GMail officially renamed to Google Mail in Germany

legal issues

[ThomasB]

According to an article of a german online news site ( [heise.de...] )Google renamed their email service in Germany from "GMail" to "Google Mail". According to the german Google spokesman this change is only affecting Germany as they're currently in legal discussion with a German who registered "G-Mail" as part of a trademark for on- and offline messaging.

The different logo can be found at [gmail.google.com...]
"Google Mail is an experiment in a new kind of webmail ..."

[goodroi]

I was expecting some legal troubles when Google started to brand things with just the letter G. Maybe I should challenge it in the US? Maybe GMail should stand for goodroi mail?

[jcoronella]

Shame they won't be able to defend "Gmail", it's far more catchy than GoogleMail IMHO, but it really isn't that surprising.

This could be the second failed trademark for after Froogles [webmasterworld.com], can't say I'll miss that one.

[walkman]

it's smart though. Google is the brand, so the more you mention it...

[bloke in a box]

Is there anyone left who hasn't heard of google? :)

[carguy84]

Is there anyone left who hasn't heard of google?

link?

[httpwebwitch]

Sliding a little left of topic,
My brother used Google for the first time last week. This is a guy who surfs online all the time, but never bothered with G.

So yes, there are people out there who are not hooked on the G.

BTW, he said he liked it and found what he wanted (the new "Darth Tater" toy). G wins converts because it's consistently good, popularity well deserved.

Back on topic:
Those with foresight might start trademarking "G-" everything information or technology related. Gbooks, Gmovies, Gmusic, Gsoftware, Ggames, Gporn.

[Chico_Loco]

I think a 1 or 2 of my friends have not heard of Google, but they are essentially never on the internet, nor that much interested in it, so why would they. I'm pretty sure they both all know of microsoft & Macintosh though.

This whole issue does affirm that Google probably don't research brands before putting things out.

[onlineshrine]

I think experiment in one region of moving away from Gmail to Google Mail is more indicative of Google's broader plans.

Notice that at the sign in even at gmail.com that you are now asked to login to your "Google Account". Not your Gmail account, your Google Account.

I bet we're looking at the start of a system that will allow you to have one login across multiple Google platforms Google News, Google Mail, Google Groups, Google Maps ... whatever they want to develop. It will remember your preferences and target advertising to you even better among other neat things that I probably can't think of right now.

If Google likes the Gmail-rebranding results in Germany, rolls them out to the world and likes the results there, I bet the Froogle brand dies too and is replaced by Google Shopping or something like that.

One login. Better targeted advertising. Easier and most customizable use for Google users.

[madmatt69]

Nice how googlemail.de is already registered by a hosting company.

[walkman]

"Nice how googlemail.de is already registered by a hosting company."

Until Google decides to ask them for the name. It's pretty clear cut

[httpwebwitch]

I bet the Froogle brand dies too and is replaced by Google Shopping or something like that

Too Likely.
Kind of like how Yahoo! trashed the Overture brand to call it Yahoo Smirch Markers or whatever. I can't remember the name of the new service, I only know it is Yahoo! something.

Was that good or bad for Yahoo?
Is it a good or bad trend for Google?

Notice how other industries do not try to "umbrella" everything under one brand name. Pop quiz: What do Purina, Baby Ruth, Gobstopper, Coffee-Mate, Perrier, and Cheerio's have in common?

[aleksl]

httpwebwitch: Those with foresight might start trademarking "G-" everything

Yes, I'd like to trademark g-spot please :)

Notice how other industries do not try to "umbrella" everything under one brand name.

PhD wizzes up in 'plex have not time to study marketing and human psychology, they are too busy building a new machine...errr...that can't be built

[Slone]

I read recently that Google's success is causing a corporate identity crisis.

I could not agree more. Google to me is all over the place anyway! This change from Gmail to Google Mail makes more sense to me, and should do this with all their products. If Google were ever to package all their products together - I think they had better get their identity figured out in my opinion.

Back to the topic - I would personally rather see Google Mail rather than Gmail.

[Clark]

Procter and Gamble does a great job of using different brand names. But when you purchase a P&G product, you probably don't even know that it is one. When you use GMail, you know it is Google Mail. Somehow Hotmail vs. Microsoft Mail works. Many people don't know it is Microsoft (and I think Microsoft would have done better to integrate the name into looking like a MS property LESS). GMail is too close to Google, might as well call it Google Mail. Personally not fond of the gmail name. Don't even know why, but different things hit you differently.

Broadcast.com was a great property, but since it became a part of Yahoo, where is it? What is it? (Other than making Mark Cuban the luckiest nitwit on the planet)?

Whereas Flickr is getting great reviews and a great community, and I didn't even know it was a Yahoo company. The less they integrate it, the better it will be (IMHO).

Interesting discussion.

[blaze]

Well, at least it wasn't morgranfreemanmail.com

[b0rdslide]

I bet we're looking at the start of a system that will allow you to have one login across multiple Google platforms Google News, Google Mail, Google Groups, Google Maps ... whatever they want to develop. It will remember your preferences and target advertising to you even better among other neat things that I probably can't think of right now.

That is already the case. Your google login can be used for gmail, web alerts, search history, google groups, etc. etc.

What I've seen lately though is more emphasis on the google login, more services have been using it and it's being mentioned more often.

Kev

[httpwebwitch]

There are only a few all-in-one services that encompass webmail, groups, notices, alerts, calendars etc... the MSN Passport thing is OK though there are times when the interface gets annoying.

There are many competing philosophies when it comes to branding strategies... When something is so unique that it deserves its own brand, the choice is easy. With a service or group of services where usership is similar, that's when arguments begin. (From experience: I did pharmaceutical marketing for a few years - those people are hard core).

Consolidating web services under one brand makes sense if they are allowing people to create an "identity". I think it would be cool if Google creates a tabbed interface for their search/mail/news/whatever services. Sign in once, get your cookie and off you go.

Google has a great track record when it comes to good clean useability. Maybe they'll do it better than the others.

I don't want to sound like a Google shill, but I think they're doing a good job creating excellent products. Google Maps totally rocks.

[xxxxxpp]

Maybe they should change Gmail to Google mail everywere. Google is a well known and trusted brandname, so why not use it. When I mention gmail off and on the web, I constantly get a blank stare. Only when I say it's google mail, they know what I'm talking about and want to know how to get an account.

[HostingInsider]

I'm going to go around copyrighting everything with the letter G that Google may decide to use one day, and then cash out :)