At the I/O developer conference 2014 in San Francisco, Google announced that it is launching the beta version of a new application programming interface for Gmail.
With the new API, Google will make it easier for other online applications to use information that is found in user's emails.
The data that can be collected from emails through the new API may be used by applications in a variety of ways. Travel apps may automatically compile flight information from booking confirmations in a user's e-mail. Credit tracker apps may search through emails for credit card receipts to constantly update the user's credit standing.
There are so many possibilities that have been unlocked for Gmail, limited only by the creativity of developers that will use the API to create new and innovative applications.
While the idea of extracting data from the contents of email is not new, Google's release of a Gmail API will simplify the process for developers.
Gmail previously used the Internet Message Access Protocol. IMAP was perfectly capable of connecting Gmail with email clients, but it was not designed for "all of the cool things" that developers can do with Gmail, stated Eric DeFriez, Gmail API technical lead, at the Google Apps Developer Blog.
The new Gmail API is able to offer granular permissions, which can be used for applications that will not require access to all of the user's emails. Developers are also given the ability to keep track of the changes that will happen to the user's inbox.
DeFriez also says that a huge benefit that the new Gmail API will bring to the service is a boost in speed. While there needs to be some tweaking to be done as the API is still in its beta stage, DeFriez says that test results and feedback from developers show a massive performance improvement compared to the IMAP-powered Gmail.
Alex Jones, Return Path general manager for consumer and developer solutions, thinks that opening Gmail to developers and future apps will keep users on the service.
"Gmail wants to be the inbox of choice for everyone," said Jones. "If they can make a strong platform for users and developers, there's no reason to stray to rival services."
Aleem Mawani, a former Google product manager and Streak co-founder, believes in the potential of the new platform created by the Gmail API.
"This could be one of the biggest app platforms out there because all the data is there and all the users are there," Mawani said.
