Gmail turns 20

Gmail, the mail service that an estimated 1.8 billion people use—roughly one-fourth of the world’s population—launched today in 2004, in what was initially perceived as an April Fool’s prank.

Introduced as an invite-only mailing feature by Google, Gmail offered 1 gigabyte of storage, which could house ~13,500 emails, for free—a massive increase from competing webmail services run by Yahoo and Microsoft that allowed free space for just up to 60 emails.

Due to the exclusivity, at one point, Gmail invitations sold for $250 each on eBay. Google eventually opened the email to all users in 2007.

Over the years, Gmail has increased its free storage capacity as emails have transitioned into a more formal means of communication compared to the casual nature of messaging apps.

However, its dominance in online communication has diminished with the rise of messaging apps like Slack and WhatsApp.

Nevertheless, anyone who uses the internet either has a Gmail ID or has heard of it. Parents now create Gmail accounts for their babies and use it as a digital baby book. People store emails they have received from deceased close ones as nostalgia.

As it steps into its 20th year, Google has introduced new security measures primarily targeting bulk senders to combat unwanted emails, reduce spam, and enhance overall inbox security for users.

Those who send close to 5,000 messages to Gmail accounts within 24 hours are called bulk senders. 

While these changes mark a significant milestone for Gmail, they only apply to personal Gmail accounts, not Google Workspace accounts.