SA companies launch rival GMail.co.za

How do you feel about this?

  • This is not right. They should have done something more original.

    Votes: 73 60.8%

  • I don't really care much.

    Votes: 12 10.0%

  • It is local and it is free. Good stuff!

    Votes: 21 17.5%

  • Not sure yet...

    Votes: 4 3.3%

  • They should be entitled to use the domain regardless of how I feel

    Votes: 10 8.3%
  • Total voters
    120
Equinox said:
Well, one would have valid reason to argue that the "Google brand" extends to pretty much anything prefixed by a "g". Are we going to start shutting down every domain that starts with a "g" when Google decides to launch a service similar to it? GTalk? GMail? GBooks? GNews? Surely thats a bit absurd?

What about Microsoft's "LIVE" ? I can think of a couple of ZA domains which end in "live" which aren't necessarily owned by MS? "i" for Apple?
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ROFL.... google owns the domain gmail.co.uk. the reason why they cant use is becuase they did not win the trademark battle in europe. mkay.

hence why in uk, germany and austria is called googlemail.
 
As with other services if they can persuade the local ISPs to zero rate this on all priceplans as local bandwidth that would be a great plus. I hate using up my caps on spam

The service seems similar to Webmail (which I use). An irritating feature is that even if you set certain domains as 'safe', they still often get filtered out as spam, so you often miss vital messages without realising.
 
gsolutions said:
Hi everyone

Let us clarify a few questions we have been asked a lot, as well as explain what we hope to achieve going forward.

Gmail.co.za was registered on the 4th of August 2003. The name was derived as an abbreviated version of Gardale Mail. The service was launched as a result of numerous requests we have had from clients and fits in line with what we offer as an ISP.

You will notice that yes the interface is not the greatest at this stage, however we have been working closely with webmail.co.za to neaten up the interface in the short term, with a full new system to go live in the long term (within 12 months). You will already notice there are no popups, there is not a floating advert, and there are slightly less adverts on the home page when comparing it to the webmail offering. This is as a direct result of our involvement with them, and their willingness to improve upon the service.

Let me re-iterate, we understand that what is currently available needs a lot of work, but webmail have been very welcoming of ideas around taking the service to the next level that will put us in a position to become a world class offering. Our involvement with webmail is based on similar values and principles that we are working hard to achieve, so that the users of the service receive the best possible interface and functionality. Unfortunately there are certain legacy issues which go back to long standing relationships with partners, which we are working on.

We have created a mailbox for feedback and would welcome any constructive feedback as to what you would like to see from a South African offering. [email protected]. Points such as the interface and long registration process are being looked at currently.

We thank you for your interest and take the feedback posted on the forum very seriously.
Click to expand...

Then please answer this question - why do we have to fill in a lot of very personal information when Google's gmail services doesn't ask the same?
 
The_Librarian said:
Then please answer this question - why do we have to fill in a lot of very personal information when Google's gmail services doesn't ask the same?
Click to expand...

So that the companies who invested money in this get some free advertizing by spamming your mailbox with crap. Just like Webmail. Even gmail(the google one) has a pop3 so you can use your Outlook to send and receive the mail. Sorry but this just smells of EPIC FAIL !
 
Equinox said:
Well, one would have valid reason to argue that the "Google brand" extends to pretty much anything prefixed by a "g". Are we going to start shutting down every domain that starts with a "g" when Google decides to launch a service similar to it? GTalk? GMail? GBooks? GNews? Surely thats a bit absurd?
Click to expand...

Indeed so: 'glove' would assume a completely different meaning...:p
 
gsolutions said:
Hi everyone

Let us clarify a few questions we have been asked a lot, as well as explain what we hope to achieve going forward.

Gmail.co.za was registered on the 4th of August 2003. The name was derived as an abbreviated version of Gardale Mail. The service was launched as a result of numerous requests we have had from clients and fits in line with what we offer as an ISP.

You will notice that yes the interface is not the greatest at this stage, however we have been working closely with webmail.co.za to neaten up the interface in the short term, with a full new system to go live in the long term (within 12 months). You will already notice there are no popups, there is not a floating advert, and there are slightly less adverts on the home page when comparing it to the webmail offering. This is as a direct result of our involvement with them, and their willingness to improve upon the service.

Let me re-iterate, we understand that what is currently available needs a lot of work, but webmail have been very welcoming of ideas around taking the service to the next level that will put us in a position to become a world class offering. Our involvement with webmail is based on similar values and principles that we are working hard to achieve, so that the users of the service receive the best possible interface and functionality. Unfortunately there are certain legacy issues which go back to long standing relationships with partners, which we are working on.

We have created a mailbox for feedback and would welcome any constructive feedback as to what you would like to see from a South African offering. [email protected]. Points such as the interface and long registration process are being looked at currently.

We thank you for your interest and take the feedback posted on the forum very seriously.
Click to expand...

Excuse me? neaten up the interface how about scrap the entire piece of ****. I dont know what type of people are employed at webmail offices but clearly they lack any form of design or coding skills. This is the feed back and i think i speak for everyone. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT BIG, DONT RIDE ON SOMEONE ELSES COAT TAILS. or so the saying sort of go's. I hope that google does something about this, and you are forced to give over the domain. You are better off saving yourself from the court battle. Further more, 99% of your customers using that hideous email system will most likely leave after 5mins with all that spam, and who the hell gives you or webmail the right to ask all that personal information, so what they can sell it to other companies .f.u.c.k .t.h.em in there .a.s.s.e.s..
 
rwenzori said:
My cr@p detector is nearing the limits of its scale!
Click to expand...

They are not partners, google arent that dumb to partner with such a **** enterprise. And if they where, were are the adsense bots on webmail site. idiots.


BWAHAHAHAHAHAH
i just found this on webmail site...

So much more than just email

You've probably noticed by now that your Webmail.co.za site looks a lot different. That's because we've been hard at work making Webmail so much more than just email! We've given you a whole lot of nifty new services, and we've put them all (including your email access) together on one new site for your convenience.

You still get the same free email service on Webmail.co.za but now you have more ways to communicate!
Some of our new communication features include:

* Fresh, easy-to-use design
* VoiceMail and VideoMail
* ShareFriends: invite friends to share files with you online
* 10 GB of free space to store your files
* File-sharing: upload and share videos, photos and music
* WebChat: instant messaging for your phone and PC
* Fax2Email: receive faxes in your inbox

You can also play games, buy a car, find romance, find a job (and much more) right here on Webmail.co.za!
How do I use all these new features?

The first time you view our new pages you'll see an info page explaining how to use it. You can also find this info page under 'Help' on the left-hand menu in each section.

We hope you enjoy using the new Webmail.co.za!
Click to expand...

so wtf is gardale just going to have a redirect to webmail wow ahhahahahahah ****ing retards.
 
Just created an account...what a load of BS. When trying to "compete" with gmail, at least put some effort into the interface and stop prostituting the site with banner ads all over the place.

Doesn't matter how long they've owned the domain, the big G is gonna get you!

Try again!!!
 
Why is everyone getting so riled up about the name?

Im sure google has the resources to defend their IP themselves if they are legally able to, however a quick search with reveals that there are many www.gmail.* domains which they have no claim to either. A few examples are gmail.lv, gmail.net.au, gmail.net, gmail.in, gmail.es. Some of them are in fact also offering webmail services.

Reading the comments here gives me the feeling that most of the posters are pissed at how crap the service is, but are attacking the domain name instead.

Perhaps if the service was actually worth a damn, most of the complaints would be reversed.

All that said, gmail.co.za is utter crap, and the fact that they are associated with webmail.co.za just makes it even worse.
 
LOL is this just me...

I opened webmail.co.za and opened gmail.co.za
& checked the following...

1) The icon next to the site address, both got same address
2) http://webmail.gmail.co.za/default.aspx <- they just added the word gmail into the webmail address
3) Both are spammed by Dial-Direct adds, and the layout of both sites are the same, just different pictures

Damn now I remember why I stopped using webmail in the first place..
Another thing where the hell is the login option on webmail.co.za ??? How am I supposed to access my old long forgotten account, should I wish to... :D :D :D
I say both are done by the same people, they just trying to attract more people to the website..
 
And the spam just keeps on rolling in. Now I have some fellow by the name of Mdu following up on their free fax to email spam that they sent me 2 minutes after signing up. Pathetic man!

Dear [email protected]

Enjoy your spam once the bots find this thread. Please let me know if you're running short on viagra and pr0n so I can sign you up for those sites too. But get in touch using my hotmail address rather - I no longer check my gmail.co.za address...
 
DJK said:
And the spam just keeps on rolling in. Now I have some fellow by the name of Mdu following up on their free fax to email spam that they sent me 2 minutes after signing up. Pathetic man!

Dear [email protected]

Enjoy your spam once the bots find this thread. Please let me know if you're running short on viagra and pr0n so I can sign you up for those sites too. But get in touch using my hotmail address rather - I no longer check my gmail.co.za address...
Click to expand...

Just got the same e-mail :mad:

The interface is flippin difficult to navigate with all the ads, then I want to send and file and there's an attachment limit of 2MB per file?! Using normal GMail I sent a 7MB file just the other day.
 
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