In Search Of The "REAL" Gmail

Gmail.net

Gmail - Another Gnome Email Client

Gmail - Formulaire email anti-spam

G-Mail (gmail.de)

Gmail.pl

Gmail.cn

Gamil

When you hear the word "Gmail", you'll usually think of Google's free webmail program. But is it really the "real" Gmail? I'm here to prove that maybe it isn't.

Exhibit 1: Gmail.net

First off, please take a look at Gmail dot net. They seem to have the best claim, as they were the original Gmail AJAX-based webmail program started back in 2002. Heck, they even tried to buy Gmail.com at the same time Google bought it!

Exhibit 2: Gmail - Another Gnome Email Client

But even earlier than Gmail.net was another competitor: Gmail - Another Gnome Email Client. It was revolutionary, just like Google's Gmail. The database was a SQL vfolder system powered by MySQL. It may not have been a webmail program, but it was started in 1999, three years earlier than Gmail.net.

Exhibit 3: Gmail - Formulaire email anti-spam

You've heard all about how great the Gmail spam protection is. But did you know Gmail's anti-spam roots dig back even farther? Gmail - Formulaire email anti-spam (English version here) is a little program from 2001 that lets visitors send emails without seeing the address they are sending to.

Exhibit 4: Gmail.de

This is the one that caused the most trouble for Google. G-Mail (English version here), created by Daniel Giersch, sued Google for trademark infringement. The service G-Mail provided was printing out emails (a fact exploited in the Gmail Paper joke). Oh yeah, Giersch lost.

Exhibit 5: Gmail.pl

Now, let's take a break from email and go to something else: poetry, courtesy of Gmail.pl. Gmail stands for Grupa Młodych Artystów i Literatów, literally, "Group of Young Artists and Writers". And believe it or not, Google actually went after them! I guess Google felt they had to take their anger out on someone.

Exhibit 6: Gmail.cn

If Google sued anyone, they should sue this company. Gmail.cn not only lets you sign up for email addresses, they even use a logo extremely similar to Google's!

Bonus: Gamil.com

Apparently, Gamil is the one that's been around longest. It's a design company that's been around 10+ years. And of course, they got a huge amount of traffic from Gmail misspellings:

gamil

You may have arrived here by misspelling Gmail. We understand. Typing fast is not our strongest skill. But since you've typed your way here, let's share. First, you should know that Gamil is a product and graphic design firm. We've been around for 10+ years. Our name means "beautiful." We're experimenting with this page to pay for the unexpected added Gmail bandwidth, and to show off ideas we love and creative folks we know. Browse (and click) at will.

Back To Top