Google Gmail launch edges closer, BBC News, 18 Feb 2005

“Google has edged closer to launching its new Gmail service. The company has invited the people who registered an interest in Gmail, which is still under development, to open a free e-mail account. Previously, it had kept a tighter rein on the number of users given access, limiting to 50 the number of people that existing customers could invite. Google was reluctant to talk about when it would launch Gmail, saying that it was in the development "beta" stage.�

Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4277607.stm