Google is expanding Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) by adding support for blue verification checkmarks for senders that have adopted BIMI. The feature is aimed at helping users identify messages from legitimate senders.
It’s available to all Google Workspace customers, including legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers and users with personal Google accounts. The rollout has already started, but it might take one to three days before you start seeing them in your inbox.
The search giant introduced verified brand logos back in 2021 with the idea that instead of generic alphabets on a plain background, emails from verified brands would show the brand logo instead, helping differentiate them from spam. It’s based on DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) and logo verification with a VMC issued by a certification authority like Entrust or Digicert.
Google has shared what the new checkmark looks like and it’s very similar to the famous blue verification checkmark from Twitter. Hovering over the checkmark will show a message stating that the sender has verified that they own the domain and logo used in the profile image.
There are no end-user settings for this feature. Instead, admins will have to set up BIMI and ensure that their organisation has adopted DMARC in addition to their logo being verified with a VMC issued by a legitimate certification authority.
According to Google, not only do such systems help users and email security systems identify and stop spam, but they also enable senders to “leverage brand trust”. This increases confidence in email sources while also giving readers “an immersive experience, creating a better email ecosystem for everyone”.
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