Ads start appearing in Gmail's promotions file

posted by Alan F. / Oct 05, 2013, 12:25 AM

Ads start appearing in Gmail's promotions file

Ad appears on Gmail

Last week, we asked the musical question, "are ads coming to the Gmail for Android app?" On Friday, we heard that indeed, they were. And on Saturday morning, we saw the ads start to appear. The ads are beginning to show up in the promotions folder, which is not the primary folder must of us use most often. Yeah, Google was able to keep the Android app free of ads up until now, and perhaps that is an achievement considering that the desktop version has contained paid content since its debut all the way back in 2004.

If you're upset by this, there really is no reason to be. The ads are tastefully disguised as email messages and besides, you never know when something you see an ad for is something you've been looking to buy for a long time now. And if you don't open the promotions folder, you won't have to look at one paid ad at all.

Just keep in mind that ads are what keeps free content and free apps free! The ad in the screenshot below is for business card printer Vistaprint and while it is in another language, you can clearly see where it is marked as an advertisement so you could skip it quickly if so desired.

source: AndroidWorld (translated) via Phandroid

FEATURED VIDEO

Options

28 Comments

1. gprime

Posts: 28; Member since: Oct 05, 2013

Nice article, can't complain when something is free and has great features

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 12:33 AM 2

2. dmn666

Posts: 244; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

It's been on yahoo mail for a while. I'm surprised that it took google so long. I'd rather pay both of 'em couple bucks to get rid of ads for good.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 12:35 AM 4

3. Jobayer

Posts: 167; Member since: Feb 22, 2013

it great that the ads r like mail

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 6:16 AM 1

4. bucky

Posts: 3790; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

Are you guys serious? The stock mail app now has ads and you're ok with that... I think google is making enough money off of everyone in other ways. In the last 2 years google has gotten out of hand with the ads. Next up, home screen ads and 15 second adverts when you unlock your phone

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 7:45 AM 6

6. grahaman27

Posts: 364; Member since: Apr 05, 2013

which can be disabled- I already dont like the categories view, so I have one main inbox which does not show the ads. google services are free. be happy when they dont have ads, but dont be surprised when they do.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 10:47 AM 1

7. bucky

Posts: 3790; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

Does this ad show up in the inbox? Everywhere in gmail?

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 10:57 AM 0

17. sprockkets

Posts: 1612; Member since: Jan 16, 2012

No. It mirrors what happens on the desktop version - you only see ads now in the promo box. Text ads too. And somewhat relevant. Can't complain one bit. Also, I haven't see one ad yet, even though I've had the new version for days.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 2:02 PM 0

11. DukeX

Posts: 327; Member since: Aug 28, 2013

You're an apple fan aren't you? You want no compromises with no downsides because everything just works right? Keep complaining about ads. They have been everywhere and not just mobile man. Where have you been under a rock or under a million imacs?

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 11:08 AM 3

18. bucky

Posts: 3790; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

I don't have any skins installed, ads in my email and carrier apps. Part of the reason you but these google phones is google apps. You paid your dues through the cost of the phone, carrier and donating a huge amount of personal info. Shouldn't have personalized ads on a core app.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 2:22 PM 2

20. DukeX

Posts: 327; Member since: Aug 28, 2013

You paid for your tv,cable bill,internet etc all with personal info. And you still get ads. Your point?

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 3:15 PM 0

21. bucky

Posts: 3790; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

True fanboy I guess. Email them and see if you can get ads on your home screen next. Or maybe TV commercials before being able to text. Google is getting out of hand with ads and selling themselves to companies much worse than apple or windows. I guess you enjoy it. I don't.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 3:25 PM 3

24. Blazers

Posts: 751; Member since: Dec 05, 2011

Haha Google is genius. They can not only get their fans to accept advertisements in their core apps, but get them to say thank you. Brilliant.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 7:58 PM 3

26. DukeX

Posts: 327; Member since: Aug 28, 2013

Another funny thing is you apple fans were ok apple removed google maps and youtube at one point. You were ok with apple and the antenna gate problems. You were ok with dented iphones out the box. You were ok with getting charged $100 more for extra memory. And you all were ok with getting a bug filled os that feels more like a beta than an actual release.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 8:23 PM 0

29. Blazers

Posts: 751; Member since: Dec 05, 2011

Hahaha it's so funny when someone dares say something negative about Google, they're labelled "Apple Fans" by the fanboys lol. When did I ever say I was an Apple fan? A three generation Note user here.

posted on Oct 06, 2013, 12:29 AM 2

25. DukeX

Posts: 327; Member since: Aug 28, 2013

Never said i enjoy it. I dont mind it though. As a matter of fact I've been waiting for some ads to show up on Sas zombie assault 3 so i can get some free power ups. But if you honestly think for one second tv commercials are going to show up on the home screen then you're dead wrong. Not if carriers have anything to say about it. They already complain about data hogs for freak sake. But you being an apple user you won't understand how a free is works or even attempt to know. Face it the clothes you wear on your back can be labled as an advertisement in a way. Now i bet if you were in the business of app development you would find a way to pay the bills somehow..,..

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 8:18 PM 0

27. bucky

Posts: 3790; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

youre lying to yourself if you think being overrun by ads is required. Its another tiny mm of space being filled to sell you sh*t based on the info google has on you already and selling to 3rd party companies. But i guess if you enjoy it, thats cool. You look young, i dont think you remember what it was like on phones, youtube and internet before ads. Its getting out of hand. Im not sure what u meant about me being an apple user etc. Arent I paying a "premium" or whatever when i buy apple? I have already had years with android as a senior member over at XDA. I know what both have.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 9:16 PM 1

28. DukeX

Posts: 327; Member since: Aug 28, 2013

No one said it's required for ads. You act as if the bill is supposed to be magically flipped for free. Anything free in life comes at a price. Just like the air we breathe. Sure it keeps us alive but with all the crap in the air how good is it really? And it's not like MS or apple has tried to sell your data! And yes i remember when youtube had no ads im 23. But the fact is acting as if google is the only one with the ads crap is not right. Isn't MS putting some sort of advertisement on the xbox one? I thought I'd never see the day on a gaming console....

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 10:43 PM 0

30. bucky

Posts: 3790; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

Haven't heard of the Xbox having ads now but I'm more of a pc gamer though I will be getting a ps4 for the new home. There should be a few things left without ads. Gmail on an android phone is as important as texting. It's should be left private and unmolested. Apple isn't letting it happen with their phones and I hope it stays that way.

posted on Oct 06, 2013, 11:50 AM 1

23. orca99

Posts: 87; Member since: Oct 05, 2013

Do you even know what Gmail for Android means? It's not a core app. It's a separate app for gmail accounts. You can still use email functions with "email" settings embedded in Android just like you would in an iphone. You don't have to use gmail app to check emails on your gmail accounts. I guess you're not an android user. It's no different than ads on other free apps.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 6:05 PM 1

5. Hemoroid

Posts: 72; Member since: Feb 13, 2013

Ads? Serious? No thanks! Google digging its grave.

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 8:31 AM 0

9. kabhijeet.16

Posts: 892; Member since: Dec 05, 2012

"Just keep in mind that ads are what keeps free content and free apps free!".. Well said.. We must appreciate this from Google that its apps & major content is FREE... People still complain.. I think people who complain need to start using brains.... I'm happy even if it shows ads if it is FREE...

posted on Oct 05, 2013, 11:02 AM 0

12. Napalm_3nema

Posts: 2236; Member since: Jun 14, 2013

"It's okay that there are ads, because their services are free." Why? Is there a paid option? No. The argument about ads because the services are free doesn't hold a lot of water because there isn't, nor will there probably ever be, a paid option. Google won't offer that because your data is worth more than what they could charge for their services. The fact that you are forced to watch or see ads without the option to pay to disable them (Like Amazon's Kindles) on most Google services is just garbage.