GMail is now GoogleMail in UK

“As of today, UK Gmail users are seeing ‘Google Mail’ at the top of their Gmail accounts, and Google is warning they may lose their ‘@gmail.com’ addresses in the future. All new signups from the UK will be assigned ‘@googlemail.com’ addresses, and existing accounts will be able to use either domain for now. Gmail’s help pages explain this is related to their ongoing dispute regarding the Gmail trademark.”
/.
Unfortunately, we don’t know.
It looks like i’m a bit of a mess. I really do not wish to lose my @gmail addresses. I had absolutely nothing against gmail, I love their service but if I get @googlemail.com i’m going to be really annoyed!

And yep; even seems to apply to already registered users:

“What if I’m a UK user who already has a Gmail address? Will that address ever change?”
Unfortunately, we don’t know. We would love to say that your address will always remain the same. But the trademark issue is still unsettled, and unfortunately, we cannot predict what the other party or the courts might do here. You can always use your same username with an @googlemail.com address to avoid this issue later on. But trust that we will do the best we can to make sure your email address won’t ever have to change.

Maybe theres a way of fooling gmail to think i’m not in the UK? I don’t know but i’m going to investigate…

Another slashdot article states the following:

“Yahoo reports that Google has updated their privacy policy on user data collection. The new policy now explicitly states that ‘Google may use personal information to display customized content and advertising, develop new services and ensure that its network continues to function.’ It also adds that employees who violate the policy will be fired and prosecuted. They have also added a Cliffs Notes version of their privacy policy for those who don’t want to RTFPP.” /.

I wonder what is going on exactly.

1. prof_ahmad Says:
   October 19th, 2005 at 7:51 pm

   I’m pee’d off after reading that. What a joke, i like my @gmail.com address. @googlemail? Nope, doesn’t sound right, and to think we’ll all have to notify everyone of a new email address.. annoying.

2. Usayd Says:
   October 19th, 2005 at 8:14 pm

   It’s more then annoying - they can’t do that to us! I don’t think that they’ll change our addresses, if they do then theres going to be something to complain about - believe me. Bad luck to the people without Gmail addresses - I guess if your that behind you deserve a crap addy!

3. jamal Says:
   October 20th, 2005 at 9:58 pm

   I agree, “googlemail” just doesnt sound the same. I read somewhere that all existing address may also change in the near future!

4. Usayd Says:
   October 20th, 2005 at 10:03 pm

   Ouch! You know there is always a breaking point for something that is excelling at a high velocity. Maybe this is it for google.
   Probably not. But just maybe.