Axel de Tarlé is looking into a new decision by Google: make paid access to Gmail, its e-mail, when its users exceed fifteen gigabytes.
Google is prompting more and more Gmail subscribers - its email - to switch to its paid offering if they want to continue receiving their emails.
For years, Google has attracted us with its free services. Gmail for emails, photos too, or documents. Except that people have more photos and e-mails and therefore, the generosity of Google has limitations. When you have reached 15 gigabytes - you can look at the very bottom of your inbox, where you are - you have to switch to the paid "Google One" offer at 1.99 euros per month if you want to continue to receive your emails.
These are still pretty specious methods: At first we give you the "cam" for free, and once you're snapped, you've switched all your photos, and all your contacts. We charge you.
Google France, last night, was unable last night to tell me how many Internet users in France had switched to the paid offer. But make the small calculation: a billion people have Gmail in the world so if 10% of them spend paying, it will bring two billion euros each year to Google.
Even so, one can understand that the storage space is not infinite. Moreover, Apple also charged for its storage space (99 cents per month).
The difference is that with Apple, we know that we operate in a closed and paid system. While with Google, we were always told it was free. Google's DNA is free. This is one of his arguments to protect himself against calls for dismantling.
Why criticize a monopoly when its service is free? The consumer is delighted if it's free! This argument is falling. Google gives ammunition to its enemies. And if this paid offer was the grave of Google?