Google has released a mobile Java application that dramatically speeds up Gmail. The unique helper application resides on the user’s J2ME-enabled mobile phone and adds usability improvements to the Gmail interface alongside speed enhancements. The most powerful feature of the application for me is the ability to make email attachments mobile-friendly – for example, it would dynamically resize an image for displaying on the mobile phone. It can also display Microsoft Word documents and PDF files.. very cool.
The Google press release lists the main features of the Gmail App as the following:
- Up to five times faster access and use, thanks to automatic pre-fetching of messages
- Drastically reduced clicks and scrolling to access email
- Fewer keystrokes for reading, composing, or searching mail
- Attachments, including files and photos, viewable and automatically resized to fit the user’s phone
Head over to gmail.com/app on your mobile device to install the Gmail helper application. You also might want to check out the online demo. I think Google is on to something with this helper application. Current browsers probably rule out the need for such an application on computers, but there must be some web service that could benefit from a similar helper app.
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Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to work for T-Mobile people with T-Zones/T-Mobileweb. I’ve heard that people with T-Mo smartphones that have the Total Internet plan can get it to work. Oh well, should be getting my T-Mo Dash in a few days anyways.
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Works like a champ on my Sony Ericsson w/ Cingular. Now I can be even more mail-retentive — gee thanks.
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I’m pretty sure they have the same kind of helper app thing going on for mobile Google Maps.
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Ah, that would make sense for a Maps application. I haven’t had the pleasure of messing around with mobile gMaps though.
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The mobile version of Google Maps is great. Free service and far more exhaustive results compared to Sprints On Demand 411 service. The application remembers addresses that you input for quick reference later down the road. On top of that, the satellite + traffic view have saved me from a few headaches during anticipated commutes.
I’m a little disappointed with the Gmail App on the Treo. It seems that the home buttons on the 700p play certain functions that are both undocumented and inconsistent with the rest of the application / interface. A great first iteration though. I imagine future releases will have great improvements.
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Ah, this is great. Works fine on my Nokia N70 on the Optus network in Australia. The only thing that I’d like to see is the ability to add attachments to new emails. It’s would be good to be able to add a photo/video to an email and send it to a friend or blog it.
I’ve also used the mobile version of Google Maps. Pretty handy, though it’s pretty data intensive with the satellite view. You’d need a good data plan if you use it lots.
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not working here in india..
m.gmail.com works though .. funny..
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hmmm…the link you have for the demo app goes to an Intro or Help page of sorts – look fwd to seein it – i chose to “drop out” of the mobile revolution for awhile as an experiment and good to see innovations are coming forth! that said, can wait to go back – electronic life is not *that* demanding on the run quite yet ;-)
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Great simplicity and known Google look, and in every nice story there is great big “BUT†I have read many blog`s and I can tell you that it is not so easy to use and not everyone can configure it. I personally used it for 2 day’s and after that I went back to my old app Movamail http://movamail.com/ that can do everything that gmail app can, and much more. I am a google fan for a long time, but not all of their app are great
Having just received my T Mobile Dash yesterday I can confirm that Gmail App works on it, and it works incredibly well. In fact, I personally think it’s better than using Outlook on WinMo since you have all the Gmail features right there.
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Hulsh – Thanks for the tip on Movamail. Downloaded, installed without issue… its super fast and I am running Gmail, POP, and Yahoo on it! Thank you! Thank you!!
Chris is right. Not having the ability to attach pictures or other documents to new emails is very limiting. Other than that though it is a great app.
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It’s nice, but there’s a leak… I can not do download from the attachment…
Java GMail is definitely not universally compatible with WM5 smartphones — on my T-Mobile Dash, many of the keys do not map at all — like the letter “a”!
“Try sending e-mil messges without tht letter…” Okay, but that’s not all that’s wrong with it!
The web-based GMail for mobile rocks for the most part, especially over the Dash’s wifi…
BUT neither platform supports sending attachments, not even simple txt and jpg attachments! That is not a minor drawback. It’s a huge drawback.
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can we add attachments to the mail while sending the mail through m.gmail.com.
If yes plz tell how.