Google opens access to Gmail

Irish internet users are now able to sign up for a free Gmail account, without the invitation which has been necessary since …

Irish internet users are now able to sign up for a free Gmail account, without the invitation which has been necessary since Google launched the email service.

Gmail was launched in 2004 to compete with free rivals like MSN's hotmail service and offers greater storage capacity.

Google are also set to announce a new, downloadable version of Gmail for use with mobiles.

Mobile users with a Java-equipped handset can now use Google's email application, which synchronises with the users web-based email account, and allows the viewing of email attachments and photos.