Beta version of Gmail

April 1, 2004: On this day, Google launched invitation-only beta version of Gmail. At a time when most webmail services offered inbox sizes measured in single-digit megabytes, Google, already known for having April Fools’ press releases announced a service offering an unbelievable 1 GB of storage. They intentionally released a pun-filled press release announcing Gmail. In reality, it was a double fake, in that it was actually serious.