Gmail Philanthropy for the Troops
Since Gmail’s invitation-only beta launch in April, Google’s free e-mail service has become the hottest ticket on the Web, with techies setting up websites to swap (and even sell) the coveted invites.
Now, to help support U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, a small coalition of bloggers has created two websites–Gmail4Troops.com and GmailfortheTroops.com–to allow holders of Gmail invitations to “donate” them to soldiers, sailors, and airmen serving overseas. The one-gigabyte accounts are “more than enough for pictures, movies, sound files … all sorts of things that could help our servicemen and women feel a little closer to home,” write the organizers.
The effort is an excellent example of the organizing power of the Web and the generosity of the tech community. Have a spare invitation?
Keep Reading
Most Popular

The hype around DeepMind’s new AI model misses what’s actually cool about it
Some worry that the chatter about these tools is doing the whole field a disservice.

These materials were meant to revolutionize the solar industry. Why hasn’t it happened?
Perovskites are promising, but real-world conditions have held them back.

Why China is still obsessed with disinfecting everything
Most public health bodies dealing with covid have long since moved on from the idea of surface transmission. China’s didn’t—and that helps it control the narrative about the disease’s origins and danger.

A quick guide to the most important AI law you’ve never heard of
The European Union is planning new legislation aimed at curbing the worst harms associated with artificial intelligence.
Stay connected

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.