Advertisment

Gmail set to cannibalize other email services?

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

BANGALORE, INDIA: Google has rolled out a new migration tool that makes it easier for users to export e-mail messages and contacts from other e-mail services. An Information Week report said the new tool is available in all newly created Gmail accounts. Those who already have Gmail accounts need not be disappointed. The company is set to activate the feature to older ones too in a few days.

Advertisment

The new tool supports e-mail extraction from more than 40 different e-mail providers, said the report. However, the feature will not be available to businesses and schools using Gmail through Google Apps accounts.

Meanwhile, analysts are likening the new Google tool to a home-wrecker, who is seducing frustrated users of other email providers to give itself a fresh-face.

Whatever said, it is true that Gmail's growth rate in the United States has been significantly higher last year than the growth rates of its major competitors. According to Information Week, Gmail's number of unique monthly visitors in the United States rose from 20.8 million to 29.6 million between December 2007 and December 2008.

The report quoting a ComScore study said a 43 per cent increase was recorded during those 12 months. Comparatively Windows Live Hotmail saw a drop in the number of unique users, from 46.2 million to 44.6 million.

tech-news