Getting generous with Gmail invitations

Is Google preparing Gmail for general rollout?

Today I noticed that I have this little box in my Gmail account saying that I've now got 50 Gmail invitations. When I looked yesterday, I still had the link saying I had 3.

And I noticed from a post by Josh Hallett that he's also got 50 invitations. I bet many other Gmail account owners have the same. Hence my question - does this indicate preparation of some kind for a general rollout? Maybe by flooding out greater volumes of invitations in one go? Or maybe get some more buzz through bloggers posting speculative commentaries ;) One thing I did notice, in Gmail's instructions on how to invite people, is that the text was updated yesterday to reflect the change, ie, the little box instead of just a text link as it was before.

Gmail has been very successful so far. And the days seem to be gone when if you posted on your blog that you had 6 invitations, you'd be swamped with requests for one within a minute or two of your post.

So what do I do with 50 invitations? Everyone I know has a Gmail account now. Is there a charitable cause, preferably here in Europe, I can offer these to?

Comments

[Drew B's take on tech PR]

Yep Neville, I've got the "50 invites" box too.

[Neville Hobson]

So what to do with them all, Drew, is the question. I know there's a programme in the US to donate email address to the military for the troops in Iraq. Is there something similar in the UK, do you know? Nothing here in the Netherlands.

[Karl Swedberg]

Neville, I found 50 more Gmail invites in my account as well. Although I immediately offered them up on my blog to anyone who happens by, I like your idea of donating them to a charity better. I'll keep checking back here to see if anyone has noted a worthy recipient. Do you have a link to the programme in the US that you mentioned?

Oddly, it almost feels like a burden to have so many Gmail accounts to give away.

[Marc Orchant]

Neville:

There's still quite a bit of pent-up demand, at least based on what I'm seeing on my blogs. I'm giving them out as fast as I can reply to requests (at last count, I've handed out 30 this morning).

--Marc

[Neville Hobson]

Marc, I saw someone's post this afternoon saying they had 150 invitations listed!

Karl, the place to go is Gmail4Troops (catchy name!):

http://www.gmail4troops.com/

However, I just looked at the site - and they're not taking Gmail donations any more! Looks like they've been flooded with donations of email addresses.

But there's another one linked from there:

http://www.gmailforthetroops.com/

[Neville Hobson]

And here's another resource, Karl. I just received an email from Simon Bellwood telling me about isnoop.net's Gmail invite spooler -

http://isnoop.net/gmailomatic.php

Check out their stats from a link on the home page - rocketed skywards since yesterday.

[Matt]

There is also a popular forum that donates 1,000 gmail invitations daily!
http://www.gmailinvitation.com
send them to them

[Neville Hobson]

Thanks for that, Matt. I just took a look at that forum. Wow! Invitations everywhere.

Interesting that there seem to be literally thousands of Gmail invites on offer yet few takers.

[Mary M. Pisciotti]

I'd like to receive a GMail invitation. Thanks. The blogspot is just a site for interchange emotions. Bye.

[Neville Hobson]

Invitation on its way, Mary!

[Nalini]

hi please send me a gmail invitation.
Nalini

[swanee]

yes please!!!!!!!

[Alison Phelps]

i'd like to receive a gmail invitation

[Alison Phelps]

Sorry - typo in my email address

i'd like to receive a gmail invitation

[Deren Kirby]

id luv a gmail invitation plz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[salvador]

I want one :P please

[e7t902]

i'd like to receive a gmail invitation too :)

[Aviva]

I've been waiting forever to get a Gmail account; for anyone who's drowning in excess, please! Send a Gmail invitation my way! You'll make my day!

Gracias! Aviva

[Neville Hobson]

Hi everyone, your requests are in, invitations will come to you as soon as I can get a minute to do them all. I'm going to need an assistanrt soon to help me out with this stuff... ;)

[mohamed rafiudeen]

i neeed more gmail invitations can u give

[Angela]

Neville, if you still have any invitations I'd like one. SHould I then be given invitations once I have an account, I'll give them to you so you can distribute them if you like.

Thanks,
Angela

[Neville Hobson]

Ok, everyone, all invitations on their way.

Some people are asking for more than one. That's ok, but I need to have individual email addresses. That's the way Google's invitation system works - one invite goes to one specific email address.

[Lexu]

hey, can someone send me an invitation plzzz? lexu_2003@yahoo.com send it here...10x a lot

[Man]

Hi

Could someone invite me to Gmail, please.

Thanks

[John Butler]

Hi. Would you have a G mail invitation?
Thanks so much if you do.
John