Gmail has really changed its name to "Google Mail" officially - but only to the users in the UK.

Even the logo has to be changed:
vs.

In addition, all new signups from the UK will be assigned "@googlemail.com" addresses. Although existing accounts will be able to use either domain for now.

To most users, including me, the scariest thing that could happen is that we were all forced to change our currently using email address from your.name@gmail.com to your.name@googlemail.com. In fact, according to their help page (emphasis mine):

We are still working with the courts and trademark office to protect our ability to use the Gmail name, but in the meantime, we want you to have an email address you can rely on.

So Google is suggesting that, starting from today, not to give other people your email address as your.name@gmail.com, since it can be invalid at any time in the future. Use your.name@googlemail.com instead. It is a valid address even for user outside the UK (you can try it yourself). In fact, you may treat it as an alias to your @gmail.com address at this moment. All mails sent to your.name@googlemail.com will appear in your.name@gmail.com mailbox.

 

Even though I am not a UK Gmail user, and I seldom post my Gmail address to the public, I really hope I do not have to forgo my @gmail.com address: my.name@googlemail.com sounds sooooo unimpressive!

This entry was posted on Friday, October 21st, 2005 at 5:25 am and is filed under Google. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed, bookmark the Permalink in your Browser, You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.