Alternative Email Client Sparrow Acquired by Google

NewImageAlternative email client Sparrow has been acquired by Google. From Sparrow's website:

We're excited to announce that Sparrow has been acquired by Google!

We care a lot about how people communicate, and we did our best to provide you with the most intuitive and pleasurable mailing experience.

Now we're joining the Gmail team to accomplish a bigger vision — one that we think we can better achieve with Google.

We’d like to extend a special thanks to all of our users who have supported us, advised us, given us priceless feedback and allowed us to build a better mail application. While we’ll be working on new things at Google, we will continue to make Sparrow available and provide support for our users.

We had an amazing ride and can't thank you enough.

Full speed ahead!

Dom Leca
CEO
Sparrow

Sparrow originally launched on the Mac, but an iPhone version was released earlier this year. Leca also said that Sparrow's products will continue to be made available with "support and critical updates", but Sparrow does not plan to release new features. There's no word whether Push email support -- promised earlier this year -- will make its way to the iOS app or if that has been pushed aside.

Late last year, Google released an iOS Gmail app which was received poorly by users. Google issued this statement on the acquisition, but wouldn't divulge details of the purchase:

The Sparrow team has always put their users first by focusing on building a seamlessly simple and intuitive interface for their email client. We look forward to bringing them aboard the Gmail team, where they’ll be working on new projects.

Update: The Verge says Sparrow was acquired for "under $25 million" and that there was no bidding war for the company.

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Top Rated Comments

CylonGlitch Avatar
170 months ago
I'm sorry, but with this move, I can't use Sparrow. I'm not a fan of Google's tactics, now they can more closely monitor our emails.
Score: 81 Votes (Like | Disagree)
outphase Avatar
170 months ago
I'm sorry, but with this move, I can't use Sparrow. I'm not a fan of Google's tactics, now they can more closely monitor our emails.

How can they be any closer if they're already your email provider?
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TLewis Avatar
170 months ago
Well, that sucks. Google has an unfortunate history of killing most of its acquisitions. :eek: :(
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nfl46 Avatar
170 months ago
I'm sorry, but with this move, I can't use Sparrow. I'm not a fan of Google's tactics, now they can more closely monitor our emails.

You being on the internet is being monitored. Get over that Google monitors your stuff...
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Small White Car Avatar
170 months ago
Well, there goes the dream of a good, small-company, independent e-mail app.

I never even used it but this seems kind of sad.

I wonder if Google will end up replacing their terrible iOS G-Mail app with this or if they'll live side-by-side for some unknown reason.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
finalcut Avatar
170 months ago
oh no :/

Time to get back with Mail.app I guess.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)