4d ago

How does Google make money from Gmail, the google calendar, drive or other services when used with third party front ends?

I realise that Google places ads in the native Gmail environment. However, when using a third party front end to embed the Google services, how does the company make money off that? When I use Thunderbird to access Gmail or the Google Calendar or when I map my Google Drive to the file explorer, how can Google profit from this kind of use?

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Metadata.
It knows who you are talking to from the to and from fields, possibly the context based on the subject, if the do scan the email contents then they will know what you are interested in.
Gather that info with your search history it can sell targeted advertising.
- So, it's basically a loss leader in this scenario to feed other sevices like the ad network?
  
  For personal Gmail yes.
  
  Yes. About 75% of Google's revenue is from ads. Most (all?) of their free products exist to feed the advertising business in one way or another.
- They're scanning the email contents.
  and your google drive contents.
  and everything else you send through their services.
  
  That's why I am no longer using their services like Gmail and Google Maps. I jumped tot alternatives, much recommended.
  
  What are you using in lieu of Google Maps?
  
  I use GoogleStreetMap for GPS, I've replaced Gmail with StartMail and instead of Google Calendar I use TimeTree for now. Might need to find a real privacy related calendar, anyone suggestions?
  
  I was so confused by your first one until I clicked the link and realized you meant "OpenStreetView" instead of "GoogleStreetView" 🤣
  
  Magic Earth is amazing
  
  I have been using Organic Maps for many years. They are offline-first, and use OpenStreetMap for the data. Since it's OpenStreetMap, quality might vary by country and even city.
  If you're looking for more commercial app, HERE WeGo / Here Maps has traffic and online accounts.
  
  How’s the realtime traffic on those? I’m currently using magic earth and the routing is mostly okay compared to GMaps, but the traffic data is frequently stale.
  
  TBH I haven't used traffic feature (or WeGo, really) enough to know if it's good.
  
  Google does not use the content of Gmail messages for ad targeting. Lots of misinformation here.
  
  it's interesting that you added a qualifier that I did not, to justify calling my statement "misinformation"
  they are scanning your data. and while they may not be exploiting it for ad-targeting... they are almost certainly exploiting it. That's their business model: Scrape every ounce of data they can and exploit it every which way they can.
  
  “Exploiting” means what, exactly? And what evidence do you have for it?
  The content of your email is not used for targeting or profiling, it’s not being sold. Clear enough? The qualifier is because some “well ackshually” will point out that they have to scan it for spam filtering, virus detecting, adding calendar events, etc. These are features of the product, and I think labeling them exploitation would be a bit rich.
  
  Exploiting means exactly what it means.
  Once they have the scan, that’s their data. Of course they’re going to be using it for other things. The excuses they give, are of course, the foot in the door.
  It’s a “bit rich” that you think you’re not the product.

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