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Will Gmail lose its beta status in 2009?

Background: With Google removing the "Beta" label from its Chrome web browser, we not only get some enhancements to the software, but we also get some insight into why Googles products stay in beta sooooo long. In the video interview we published yesterday, Googles Marissa Mayer explains why Chrome came out of beta so fast, while other services Gmail for example have remained in beta for years,

Apparently, its all about motivation oh, and money.

You see, there are no formal standards for how long a web application should remain in beta with no consequences, Google can keep Gmail in beta ad infinitum. When you get to software the stuff that runs on your desktop" keeping it in beta means that OEMs (such as Dell, Lenovo, etc) wont touch it. There are strict standards for software betas and all the time Chrome kept that label, Google missed out on important distribution partnerships.

Oddly enough though Gmail is still in beta... It's a great service and get upgraded frequently, but is it still really in beta? The market will settle when Gmail comes out of formal beta, which would probably be announced on the Gmail development blog located here:

Gmail Blog


Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source.

 
Forecast history %
Yes
96%
No
4%
Settled as Yes on Wed 8th Jul 4:14am PST

Suspend date: Thu 31st Dec 11:59pm PST (7 weeks to go)
Settlement date: Wed 8th Jul 4:14am PST
Prediction cut-off: Predictions on this question after Tue 7th Jul 11:59pm PST have been voided because they were made after the question could be settled

Initial likelihoods: Yes: 50%

Action history:

Created Tue 30th Dec 2008 12:30pm PST by ryanj
Changed Question text Mon 5th Jan 2:25am PST by tomg[Admin]: ... lose it'sits beta status in 2009?
Settlement requested Tue 7th Jul 4:44pm PST by rogerkni: This has just occurred:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/147412-google-peels-off-the-beta-label-from-more-of-its-apps
Settlement requested Wed 8th Jul 2:44am PST by jenniandboys[Admin]: Yesterday (market suspended)
Suspended Wed 8th Jul 2:44am PST by jenniandboys[Admin]: Suspended pending settlement

Suspend date: Thu 31st Dec 11:59pm PST (7 weeks to go)
Settlement date: Wed 8th Jul 4:14am PST
Prediction cut-off: Predictions on this question after Tue 7th Jul 11:59pm PST have been voided because they were made after the question could be settled details

 

Predictions (154)

17 weeks ago
fantazzle predicted Yes (H$500 at 96%)
17 weeks ago
thepeoplegeekllc predicted Yes (H$9,000 at 95%)
17 weeks ago
thepeoplegeekllc predicted Yes (H$7,000 at 92%)
17 weeks ago
thepeoplegeekllc predicted Yes (H$7,000 at 89%)
17 weeks ago
thepeoplegeekllc predicted Yes (H$1 at 88%)

Comments (3)

  1 ryanj
As a note, Chrome the new google internet browser is already out of 'beta status.' Some have suggested that Gmail might just stay in beta, for the sense of nostalgia
posted 44 weeks ago
  3 gilrain
I believe it will lose its beta status, but, knowing Google, I strongly suspect they'll do it on Gmail's anniversary, April 1st. Not before the end of the year.
posted 19 weeks ago

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