Gmail's UK Comeback

Finally UK will be able to use '@gmail.com' in email IDs. Starting October 19, 2005 all the new Gmail users from UK were transferred to '@googlemail.com' domain. This step was taken because another company in UK claimed the trademark for 'Gmail'. Google had tried to settle the case, but all their efforts had failed.

Google's software engineer Greg Bullock has mentioned in #-Link-Snipped-# that the existing @googlemail.com users will be able to upgrade their accounts to #-Link-Snipped-# ids if they wanted. There is of course an option to keep th#-Link-Snipped-#e @googlemail.com address. All new users from UK will be give #-Link-Snipped-# address.

Greg further mentions that <em>"Since "gmail" is 50% fewer characters than "googlemail," we estimate this name change will save approximately 60 million keystrokes a day. At about 217 microjoules per keystroke, that's about the energy of 20 bonbons saved every day!"</em>

The company however has not mentioned whether they have settled the issue with the original trademark owner (German-born venture capitalist Daniel Giersch) of 'Gmail' in UK.

Kaustubh Katdare | Founder, CrazyEngineers