Why is GMail still in beta?
I don’t really understand why GMail is still considered a beta application.
Years ago when I first joined GMail — right at the point where people were selling invites on eBay — it made sense as a beta. New members were limited by the number of invites that Google gave out, servers were being tested (I assume), etc. That would certainly constitute a beta service.
But then the issued invites began to grow… 50… 100. Then all of a sudden you could sign up by requesting a text message. And then, one day, you could sign up on the web page itself. But the beta mark still remained.
Now, a few years later, it’s still there for seemingly no apparent reason. Are they still testing their system? Is Google considering a sweet GMail Final? Sure, they are constantly adding new features through the GMail Labs, but once it’s out of beta it doesn’t mean that mean development stops. Maybe Google’s just keeping the beta label for the hell of it. I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense to me.
Have an idea why GMail is still in beta, share it in the comments below.
8/18/08
4:18pm
Christopher King
Good question.
Probably for the same reason Windows Live Messenger was beta from version 8.0 all the way to 8.5
to Christopher King
8/23/08
4:35am
seven
It’s too hard to use that “erase” tool in MS Paint.
to seven
10/2/08
1:21pm
Two Slashes » Blog Archive » This Post Under Development [BETA]
[...] Justin Cox so eagerly pointed out at the end of August, G-Mail has been in beta since it was announced, and [...]
to Two Slashes » Blog Archive » This Post Under Development [BETA]
1/1/09
12:11pm
sal
it’s in beta, because that way they don’t have to designate a support staff for it. brilliant, actually.
to sal
3/19/09
4:25pm
Jennifer The Imature Jerk
I agree. I still do wonder why it’s beta.
to Jennifer The Imature Jerk
3/19/09
10:37pm
Justin
@Jennifer: I think sal is right, this way they don’t have to designate support for it. But on another note, your “name” is pretty much dripping awesomeness.
to Justin