INTERNET ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS JOIN FORCES TO MAKE
GMAIL ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE TO U.S. TROOPS STATIONED OVERSEAS
INTERNET ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS JOIN FORCES TO MAKE GMAIL ACCOUNTS
AVAILABLE TO U.S. TROOPS STATIONED OVERSEAS
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 22, 2004 - The Institute for Spam and Internet
Public Policy (ISIPP), Gmail4Troops.com, Whizardries, Wil Wheaton and
Drew Olanoff are pleased to announce a joint effort to assist members of
the military who are stationed abroad, and their families, by providing
free web-based email accounts from the Gmail service to U.S. troops who
are deployed overseas.
"With the 4th of July just around the corner, this is a time to remember
those who are daily risking their lives overseas," said Anne
P. Mitchell, President and CEO of ISIPP. "Whatever your politics, there
is no denying that these individuals are making some very hard
sacrifices, including having left their families and friends behind. If
we can help them to stay in touch with their loved ones, to share
pictures and to hear their voices and see their smiling faces in videos,
then that is a precious gift which we can give to them, and the
Institute is honoured and privileged to be able to help Drew and Wil
with this project."
Gmail is the free email service offered by Google. The service, which
includes a gigabyte of data storage with each free acccount, is not yet
available to the general public, but existing Gmail users can invite
others to join the service. Gmail invitations are so coveted that they
can be found being auctioned on eBay, and Internet sites have sprung up
where users can barter and bid for the chance to receive an invitation
to the free email service.
A chance email by Drew Olanoff to Wil Wheaton, author of "Dancing
Barefoot" and "Just a Geek", started the chain of events which lead to
the development of the joint project. Olanoff, a regular reader of
Wheaton's blogsite, WilWheaton.net, told Wheaton that "I will send you
an invitation for Gmail if you post something on your site telling
others to give their invites to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan." The
idea piqued Wheaton's interest, and he issued a challenge to others to
spread the word about the effort to make Gmail available to overseas
troops. Wheaton was inundated with responses, and just two days later
Wheaton and Olanoff brought Gmail4Troops.com online.
"It just made sense," explained Olanoff. "While viewing one of the
Gmail swap sites, I came across a posting from a soldier stationed in
Afghanistan who was asking for a Gmail Invite. After exchanging
email with him, it became apparent that Gmail's sleek, free interface
and large amount of storage would be a huge help to him."
Wheaton's post came to the attention of Mickey Chandler of Whizardries,
and a post by Chandler to his own personal blog caught the eye of
Mitchell, who had worked with Chandler on several Internet and email
initiatives over the years. Mitchell, herself a veteran, contacted
Wheaton and Olanoff, and offered the resources of the Institute to help
further their efforts. Then she tapped her old friend Chandler to help
develop an online system to help administer Olanoff and Wheaton's
program to match those with Gmail invitations to donate with
servicemembers overseas who wanted the accounts.
"I received Drew's initial email on Thursday, by Saturday we had
Gmail4Troops online, and by Monday we found ourselves with a
full-fledged service, processing hundreds of Gmail account donations and
requests" said Wheaton. "And the really amazing thing is that for the
vast majority of people, it doesn't matter if you're a liberal or a
conservative, a dove or a hawk, we're all coming together to do
something great for our soldiers in the field, and their families, to
show them that we haven't forgotten them and we realize the sacrifices
which they are making".
Said one of the Gmail account recipients, "Life in the military is hard
enough without the stresses of leaving your home and family to serve
abroad. Communication to and from loved ones is the only thing that
keeps some of the guys going, and Gmail makes it so much easier...Just
from one airman serving in Iraq, this alone makes Gmail4Troops a godsend
and helps to give me strength to do what I need to do and make it home."
Added another, "Most of what we do goes unnoticed, not because it's not
appreciated, but because it's not seen on a daily basis. Being in a
foreign land, away from family and friends for extended periods of time,
it all takes a toll. The Gmail4Troops project is one way that those who
cannot be there to see their toddler walk those first steps, or feel
that sense of pride rush through their bodies as their 'little one'
graduates from high school, can at least watch those special occasions
unfold. With Gmail's large storage capacity, receiving pictures and
videos by email is no longer a problem. With Gmail4Troops, the kindness
of strangers prevails."
Those interested in donating or requesting Gmail accounts may do so at
http://www.gmail4troops.com
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About the Institute for Spam and Internet Public Policy
The Institute for Spam and Internet Public Policy (ISIPP) provides
expert analysis and consulting services to legislators, governmental and
regulatory agencies, industry leaders, educational institutions, and the
press. For more information see http://www.isipp.com
About Whizardries
Whizardries is an Internet consulting firm specializing in email-related
issues and web application development. For more information see
http://www.whizardries.com
About Gmail4Troops
Gmail4Troops was developed to help match servicepeople who are stationed
overseas, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, with people wishing to
donate spare Gmail accounts to military personnel serving abroad. For
more information see http://www.gmail4troops.com
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks or copyrights of their respective owners.
