A new Google Chrome browser extension lets Gmail users see when and where users open their email messages.
San Francisco-based tech startup Streak created the app, which opens up a Google Maps-style display and shows the real-time location of message recipients when they open emails.
The message recipient does not need to have the Streak extension installed themselves for it to work. When a recipient receives a message from a Streak user, an “eye” icon on the user’s display will turn green to indicate the recipient opened the email.
Recipients of email messages from Streak users will not be notified that their messages are being tracked.
Bananatag tracks when emails are opened in a similar fashion, but does not transmit the location data of recipients and charges a monthly fee for more than five emails. Streak is still in its beta stage and free for all potential users.
On Streak’s website the company states its goal is “to take the work out of managing the processes you do everyday,” and its Chrome extension is also compatible on Google Apps business accounts and Safari’s Gmail support.