Google announced today the Japanese-language version of its Gmail email service, open to anyone who wants to sign up. Japan is third, after Australia and New Zealand, to get open access to Gmail. Gmail is currently offered in over 40 different languages. In other markets, sign-ups are limited to those receiving invitations from existing users or get access via a mobile phone.

Google doesn’t disclose the number of accounts it has opened for Gmail, a free service launched in April 2004. Gmail generates revenue for Google as an automated system that displays advertisements linked to the details of emails sent and received. Angela Lee, Tokyo-based product manager at Google, said: “We want as many people [as possible] to have access to our service.”