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Gmail Man

Jul. 28, 2011 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

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Tipped off by my new Windows Weekly cohost Mary Jo Foley, I spent much of today enjoying "Gmail Man," an absolutely fantastic internal Microsoft sales video that, quick frankly, should be adapted into commercials for mainstream TV.

The bit goes right to the heart of what many people dislike about Gmail, that Google is reading users' email messages in order to create the context-sensitive ads that appear next to every email message delivered through the service.

As Google notes in a Gmail help page, if you don't want these ads, just use an email application.

But Microsoft has a different response: Its Office 365 costs just $6 per user month and doesn't provide ads of any kind. It's a good message: "Your email is your business," the ad concludes. "Google makes it theirs.  Microsoft Office 365 [is] a better solution for your business."

Brilliant.

Discuss this Article 10

enhazed
on Jul 28, 2011
As a fan of both Microsoft and Gmail, I found the video pretty crass. Intentionally misunderstanding that emails are "read" by machines and that no human ever sees them is rather childish and annoying. On the other hand, it fits with my general experience with sales people. Also, preying on customers' fears, paranoia and lack of understanding doesn't seem like the best possible strategy. Certainly not the most ethical one. So I'm not sure I entirely agree with the idea of this ad being shown to the public.
danielfrench
on Jul 28, 2011
Comparing Gmail and Office 365 is very misleading. Office 365's direct competitor is Google Apps Premiere, which is of course, ad free, and slightly cheaper than Office 365. This might be an effective ad, but it is entirely misleading.
Mustang17
on Jul 29, 2011
The point could also be made is, if they are looking through your g-mail for words associated with adverts, what is to stop others looking for different words which could easily be mis-interpted for something more sinister. It's only a step away from a government department checking every e-mail, gathering statistics on word useage from individuals, who they are being sent to etc. All under the banner of 'security'.
ModernDislocation
on Jul 29, 2011
I think it is an interesting approach and a valid criticism on the part of MS, but would it kill them to make a decent video?
sstruzik
on Jul 29, 2011
I'm a HUGE gmail fan, and it makes you think! I thought the video was very well done and drove the point home.
bk212
on Jul 29, 2011
The comparison is valid because most people who balk at Office 365 cost always say Gmail is free! Also, an algorithm reading everyone of your emails and building an advertiser profile of you is pretty crass if you ask me.
glonq
on Jul 29, 2011
Anybody who falls for this intentionally deceptive oversimplification of how google does ads (which is actually anonymous) is probably one of those low-IQ Internut Explorer users: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/07/29/internet.explorer.dumb/index.html... And FWIW, Google Apps (which is the 365's contender) doesn't show me any ads at all.
clhodapp
on Jul 30, 2011
WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG. Ok, it is valid to point out that Gmail has adverts while Office 365 doesn't (points Office 365, I guess, though Google Apps doesn't have ads and is slightly cheaper... I'm getting off topic). HOWEVER... How do you think your mail gets from your computer to your intended receiver? Your mail server *reads* your mail, and sends it to the receiver's mail server through SMTP, hopefully over SSL so that it can't be eavesdropped on en route. The other person's mail server then holds onto it until the person is ready to read it or download it to their client. If they have a client, their mail server "reads" the message again so that it can send it to your mail client. If the message recipient is using webmail of ANY KIND (e.g. *Office 365*, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, etc.), their mail server needs to *read* the message again and actually has to alter the message (gasp) so that it can be part of a web page. If they reply, the whole process repeats: they send their reply to their mail server, which *reads* it, transmits it to your mail server, which then *reads it* so that it can send it to your client. The point is, automated systems are "reading" your messages all the time. It's beyond stupid to act like Gmail's ad system is "playing peek-a-boo" simply because it hooks into normal server message-reading processes.
Mustang17
on Aug 1, 2011
Here in fortress Britian where there are more CCTV cameras per person than anywhere in the world. You always feel your being watched, your phone can be used to track your movements, your bank card allows others to see where and what you bought, and now we have G-mail which reads your e-mails. A while ago in the back of beyond I had no phone signal, no CCTV cameras for miles and I used cash to buy things, I felt amazingly free! Last year I got caught up in a armoured car convoy, basically tanks, on a quiet country lane up in the sticks. I mentioned this only on facebook, within a day I got an e-mail advertising armoured cars, bullet proof windows and transporting valuables around. It still makes people uncomfortable if their e-mail is being checked for information in order that someone can try sell you something. Machine or not, its feels wrong. Ask those who have had their phones hacked recently.
WickedScribbler
on Aug 4, 2011
Heh... I bet public reception of this would be enthusiastic if the postions of Google and Microsoft were reversed.

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