Hmm, not sure exactly what you're saying but if it's that Gmail accounts came first and then the ability to have accounts without Gmail then you're incorrect.

Hmm, not sure exactly what you're saying but if it's that Gmail accounts came first and then the ability to have accounts without Gmail then you're incorrect. Google had products that required accounts way before Gmail came along. Adwords started in 2000 and I think Google Groups started in 2001. I'm pretty sure I personally remember having an account for Google Groups before Gmail even existed, but I could be wrong. I'm also certain I had a blogger account with Google back in 2003 sometime and Gmail didn't come along until 2004 for an April Fools day joke I think.