Re:Looking for a real Gmail alternative
by jfoster on Wednesday March 27, 2013 @01:38AM
(#5447981)
Fair enough if you want to quit Gmail on principle, but in case you genuinely are concerned about Gmail shutting down, don't be. It's one of Google's most valuable assets. They use it internally, thousands of businesses using Google Apps use it, and the adoption rate is so high that the FTC would probably investigate them if they tried to shut it down.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Google is an advertising business - just because they use Email internally doesn't mean offering it to third parties is a core part of their business.
Also - I doubt the FTC has any power to force a company to provide email services - it's not like they're a phone company providing the only service available to a specific area.
Besides - they don't have to "shut down" Gmail for it to become undesirable to use it. They've announced heavy restrictions on access to calendars - how long until IMAP access is discontinued and they force people to use webmail or one of their apps?
They haven't announced heavy restrictions on access to calendars. Anyone can still write a client to access Google Calendars. They just need to use Google's calendar api instead of caldav. The method of access has changed but not the level of access.