Google’s new Gmail mobile client
November 2nd, 2006 (7:00am) Chris Gilmer 21 Comments
Google is always developing mobile applications that are highly aimed at helping people access the information they need, whenever they need it. We all know about that. But what is the top item people require most to get the job done when on the go? Email!
Today, Google launched a yummy new application called the Gmail mobile client. This is a downloadable Java application that will deliver your Gmail to your mobile device with a nice loaded feature list, and a fast clean interface. As long as you have a Gmail account you are ready to start. If not, check out gmail.google.com to signup, then point your mobile browser to gmail.com/app to download the application.
The 137kb application took me only about 30 seconds to download using my Moto RAZR. When downloaded, users are presented with a clean Gmail login page where credentials are to be entered. A simple, clean, easy to use interface gave me a great first impression. Google claims that this new application is up to five times faster due to an “automatic pre-fetching of messages”. To my surprise, emails were there waiting for me in the inbox pretty much instantly after logging in.
It sure beats the old way of using a browser and the m.google.com location. Emails are presented in a nice clean list, and there is quite a bit of reduced clicking and scrolling that is required in the mobile client. Attachments like photos are instantly resized to fit the screen size of your mobile device. Far fewer keystrokes are also required to reply, forward, search mail, compose mail, mark as unread, add a star, view details, and report spam. These are all done through the MENU option, which is a dream to use.
The Google Gmail mobile client is compatible with all J2ME-enabled phones in the U.S. and works with a variety of carrier service plans. So yes, data charges do apply. This is going to help a lot of people out in the productivity department; I look forward to continually using this Google offering, especially in the future when Google Hosted Services mail accounts are supported.
Check out what Om has to say about Google’s latest offering over at GigaOM.
Have you had the chance to check out the new mobile client? What do you think? Is this going to help out your daily productivity? It will for me!
21 Comments Post your own comment
GigaOM » GMail Mobile on Nokia, Not So Good says: November 2nd, 2006 10:30am
[...] GigaOM readers are reporting that the new Google GMail app is barfing on some of the new Nokia phones. I have managed to make it work on E61, N73 and the older Nokias sitting around the house. I had experienced problems with the Nokia E62 Cingular edition. I wish I had some Sony Ericsson phones to test it out on. Web Worker Daily has a full review of the application. [...]
GigaOM » Gmail gets wings, goes mobile says: November 2nd, 2006 10:32am
[...] Update: Web Worker Daily has a longer review of the application. [...]
MobileTracker says: November 2nd, 2006 12:18pm
Google introduces Java Gmail app
Google has further expanded its mobile offerings with the introduction of a Java Gmail client. The previously available WAP version of Gmail is still supported, but the application will give a more consistent experience across phones. Google is making …
Judi Sohn says: November 2nd, 2006 1:49pm
Downloaded easily to my Cingular 8125. Very nice interface. Very easy to use and navigate.
Big negative (unless I’m missing something)…the first account you use to log in is it. I can’t find any way to sign out and sign back in with a different user account. I have 3 Gmail accounts (one for work, one for play, one for mailing lists) and had I realized this, I would have picked a different account to use with it.
Judi Sohn says: November 2nd, 2006 1:52pm
Nevermind…found the setting needed:
By default, the Gmail for mobile application will remember your login information and keep you signed in on your mobile phone. To change this setting:
1. Select Menu > Go to > Settings.
2. Uncheck the Always keep me signed in option.
Fredrik Ivarsson says: November 2nd, 2006 2:54pm
Is this only for US? I can download the program and run it but when I login it says it can’t find a data connection even though all other programs on my phone can use it.
Steve Collins says: November 2nd, 2006 6:09pm
I’m with Frederick… I have successfully downloaded the app to my RAZR V3 and everything seems to work up to the point where I try to display messages. I get a “Loading…” blob that sits there forever.
Obviously not for Aussies yet. Bummer.
jedweb says: November 2nd, 2006 6:47pm
I easily downloaded and installed it on my BlackBerry 7100 this morning. I allowed connections etc. However, when it tries to get my mail if fails stating:
“The program is unable to connect to the server. This is likely a temporary problem. Please wait a minute and then try again.”
I’ve been having this problem 8 hours now. Does anyone else experience this?
QB says: November 2nd, 2006 7:12pm
Fails to download on Telusmobility (Canada) on Razr V3c. Telus is blocking J2ME apps that you have not purchased from them.
Victor says: November 2nd, 2006 7:59pm
Downloaded and working without any problem on my Motorola PEBL. The experience is much better than the web interface for mobile phone http://m.gmail.com. That site was a real pain as I had to enter my username and password every time I used it, only to be hit with a “Data Server Not Available” when signing in.
Gari says: November 3rd, 2006 3:46am
Simply Awesome………
steve says: November 3rd, 2006 8:53am
Hi,
Anybody got this working for ‘Google Apps for your Domain’?
It works fine for my .gmail account but not for my other domains mapped to google.
Thanks,
- S
Wilson says: November 3rd, 2006 9:18am
Downloaded it on my Nokia 6670 and worked like a charm here in Mexico City.
kristi says: November 4th, 2006 9:10am
Alas, this app doesn’t work with my Treo 600. I hope they come out with a compatible version soon.
Zakharm says: November 5th, 2006 11:52am
Works great on the BB Pearl.
DESIGN82 INTERACTIVE » Blog Archive » Gmail fürs Handy says: November 6th, 2006 12:30pm
[...] [ via Web Worker Daily ] Tags: email, gmail, mobile, handy, google, software [...]
Pablo Apanasionek says: November 8th, 2006 2:13pm
Downloaded it on my old Nokia 6061 in Argentina and worked like a charm. The feature of viewing attachments (MS Word, MS Excel, PDF) is awesome. Too bad the screen is too small. :) I wonder if the data charges are bigger than going the old-style way through m.gmail.com…
Google mail updated « The Venture Skills Blog says: November 13th, 2006 3:19am
[...] meanwhile Google operating system is reporting about the new mute feature in detail but the big new feature (though released a few days ago) is the official gmail support for mobile users more in depth review via web worker while these are really just small updates with the exception of the mobile worker they will make a significant difference in working patterns particularly the forward all option though before we get to over joyed Google mail still has its problems from a point of view of support improvements still need to be made in anti phishing attempts though jeremy zawodny has an amusing entry on how the advertising system may be better then |Gmail. http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about_whatsnew.html Posted by ventureskills Filed in Technology, google, gmail, googlemail [...]
madison says: November 13th, 2006 3:43pm
It does not work with T-Mobile- Motorola Razr V3, or??
Ian says: December 8th, 2006 1:18pm
I am surprised that you write that you downloaded on your Motorola Razr. Downloaded yes, operated it - I don’t know. Although I have got it working on several Nokia models I cannot get it to work on the Motorola Razr. Furthermore in the gmail/app help screens, Google also say there is problem and they are working on it. Did you really get it to work or are you using the m.google application?
matt says: January 23rd, 2008 7:54am
doesn’t work with Motorola Q, can’t even enter username or password.