Inbox by Gmail facts for kids
 |
|||||
Inbox by Gmail running on Android Lollipop.
|
|||||
| Developer(s) | Google LLC | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial release |
|
||||
| Stable release(s) [±] | |||||
|
|||||
| Operating system | Android, iOS | ||||
| Successor | Gmail | ||||
| Type | Email client | ||||
| License | Freeware | ||||
Inbox by Gmail was a special email service created by Google. It was first shown to a small group of people on October 22, 2014. Then, it became available to everyone on May 28, 2015. Google decided to shut down Inbox on April 2, 2019.
This service was available on the internet and as apps for phones and tablets using Android and iOS. Inbox by Gmail wanted to make managing emails easier and more organized. It had many helpful tools to do this.
People generally liked Inbox by Gmail. They said it looked "minimalist and lovely" and was easy to use. Its features helped users find important messages quickly. Some even called it "the future of email." However, some people thought it showed too little information at once. They also felt that its automatic organization system might not suit everyone. Google shared that in March 2016, 10% of all replies on mobile phones using Inbox came from its "Smart Reply" feature.
Contents
How did Inbox by Gmail work?
Inbox by Gmail looked at your incoming emails from Gmail. It then grouped emails about the same topic into neat "bundles." For example, all emails about a trip, like flight tickets and hotel bookings, would go into a "Travel" bundle. This made it easier to see all related messages at once. You could also group emails yourself to teach Inbox how you like to organize things.
Bundles and Highlights
Inbox also highlighted important details in messages. This included things like flight times, event details, photos, and documents. It could even get updated information from the internet. For example, it could show you the real-time status of your flights or package deliveries.
Reminders and Snooze
You could set reminders for important messages. This meant the message would pop up again later when you needed it. If Inbox showed you information you didn't need right then, you could "snooze" it. Snoozing made the message disappear for a while. It would then reappear later, or even when you arrived at a specific place.
Smart Reply and Other Cool Tools
In June 2015, Google added an "Undo Send" feature. This gave you 10 seconds to stop an email from being sent after you clicked send.
In November 2015, "Smart Reply" came to the mobile apps. Inbox would suggest three short replies for some emails. You could send one with just a tap. This feature later came to the Inbox website in March 2016.
In April 2016, Inbox got three new features. It could help organize Google Calendar events. It also showed previews of newsletters. Plus, a "Save to Inbox" tool let you save links for later. This meant you didn't have to email links to yourself anymore.
In December 2017, an "Unsubscribe" card appeared. This made it easy to stop getting emails from mailing lists you didn't open often.
Why did Google stop Inbox?
Google ended the Inbox service in March 2019. Google said that Inbox was a "great place to experiment with new ideas." They explained that many of those new ideas had already moved over to their main Gmail service. The company wanted to focus all its efforts on making one email system the best it could be.
What happened to Inbox's features?
Many popular features from Inbox by Gmail have since been added to Gmail. These include:
- Snoozing emails: You can hide an email and have it reappear later.
- Nudges: Gmail brings old messages back to the top of your inbox. It does this when it thinks you might want to follow up or reply.
- Hover actions: You can move your mouse over a message and quickly do things like archiving it without opening the email.
- Smart Reply: This feature shows suggested phrases for some emails. This helps you reply quickly.
Google has also said they want to add the "bundles" feature to Gmail someday. This feature is currently only in Inbox for Gmail.
See also
In Spanish: Inbox by Gmail para niños
