Now, new users of Gmail don't need an invitation

There is a subtle recent change in the Gmail universe. New users no longer are required to have an invitation to use the service. Instead, you can log on at mail.google.com, fill out a form, toggle through helpful ads and you're connected.

Gmail, which first rolled out in late 2005, just wrapped up what must have been one of the longest public beta periods in history. It was never an exclusive club, but there were some controls. Now, the company thinks the system can handle an infinite amount of new users and that its spam tools are robust enough to prevent a significant spam-driven slowdown.

Gmail provides a different experience from the Outlook-oriented mentality that rules the rest of the world (along with Web mail rivals Hotmail and Yahoo!). Gmail groups messages in conversations, containing the original mail and all responses. When a new message in the thread arrives it moves to the top of the list and in boldface.

Lately Google has started offering ancillary applications that connect to its mail program, to underline that we do not e-mail in a vacuum. There is integrated instant messaging, which allows you to archive and search chat messages or go "off the record" to make the messages ephemeral. Anyone who needs to communicate outside accountability's reach can benefit from this feature.

GoogleDocs is another useful extra. Here, you can prepare a document and forward it to a correspondent, who then follows a link to add his or her comments.

"We see people using e-mail as a fundamental part of their communications process," said Gmail product manager Keith Coleman. "But we also want to provide new and better tools for people to replace how they collaborate. This allows many people to access a single document, and reduces the number of e-mails you send while collaborating."

Google's effect on Microsoft is difficult to predict. As capable as they may be, Gmail and GoogleDocs pale in comparison to Outlook and Microsoft Word. If you are serious about mail or writing, a full-featured program is essential. Then, we have the cost. Google, as a suite of free programs, isn't as accountable as Microsoft. If something goes wrong with Word you can call tech support and complain.

With Google, you can only send an e-mail and wait.

"Free," as we know, is never free. Google supports itself through targeted advertising, part of this includes little links on the side of each message. These links aren't precise; you can discuss a trip to Brittany and receive links to a Britney Spears merchandising site. Even if this is a little creepy at first, you soon get over it.

An invasion of privacy? Not really. E-mail was never completely private to begin with.

While every mail service must offer the same features, Google has become the company unlike everybody else.

Its products make computing a little easier, and allow you to create what amounts to a custom online environment accessible from any computer.

Everyone should learn how to use these tools, if only as a backup to what they are already doing.

If you have questions or suggestions for Charles Bermant, you can contact him by e-mail at cbermant@seattletimes.com. Type Inbox in the subject field. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.