Looks like Yahoo Mail is getting a bit fidgety about the introduction of Gmail. Today, it launched a new interface, a higher storage capacity (up to 100MB for free users, compared to its previous 40MB), and the ability to send and receive higher capacity emails (up to 10MB).
The thing is: Gmail offers 1GB (1000MB) of storage. A real plus, especially if you’re an email hoarder like I am.
I’ve been a long time Yahoo Mail user. Ever since I shut my Hotmail account some years ago, and left all my other free email accounts, I’ve been loyal to Yahoo Mail.
Recently, however, I’ve been invited to beta test Gmail as a Blogger.com user. I took the opportunity — and I’m now loving it. I probably won’t shut my Yahoo Mail account, but I’m considering using it less and less.
Oh, and writing of Gmail, will you pay for a Gmail Invite on eBay? Right now, Gmail is only available to people who are invited by other existing Gmail users. I found out a few weeks back that some people are actually selling (or auctioning off) Gmail Invites. I was surprised. I didn’t think anyone will pay for a free email account. Yesterday, I saw one go for AU$25.00. There were a few others with a price tag of US$40. Unbelievable. I considered putting an invite up for auction, just as an experiment. But, I decided against it.
For now, if one or two people can dazzle me in any way - and would like a free gmail invite - I’ll be happy to send an invite or two. All ideas are welcome. 
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Heather 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
Hi Shai,
Wow, I didn’t realise it was an invite only thing. I’ve been reading about it in the newslpaper and didn’t catch that part. I’d be interested, as I tend to hoard email, too, but only send if no one else dazzles you. I’m not totally happy with Yahoo email at this moment. Everything seems to take so much longer and I have lots of times when I press buttons and nothing happens. Mmm, this is only since they changed it over.
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aidan 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
better know what u are getting into… there’s no free lunch in the world, even in the cyber world.
http://gmail-is-too-creepy.com/
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Lora Hansen 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
You have dazzled me! I am actually asking for your consideration to being a judge on my website when designed for undiscovered artisans who otherwise would have no other way to show their talents to the outside world. All ages, but they must be unpublished and first time exhibits. Yahoo, I am hoping will take interest as well and assist me in providing these so-deserved artisans with some small hope they too can provide others with a product that is unique to them with a future of who knows? I will contact you down the road when the site is up and can be seen as the great homeroom for the otherwise disadvantaged. Yahoo has been a leader in standards, but it’s talent that makes one a leader and like Yahoo, you carry a very impressive talent
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Riley 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
I don’t know how to dazzle you but I would like an invite to use Gmail because I like saving memories and I have hotmail and I always delete messages to make room for other email messages which sucks. So let me know what happens. Thanks for reading this. Oh yeah, this comment box area is too long. The navigation menu bar goes over it and I can’t see part of my comments. Though I’ll let you know about it.
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Russ Abbott 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
Hi Shai,
If you still have any GMail invitations I’d love to have one. This seems like an
interesting way for Google to get users–by allowing current users to invite people.
I just recently started a blog. It seems like the blog phenomena is about to explode.
Do you have any theories about why? Blogs themselves have been around for a long time.
So have bulletin boards and forums. What is different about blogs?
I guess that for one this, the RSS syndication makes it a lot more convenient to follow
blogs–without clogging up your email mail box. Blogs differ from bulletin boards,
forums, news groups, mailings lists, etc. in that they generally reflect a single voice.
I think that makes a difference.
In any event, I am convinced they are about to explode. Currently, very few people in
the general public–even those who are internet savvy–have heard of blogs. Within a
year that will be completely different. Almost everyone will know about it.
– Russ
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shai 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
Thanks, Heather. See my email.
Aidan: Thanks for the link. It made me laugh. I know nothing is ‘free’ - as in free. But, the things that people say about Gmail just amuses me.
Lora: Wow! I’m stumped. What can I say? Thanks for all the kind words. And, yes, let me know about the site you mentioned when it’s ready. I’ll see what I can do to help. Thanks again.
Riley: Thanks for your interest. I’m afraid I’ve given out two invites already. Why not try Yahoo mail? They’ve increased their storage space too.
Russ: Thanks. I’ve posted my response to your thoughts on blogging via email.
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Dani 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
Free 1GB email box on:
http://www.walla.com
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Jayant ARORA 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
Well, I do not if anything in this world is free !
I do know is that if I can have 1 GB of storage free, all my problems deleting my mail on hotmail and yahoo accounts would be things of past.
I do not know how to dazzle you !
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Chad 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
Just had to say, I am liking the conversation organization with gmail. I was given an invite last night and finding gmail very refreshing.
can’t wait til the final release.
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Karthik 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
if anyone wants a gmail invi’te 4 free…mail me
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vij26 06.15.04 at 11:06 am
Yahoo.com.cn has got 1024Mb too!!!
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Judy Hon 06.16.07 at 9:03 am
why I sent an email to Gmail account with 2.5MB, but it was returned with “Your message is larger than the destination computer is willing to accept, so it was returned.”?
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