The topic of Google officially launches ability to change your Gmail address, available to ‘all’… is currently the subject of lively debate — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
Months after we first reported on its launch, Google has officially announced the ability to change your Gmail address while also confirming that the functionality is widely available, at least in the US.
In a blog post on The Keyword today, Google is officially announcing the ability to change your Gmail address. The company acknowledges that this started rolling out “last year” but notes that, now, it’s available “for all Google Account users in the US.”
Your digital identity just got an upgrade. You can now change your Google Account username (i.e., the part before @gmail.com), which you use to sign in to apps and services like Gmail, Photos, Drive and more. We started rolling this out last year to help your account grow with you.
The ability to change a username is available now for all Google Account users in the U.S. See the Help Center and watch the video below for more details on how to get started.
Notably, at least one of our US-based Google accounts still shows that the option to change the Gmail address still isn’t available, so your results may vary.
As far as global rollout goes, Google actually revealed this functionality in regions outside of the US first, but it’s unclear how widely the option has rolled out in other regions.
The option to change your Gmail address will change your email, but the existing option remains around as an alias. You can change once every 12 months, and up to three times in total.
Why it matters
News like this often changes audience expectations and competitors’ plans.
When one player makes a move, others usually react — it is worth reading the event in context.
What to look out for next
The full picture will become clear in time, but the headline already shows the dynamics of the industry.
Further statements and user reactions will add to the story.