Gmail turns 5

Gmail, the now industry-standard web-based email application from Google, launched five years ago today.  Lifehacker ran a great interview today with the Senior Project Manager in charge of the program, Keith Coleman, in which he talks about how Gmail changed the way we use email, features users are asking for, and whether the application will ever progress past its beta version.

The way that Gmail allows users to archive their emails (thanks to ever-expanding memory limits) rather than deleting and the notion of threaded conversations originated with the application.  Coleman explains that such innovations manifest because Google attempts to serve its most highly-demanding users--those who "really pushed (and today, still push) it to its limits."  Gmail Labs* has become the testing ground for some of these new features demanded by the savviest users, and now include everything from the ability to customize the colors of labels (Gmail's answer to the conundrum of needing to file emails in multiple locations) to fun additions like a feature that requires the user to complete math problems when they attempt to email late at night to avoid embarrassing repercussions of alcohol (Mail Goggles).

The piece also tempts the Google groupie with many allusions to untold developments:

Lifehacker: After five years, the most obvious question to ask off the bat: Can we ever expect Gmail to leave beta?
Keith Coleman, Gmail Product Manager: Yes—there are people working on it right now. (And I promise, they're not just editing the logo .png). . .

Lifehacker: In the past five years, what are the coolest ideas you've considered but not implemented? Why not?
Coleman: We are working on some of the coolest ones right now. I am pretty sure we're not going to finish Autopilot anytime soon, though. . .

Lifehacker: I know that in the past Googlers have been the initial guinea pigs for new Gmail features. Are there currently any major differences between the Gmail you use inside Google and the Gmail we use every day?
Coleman: Yes, and we are very excited about them. They involve some non-trivial changes and need more work before they're Labs-ready.

Happy Fifth Birthday, Gmail (even though we've only known each other since May '05).

* link will only work for Gmail users

"gmail.logo" image by blogitech.