It will be interesting to see from where these cards are postmarked. That will provide a good clue about Google's seeming benevolence.
When I worked on medical records software, I looked into some companies that offered an API for sending snail mail. Doctor's offices spend a lot of time sending out form letters, and it seemed like it would be cool to automate sending out lab results letters. Obviously, email would be preferred (given patient consent), but physicians have to deal with the lowest common denominator (while blissfully ignoring illiteracy). Perhaps Google is experimenting with such a service? However, given all the things Google could provide to Apps users, this seems pretty low on the list.
I'd put money on this being an experiment or beta test in disguise as holiday cheer. Think GOOG411 -- a great way to collect voice samples.
But the OP is specifically talking about information specifically besides that "supplied here". Like, measuring how much it really costs, the hidden challenges, etc, in setting up a large automated mailing system.
No, the example given was voice clips. Your idea of a "trial run" is interesting, but I doubt that they're doing this to get some extra logistics practice. Unlike gmail or wave, mass mailing is a well-explored domain.
They're doing it to put the gmail logo on your fireplace mantle. Which is just fine, because you might not otherwise have sent a cheerful card. Plus their snowflake pun is hilarious.
Mass mailing might be, but highly-individualised large-batch mailing? Every card distinct? Even if this is largely a holiday gift, I'm certain they're collecting data on it. The only question is what. Maybe some of the cards will be "tracers" sent to confederates who can verify delivery times of things sent in big batches? Maybe they have multiple printing-and-distribution locations throughout the country and they're testing those? Who knows....
>They're doing it to put the gmail logo on your fireplace mantle.
I'd buy the argument if I was allowed to send, say, ten of them instead of just one. One would think that, if the value of piquing the interest in GMail of my first choice recipient exceeded $0.25, then the value of sending a card to my third or forth choice would also have a positive ROI.
When I worked on medical records software, I looked into some companies that offered an API for sending snail mail. Doctor's offices spend a lot of time sending out form letters, and it seemed like it would be cool to automate sending out lab results letters. Obviously, email would be preferred (given patient consent), but physicians have to deal with the lowest common denominator (while blissfully ignoring illiteracy). Perhaps Google is experimenting with such a service? However, given all the things Google could provide to Apps users, this seems pretty low on the list.
I'd put money on this being an experiment or beta test in disguise as holiday cheer. Think GOOG411 -- a great way to collect voice samples.