The longest "BETA" products

In software development cycle, we oftenly use the term ALPHA and BETA term to indicate a progressing software, but somehow ready to make a test hit. In my own experience, we usually use BETA only for stating a software meet its basic function but yet to test througly. There's no exact rule on how long a software should be put on beta before its final release.

For a software company, when it meet all initial designed functionality and performance, then it's OK to be released and leave the beta stage. I'm not sure what are GMAIL guys think of, but the product never officially release.

When it first announce on April fool's day 2004, this phenomenal free mail really changes the paradigm of free mail services. Yahoo previously only provide max 10MB of mailbox, now even no limit. Others are previously closed the pop access now consider to reenable. And the Ajax-interface inspire other web application to follow so.

What's now ?
It's been BETA for more than 5 years. It doesn't make any sense that a product still in beta for such long time, even I start to think maybe "beta" is the product name. I'm not really sure what is their initial design and plan, but for me, it's surpased any free mail service that makes Gmail more ready than any other similar service to get out of the Beta stage.

Do you know any software that labeled Beta longer than Gmail does ?

Looks profesional, write profesional email too

Email is must have communication for today business activity. Some people may not aware of that email have ethics code, so your email looks profesional and not just email. I write this because I've seen a lot of people just doesn't know (or doesn't care) about this.

I just encourage people to pay more attention on good email manner

1. Use company domain for business purposes. This rule is very simple, never join a mass mail mailing list using your company email, simply signup a free mail service. And oppositely, never response to a company project using free mail.

2. Dont forget to include nice signature in every mail you sent.
It could be your contact detail, such as full name, position, company  address, company phone, and company website. It's a very simple, as so many people might forget to set it. For me, receiving email without signature like the person trying to hide these detail, that not good.

3. Do not reply when you're not in the mood..
We seen one-word, one-liner reply like 'ok', 'me too','i agree'. For me it represent the sender not in mood to response. delete unused thread below.

4. Write what you mean, mean what you write
Don't compose an email in hurry, especially that's a weekly report. We can easily knows if an email is composed to catch up the target or it really composed from getting data from lot of sources.
In slank Jakarta word, "gak niat". No, never sent that kind of weekly report, better wait until you really have enough useful data and information.


Happy email-ing !