Things are heating up in the email space. First Google announced their 1GB email, Gmail. Now Lycos is getting into the 1GB act–for a price. And word is that Yahoo! is going to step in also.
A gaggle of online folks have been protesting the new Google email service. Bryan, for instance, isn’t so sure. He’s expecting Google will be pulled down into the depths of quarterly-profits and squander their good will. It’s just a matter of time. So it’s best to stay clear. Or at least it’s better to keep the privacy lines better delineated from the get-go so that it’s less likely to be abused. No reason to give Google the cookie jar, thank you.
While I share the concerns about privacy in general, I don’t have the same fears about Google running wild with my email contents. It’s interesting, though. When it comes to Lycos and Yahoo! doing the same thing, I’m a bit more cautious. Why? Google has earned my respect. I trust them. I trust that my email will be there when I need it. I trust that Google won’t be passing along my email contents. I trust them as if one of my friends is running Google.