great that you're using this holiday to pay homage to the one who started it all, who got 35 million people online at once, gave them all email, great content and messaging capabilities, and even created a forum that encouraged them to speak in emoticons.
That costume is fabulous...clearly, the devil is in the details... and what's that you've got there? An "experimental" instant-messaging feature built right into your mail service so people can use it to send text messages to their contacts' phones? We love it – that was such a hit when we first introduced it so many years ago. We tried to make it easy: telling users to simply open the AIM panel in their email type "+1 and the 10-digit cell phone number" into the To: Screen Name box. It's kind of fun, too – good choice!
And those sidebar options – talk about getting it right... Adding gadgets to email that allow people to manage their calendars, access their favorite content and best Websites? Nice work. The idea of adding a side panel like that was one of our best. Giving people the ability to get to their favorite places on the Web, manage their schedules and IM right from their email home page tripled the convenience of our service. We're sure you'll get lots of compliments.
Finally, is that an "attachment warning" popping up on your back? Nice touch. We know nothing is more embarrassing than having to send an email twice because you forgot the attachment. Our users love this little reminder, and they have been praising it since we first implemented it back in 2007.
They say imitation is the best form of flattery, so Gmail, we thank you and we are indeed very flattered. Putting together a costume that is so dead-on could not have been easy, and you've got it down pat. Trying to convince all the other kids at the party that the only thing to use is Gmail and putting out a press release every time you add a new button to the service is just so 1998. We're telling you – this outfit brings back memories!
Here's a tip though... the Web's getting more personal, and people are really savvy at customizing their own services. When you don this same costume next year, make sure you check out www.tunome.com first and add some third party services (see our new Yahoo! plug-in) – you can't be all Gmail all the time any more – it won't be such a big hit next year!
Happy Halloween!
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
21. To Ted, who said:
Oh yeah, one more thing -- scoreboard:
TWX 10.09
GOOG 359.36
Um... Stock price is meaningless as a scoreboard. You may want to learn something about the market, and basic math. That's like assuming that a relief pitcher has more hits than a steady hitter, purely because he happens to have a .500 average. (meaning you need to take into account the number of At Bats too).
By your logic, Berkshire Hathaway is kicking Google's butt at $115,490 per share (BRK.A) vs Google's paltry $359. It's Killing Google by a factor of 300! It's worth 300 Googles. (WRONG!)
If you consider the number of outstanding shares, and multiply by share price, then you get "Market Capitalization", or vaguely what the whole company is worth.
BRK.A $178B
GOOG $113B
TWX $36B
THAT is a MUCH BETTER scoreboard.
Even better would be to compare gmail penetration to AOL mail penetration.
Posted at 12:37PM on Nov 1st 2008 by Bob
22. lol how petty from a 2nd rate company. if all these feature were aol's idea, wouldnt u expect more ppl using aol mail instead of gmail? can you say sour grapes? lol. i actually feel sorry for you guys.
Posted at 12:55PM on Nov 1st 2008 by bob
23. is that the smell of fear?
Posted at 1:46PM on Nov 1st 2008 by filofaxer
24. About three years ago it became more obvious just how far ahead of the curve and forward-thinking AOL was in the 90's and early 00's. The installations got too big and walled-gardens cannot work forever, but once the expression Rich Web Application came around, it amazed me that AOL wasn't receiving any congrats.
I've said for years now that if AOL reformulates how they make money, break down the walled garden and utilize all the programming tricks that served customers in the past, AOL could knock any contenders out of the Rich Web App and Cloud Computing boxing ring. You were already DOING IT!
Email is the oldest surviving Internet Technology. Social Network double-blind messaging is creeping in anyway. You're allowed to be frustrated today isn't fueled by historical success - we're allowed to be frustrated at past billing troubles. Adopt a working business model, refocus and kick ass if it's possible. Shake off yesterday's rant, you're forgiven.
Adapt, be flexible, innovate and don't look back. Hope to see you again!
Posted at 2:11PM on Nov 1st 2008 by BryanA
25. This post is very sad indeed. AOL, you used to be important. You either need to get with the times and continue to innovate or take your place in history.
Posted at 3:12PM on Nov 1st 2008 by John
26. "One big difference between the two services: GMail has never stolen money from me. After canceling AOL service, we had to contact the card company and ask them to block all the continuing charges from AOL. Nice business model: deliver substandard services until people quit and then rape their credit card for a few extra months."
I agree! I had to go to the BBB and Consumer Affairs to get my money back. Just being the first can be spoiled by being the most crooked company on earth (well, second to Microsoft).
Posted at 12:03AM on Nov 4th 2008 by Fae Queen
27. Was this post supposed to convince me that I should use AOL mail? If so, then the whinging nature of the post combined with all the comments reminds has been kind of counter-productive. Sure, Google's implementing stuff that you've done for ages - but they do it more effectively and more reliably. I'm sticking with GMail, thanks.
Posted at 7:14PM on Nov 1st 2008 by Blowski
28. Wow. AOL needs to grow up. They sucked back then and they suck now. Gmail and google are far superior and sophisticated than AOL would ever hope to be. I remember the billing hell I went through too. Thank god there were other options besides AOL hell.
Posted at 8:23PM on Nov 2nd 2008 by Maureen
29. to most commenters: I guest most of you don't get it, right? You seem to have double standards. You praise Google for introducing features everybody else has since years. You get on your knees to kiss their feet every time they do a press release about those features and yet you bash AOL because they just state the obvious. Is it because it's just cool to love Google and hate AOL? Sure, the access side of AOL's house did some stupid stuff and pissed off a lot of people - years(!) ago. Personally I fail to see how this can be related to the topic of the post above. The guys at the new AOL are innovating and they do have some cool products. Just give it a honest try people! It doesn't hurt to be objective.
Posted at 7:39PM on Nov 1st 2008 by Klaus
30. Pretty sad and highly unprofessional move on behalf of AOL.
I used AOL mail between 1993 and 1999. I moved to Gmail in 2005 when I noticed that Google (not AOL) was taking innovative steps toward how people approach email.
You have a problem with Gmail? You should have addressed that years ago instead of whining at the end of 2008 that they copied your damn sidebar.
Guess what, AOL? While I found this post from a blog post (no, I don't subscribe, and I see that I have no reason to), you permanently lost me as a user of your services.
Good job!
Posted at 8:00PM on Nov 1st 2008 by Tamar
31. AOL is the cancer of the internet.
Your smarmy article misses the point: they did it better, faster, and will be doing it long after the AOL machine rusts up.
Posted at 12:10PM on Nov 2nd 2008 by CubicleNinjas.com
32. yo wat up
Posted at 8:25PM on Nov 1st 2008 by austin13
33. You know I laughed out loud when I read this. I thought AOL went out of business years ago... Honestly, when was the last time someone said "Did you see that cool new thing that AOL did?" or "Wow, AOL did a really nice job implementing ...". Sad...
Posted at 8:26PM on Nov 1st 2008 by Glenn
34. http://www.break.com/usercontent/2008/5/AOL-Hell-505093.html
snark...
Posted at 8:35PM on Nov 1st 2008 by liveimagephotodotcom
35. Dear AOL,
I've was a very happy user of your services back in my dialup/AOHell days. I spent many days abusing your nicely curved backside with my poorly written VB apps.
In closing, I'd like to add that yeah you guys had all of the things Google has first but, Google takes 0.125 seconds to load. Even AIM takes longer than that and, that's just your messenger. Ditch the baggage and you really could stand a chance. Until then I'll be enjoying a variety of Google's sexy API.
AOL You were my first, me you and Win 3.11, god what a threesome, my 9600 and then the 14.4 screaming in the background as we all made sweet sweet love.
I really do love you but you've become fat and bloated. I have no choice but to move on to sleeker and sexier models.
I'll miss you and I hope you do well in life.
P.S.
Have you ever tried to cancel one of your own AOL accounts?
With the deepest of love,
PleX
Posted at 11:56AM on Nov 2nd 2008 by PleX
36. Stupid stupid stupid. Next time, think twice before submitting such a sad attempt at being cool.
Posted at 11:35PM on Nov 1st 2008 by gabyples
37. Somehow I doubt Google will steal AOL's practice of lame spiteful open letters any time soon.
Posted at 11:56PM on Nov 1st 2008 by Giggy
38. Gmail is so much better than AOL Mail. I am in love with Google and Gmail and everything they offer. Google = Internet. Oh, and let me get in a shameless plug: Download Free Movies @ http://fullfilms.net
Posted at 12:16AM on Nov 2nd 2008 by Doug Matthews
39. Addicted to Gmail...please help...Mac Powerbook has me huddled in a corner unable to escape.
Posted at 12:31AM on Nov 2nd 2008 by joe Mescher
40. AOL? What's AOL?
Aren't you the guys that used to send CD-shaped coasters in the mail?
Posted at 12:23AM on Nov 2nd 2008 by JD