Gmail has to be the best internet mail system around. It has an incorporated chat system which is like no other. In addtion, the amount of space you get is just incredible. It truly seems like you will never fill it up.

Gmail indeed was only open to those that were invited. However, at one time Gmail allowed some to sign up. Each person that signed up received about 90 invites. They would go ahead and invite someone. If someone signed up, they would get 90 invites and the spreading of gmail continued. I don't think Google has gone public and here is why: Google knows that if gmail becomes the most popular e-mail service on the internet without ever spending a dime on advertisement, they will really be on top of the world. Addtionally, doesn't it feel good to know that you have a product that has spread by 'word of mouth' than by any other means?

I have gmail and I love it. There are so many things you can do with it and with google adding more and more features as the months pass, you will be able to run your life with gmail. I am not a technological buff myself now do I live on technologies edge, but I know that many have benefited from this.