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I'd love to see the effect that these ads have on the users of Gmail, both from Google's statistical end and also from a customer sentiment angle. Gmail has to

by Smerity 16y ago

I'd love to see the effect that these ads have on the users of Gmail, both from Google's statistical end and also from a customer sentiment angle. Gmail has touted the clean and simple feel as one of their main features for so long that users may come to expect that of Gmail now. Understandably Google has the right to show these ads considering it's a free service but will their users see it the same way? Could this open the field back up for new email competitors?

JacobAldridge 16y ago
On a personal note (and I'm not seeing them at this stage - just checked a few emails), the graphic ad per se won't bother me. I use Gmail personally, in basically the same headspace I use Facebook - I doubt Gmail ads will phase me if they become as graphical and ubiquitous as Facebook ads, and frankly they'll get just as many click-throughs from me (read: zero). What does concern me is the point you raise about the fact that Gmail "touted the clean and simple feel as one of their main features". In a world of garishly fugly html emails, my inbox is rarely clean and simple, but Google changing their position on this does create a market opportunity. And not everyone will feel as non-impacted as I do. I also agree with you that Google has the right to do this in their own free service - if they want to, they can go for it, and if that creates a competitor, I look forward to another webmail battle.
axod 16y ago
* User numbers will continue to grow * CTR for ads will jump up * Revenue will jump up * This'll be old news by next week and no one will care anymore about the change WD Google.