很多用户通过Google找到了我这儿，因为检索“如何申请gmail”，我的文章《Google的1GB免费邮箱Gmail》排在首位，致使很多用户误以为我这里提供了Gmail的申请方法，在此我只能说声抱歉。
其实，Gmail一直都在进行测试，并未放开注册。目前有数千名测试者正在试用Gmail，这些测试者拿到测试账号的方法不尽相同，大致分这么几种情况：
- 第一批测试用户，主要是Google内部人员及跟Google关系比较近的人吧，包括一些技术媒体的专栏作家，和一些资深IT人士；
- 4月初，Google向Blogger的部分活跃用户发出Gmail试用邀请，这样就有相当一批用户拿到了Gmail的测试账号；
- 接着，Google又给了部分测试者邀请别人参加测试的权利，不过这个权利是有限的，只能邀请两个新用户，也是从这时候开始，一批Gmail账号被拿到eBay上拍卖，大部分都是这种邀请权；
- 母亲节，Google又向部分测试者发放了一个邀请权。
大致情况就是这样。由于目前参加Gmail测试的人很有限，所以Gmail账号就显得很贵重。按Google的说法，测试期大约要持续3到6个月，测试结束后，应该就可以敞开注册了。那时候，每个人都可以拥有Gmail账号，只要你想。
如果你实在等不及，就问问你身边或你认识的人中，谁有Gmail账号，或许他还有个邀请权没舍得用，不过可能性不太大。我在Orkut上，收到过好几次寻求Gmail账号的消息了。我也帮不上忙，只好视若无睹。
一个免费电子邮件，吸引了这么多的关注，你不能不承认Google巨大的品牌影响力，和成功的市场策划能力。
下面是Google关于邀请问题的说明。
Because we're currently only offering Gmail as part of a preview release and limited test, we don't have details on when Gmail will be made more widely available.
As we make way for more accounts, we may periodically allow you to invite others to join Gmail. When we do so, you will see an invitation link in your inbox.
To invite someone, click on the 'Invite a friend to join Gmail!' link in your inbox. You will then be asked to provide an email address and a personalized message to your invitee.
The person you invite will be sent a message that includes a link to join Gmail. That registration link will be valid for three weeks and can be used to create only one account.
Should your invitee have problems creating a Gmail account, please let us know by clicking on the 'contact us' link below.
Please note that the link may not always be available. When you are allowed to invite others to join Gmail, the number of invitations that you can send will be indicated at the top of the page after you click on the link. Once you have used all of those invitations, we will not be able to immediately issue more invitations.
We have also created a sign up list for those who are interested in receiving updates on Gmail, but have not been invited.
updated 5/11/2004
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