Gmail is Still Beta for a Reason

I think it was the threat of a Gmail revolution that prompted Yahoo to increase the storage space parceled to its free email accounts last year. Who remembers rummaging through our Yahoo email accounts deleting emails only weeks, if not days, old?

I think it was the threat of a Gmail revolution that prompted Yahoo to increase the storage space parceled to its free email accounts last year.  (Yahoo’s paid email at the time, of course, gave storage to spare.  It’s an example of how the whiff of corporate competition can benefit end users or consumers.)  Who remembers rummaging through our Yahoo email accounts deleting emails only weeks, if not days, old?  I think Yahoo copied their color coded warning system of diminishing storage space from the easy-to-comprehend terror levels issued by the federal government.  Gmail’s arrival, though, changed this – we were ready for something better.  Its search-based organization, something we like to see at ConductSearch.com, figured to be a natural step for email world to take.

I believe that something better came, too.  But, something that I’m unlikely to avail myself to because I, like most, am not ready to forego the free, web-based email I am comfortable with for Gmail’s blessings. 

Gmail, like Google, was marketed beautifully from the outset.  How did they manufacture buzz?  By attaching a sense of exclusivity to a Gmail address, that’s how.  That’s no small feat considering that Gmail doesn’t cost anything.  But, they used the invite system and people, exercising the herd mentality as we’re wont to do, were all over it.  Web geeks were all over Gmail and invites for an address even made it to eBay.  I have no doubt Google’s marketing department loved that; they might have even put them up for auction themselves. 

When the hubbub died down a bit I got mine from a friend who works at Google.  I admit to all (and to Mike) that I felt sheer gratitude for the address.  The marketing worked.  That’s about when the magic ended for me.  For starters, it seemed as if Google couldn’t let some standard features be, like…freakin’ folders!

I had a chat with ConductSearch.com’s IT director who, like me, had and disregarded his Gmail account, as did others around the office.  The latest numbers show that Gmail accounts handle less than 4% of email volume and I believe this number is generous.  The number one reason for discontinuance was forgetting passwords.  In other words, there was nothing compelling enough to get a Gmail account and keep it. 

I also learned that others, too, didn’t like the way Gmail “revolutionized” email.  Perhaps this progress was a little forced.  Granted, you can go on any techie board and read how people love Gmail, how effective its spam filters are (might have more to do with that Gmail < 4% penetration), how the flow works, etc.  Ah, rubbish. 

For starters, email is, to me, about communication.  And it’s a slower form of communication than IM, so I don’t need it to be cutting edge, just convenient.  I want my email ordered.  Before computers, when we were waist high in paperwork (I still am, amazingly) we needed folders and labels.  Naturally, as email evolved an organizational system of folders and labels by subject or sender was produced.  And, hey, look what else developed – trash cans, just like in real life.  Love throwing away that clutter.

Well, Gmail trashed the perfectly good email format where trash cans and folders ease the burdens of Inboxes.  Gmail even makes it tough to delete useless email, too.  Google intimates that deletion of email is a non-priority because users are given so much storage space.  Baloney.  It’s an irksome element and on some level I think it has something to do with the fact that I’m served text ads in my own inbox.  People shouldn’t wonder why Gmail is still ‘Beta’, though some joke that Google forgot to take down that label. 

It’s not a coincidence; Google took a shot at revamping email as we know it and it didn’t work – yet.  Unfortunately for Gmail, Instant Messaging has stolen much of their potential thunder and as convergence continues between voice, text, and video – revolutions within a confined space, like email, will not be forthcoming.  I do believe, though, that Google has a longer-term plan for Gmail.  All the applications that Google develops (admittedly, almost none of it is original or innovative – Google calendar, picture sharing, the free word processing download, to name a few) leads me to believe that Google is trying to integrate an all-involved interactive experience for the web user.  I’m pretty sure that Gmail will someday be seamlessly integrated with instant messaging and document sharing within a Google-server based operating system that will free users from any web-borne virus or malicious hacking.  Would be an impressive corporate application, would it not?  It explains, to me at least, Google’s giant server complex being built on the Columbia River that’s been the source of so much speculation.


Jeff Conduct
Director of Marketing
ConductSearch.com
http://www.conductsearch.com
t: 1.888.99CS.NYC
e: marketing@conductsearch.com

Benefits of Custom Software Development

The closest relationship of a software company is with its client and to maintain a close knit relation, the company needs to understand as its utmost priority to implement client’s requirement.
The closest relationship of a software company is with its client and to maintain a close knit relation, the company needs to understand as its utmost priority to implement and execute the client’s requirement. At a stage when Business firms are striving to become unique achievers, a simple software package with readymade applications may restrict their winning possibilities. For procuring uniqueness in Business objectives, customized or customer-friendly software is the best option. The role played by custom software development brings output as desired by the client. Customized software is prepared on the basis of the requirements and preferences of the client. Tailor-made software prepared using the latest technology, only for the client’s purpose and not for the masses is what custom software development. Any complication or disapproval of the client that stems out can be modified at the time of preparation of the software with the client’s consent and this is where the foremost advantage of custom software development lies. Once the product is made and sold to the client, there is no need to modify the custom software as it is already made for perfection. In case of a pre-developed software package, a client may have to go through a rigorous process of restructuring their objective in order to compliment the software application (which is generally not preferred). Otherwise, they may have to contact the software manufacturer for modifications in the existing software to suit the requirements. This steals a lot of valuable time and money. The customized software is made for a single buyer or a group (a business firm) and thus the entire cost of development has to be borne by one customer which is not the case with off-the-shelf software. Post-development, custom software saves time as the client does not require modifying the package. The time consumed during the preparation of custom software may be more. But, this should not be a hurdle in choosing between pre-developed and custom software for a business firm’s specific purpose as the product’s life cycle may stretch during the development stages. And why does it happen? This is because; to procure perfect custom software as the end product requires rigorous probing to understand, analyze and accurately implement the ideas to shape up into a product. Again, pre-developed software may benefit in less expenditure, but the high cost during the development of custom software is due to intrinsic research and excess requirements as the product has to be a client desired output. The output brings desired business results. Some of the examples of custom software development include software for mobile phones (phone access, automated mail triggers on event, interfacing with extreme systems and high security reports), custom data base design and web applications (constructing company websites). A dedicated custom software company stays in constant touch with the client via tele-conference, phone or email and chat, irrespective of being offshore or onshore. This is the most important task as the needs can be communicated frequently and no scope for doubts is created. Both pre-development and post-development of the custom software require communication. The former would provide the software company with information needed to start the development and the latter would be required to explain the working of a software application and also to remove any possible discrepancies. The utilization of custom software procures faster, quality business results for the cost savings. A process-driven working model is followed by such companies which also involves pilot run and quality assurance tests. The team involved in developing custom software has sound domain knowledge and also is well aware of the competitors in the business. In a fast paced business world where every firm is ready to outdo the other, working with a software that suits and is modified to the company’s needs and preferences is a viable option or lets say is a customized option.