November 2, 2006

Gmail For Mobile Launches Today

Michael Arrington

102 comments »

See MobileCrunch for the details - Gmail for Mobile, a downloadable gmail application for java-enabled phones, launches this morning at 5 AM PST. Previously, users were only able to access gmail via a mobile browser. But for java-enabled phones, using the Gmail for Mobile application will significantly speed email use.

The application requres a java-enabled phone and a data plan (other mobile devices can still access Gmail through the browser). To download the application, go to gmail.com/app and follow the instructions. You can also get a link to the download URL directly via a text message by going to mobile.google.com and entering your phone number.

I’ve had the chance to test out Gmail for Mobile over the last week on a Sprint Samsung A900M phone. The software was pre-installed by Google, so i can’t speak to the process of installing the application. But logging in and using email was the best email experience outside of a Blackberry I’ve ever had on a mobile device. Specifically, the use of ten hotkeys to compose, send, search, etc. speads things up significantly. A demo of the application is available here.

I still want to use Gmail to access other email accounts - something that they don’t yet support, but Gmail for Mobile is a great way to access your gmail account via a mobile device. Good stuff from Google.

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Trackbacks/Pings (Trackback URL)

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  7. Nerd Approved - News and Reviews - » Download: Gmail For Mobile Released Today
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  15. TecnoMovidas.net » Blog Archive » Hoy sale la versión de Gmail para móviles.
  16. Un lector de GMail en java para tu celular « Geekotic
  17. P i n D a a L » Gmail For Mobile Launches Today
  18. Gadget Mania - » A fost lansat Gmail pentru telefoane mobile
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Comments

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  1. Dreamchaser

    Great!! So the application download can be done through mobile not through our normal browsers? I mean http://gmail.com/app tried accessing and it redirects me to http://www.google.com/mobile/index.html !

    Cheers,
    Dreamchaser

  2. Matt

    What about access to the gmail address book and using that to sync? versioning contacts with gmail and outlook so round about.

  3. Jan

    Just downloaded it - the client looks very nice (and usefull!) on Nokia e61. It can also pre-load the new messages, which is nice.

  4. x

    This looks like a screenshot of the XHTML version, not the new Java client.

  5. David Dalka

    Let me get this straight, a product still in beta is launched on a new platform when they can’t even perfect it on a normal PC?

  6. Jason

    I just downloaded this on my O2 XDA Exec (Cingular) using wifi. This application is compatible with Windows Mobile devices only using the midlet manager (or what ever java console you have). As mike says, the application is lightning fast to the point where you think Google somehow cheated.

    Good stuff. My only complaint is I haven’t figured out a way to drop a shortcut on my today screen and I’d like to see google port it to .net for mobie devices.

  7. Nosh

    “Previously, users were only able to access gmail via a mobile browser.”

    *Aaack* I’ve been accessing Gmail from my mobile using a POP3 client for some time now. Profimail, the S60 app I use, works beautifully and gives me 2 click access to Gmail & every other POP3 service.

  8. Yohay Elam

    Does anybody know if Yahoo also has such a client for mobile?

  9. overcast

    Nosh, that doesn’t count as using the Gmail client. That is using a pop3 client, to connect to gmail email.

  10. Michael

    Personally, I’m curious as to the contents of the starred e-mail from Thomas with the subject “this is really funny”. It really must have been really funny.

  11. jmccw

    couldn’t connect through tmobile proxy hack. oh well, the xhtml ver works great for me on an SDA

  12. Bob

    Does it support push email?

  13. Randy Edmonds

    Ok, so when will they do this for Google Calendar? Hopefully soon!

  14. NeoTechie

    Google has done it again.

    Necessity is the mother of invention. Google is very successful due to their relentless pursuit the next big thing.

    A mobile enable application is one of those big things.

  15. alex

    It definitely seems that Google is picking up speed with its releases, that these releases are more and more relevant for the public and that competitors are likely to have an even harder time in the future than they already do today…

    Great post.

  16. Sam Jackson

    I will test this out on my Q later… I don’t understand how wireless sync and WM5SP could have such non-awesome mail abilities. I don’t think I would run it normally because it would sip too much battery in addition to my POP checking elsewhere, but I will definitely test it out.

  17. misconstrued

    Is this only available in the US? I don’t see anywhere to download anything from the linked pages…

  18. Ertai

    This Java application and
    even the mobile site are perfect
    for my PDA GPRS internet access.

    Maybe we will se in the future
    a java based google search program
    with adsense publicity included?

    Google could find new revenue methods
    from mobile use…

  19. SlugO

    The download is only available with a WAP browser at http://gmail.com/app. I think it’s pretty stupid of them to not put a download link on the normal web site. It’s not obvious at all where you should get it.

    Unfortunately the app doesn’t work on my Nokia 6131. I manage to login to it but when it’s trying to check the mail I only get the error

    “This program requires a working data connection. Please check your signal strength.”

    What’s causing this? Google maps and almost all other internet apps work fine on my phone. Although I don’t think I got socket connections to work..

    It also said something about United States while I was downloading it. Could that affect in some way?

  20. Jimmy M

    couldn’t connect through tmobile proxy hack

    Worked for me - RAZR V3i

  21. Donny Pauling

    Nice way to keep in touch from work, without the boss getting on ya about surfing the internet on company time.

  22. carlo

    i got an error when trying to run first time after installation on my n73:

    Network Error

    java.lang.
    IllegalStateException: This method is not supported in com.nokia.kid.ui. FullCanvas

    :(

  23. Kevin

    I’m getting nothing but 404 errors when I try to go to gmail.com/app. Google maps for mobile works fine on my Moto SLVR so I’m hoping this will too.

  24. Steve

    Donny, you’re in the porn industry. Do you have a boss breathing down your neck?

  25. Ken

    java client doesn’t download doesn’t work on my Q via Verizon Wireless. any ideas on a work around?

  26. ishsal

    carlo, it works fine on my N73 (in malaysia), zippy … scary!

  27. Paul

    This is great - works really well on the BlackBerry.

  28. Skip Trace

    I’ll bet it does work great on a Blackberry.

  29. Paul Kafasis

    That screenshot demonstrates to me just how worthless cell phone email is. Do I really need to get Thomas’ jokes on my cell phone? No. And good luck with that attachment in the third email. The dinner email might be good, but if it’s urgent…I have a cell phone!

  30. Eh?

    Well, this is odd. Google invites you to beta test something and then BAM, all of the sudden, a good google review? Is that really what it takes?

  31. VideoKarma.com

    Excellent, thnaks for the heads up, will be a nice feature and should speed things up a bit. More evidence that more and more things will migrate to mobile.

  32. Jake

    I’ve been using Gmail on my mobile (SLVR) for about two months… is this just a Java client version with more functionality??

  33. Amit

    Cool. I’ll check it out today.

  34. Randy Edmonds

    Worked great on my Treo 650. BTW, I already had the IBM Java Vm installed on the treo.

  35. jackson

    This is pretty cool.. Love how it uses the gmail address book.
    I noticed they updated the google local app too.. now it has traffic :)

  36. peetiepie

    >>”Let me get this straight, a product still in beta is launched on a new platform when they can’t even perfect it on a normal PC?”

    Perfect it? You must not be in software…. let alone tech.

  37. Loose Diamonds

    Like checking my email 100 times a day isn’t enough, now i’m going to be checking while im at dinner and driving!

  38. Igor Jablokov

    The origins of this app are from their Reqwireless acquisition; more here: http://www.garywill.com/blog/2.....oogle.html

  39. Bolerobell

    I downloaded and installed it. Unfortunately, my Tmobile RAZR won’t connect all the way through with the “T-Zones” option. I imagine that I’d have to order the full $20/month internet option in order to use it…

  40. Matt

    Apparently my verizon motorolla e815 is not supported even though I have java based apps on here already. Oh well.

  41. Stuart

    I’ve actually been able to use Gmail on my mobile for a few months already, so I’m not sure whether I’ll be tempted to download the app just for address book function :p

    Stuart
    http://www.eanersblog.com

  42. Mobgeek

    I took a look at it and it will not connect, says my phone (Sony Ericsson K750) doesn’t support it. I’m using MovaMail (http://www.getjar.com/products/6977/MovaMailV2) and would probably keep using it since the GMail one doesn’t support IMAP, or anything else.

  43. Scott R

    I was able to download and install this on my Motorola V635. It detected my phone just fine. I launch it and I can enter in my username and password… but the [Exit] and [Sign in] buttons don’t work. Kind of a deal-breaker there. :(

  44. JOJOFACE

    I’ve got a RAZR v3m. I can’t find the web browser ANYWHERE (if it has one). So, can I not get this Gmail app? >_

  45. creepyK

    well my mobile seems to be supported but i get a 404 when trying to grab the file.. anyway, the url of the file is:

    http://www.gmail.com/app/v1.0......-K800i.jad

    maybe you can find a version for your mobile by fiddling with the url

  46. Glen Barnes

    Why use a downloadable client when you can access the same email via pop/imap? The clients on the phone are pretty good these days and integrate well wiht the phone functions for adding pictures, etc.

    I think they should use IMAP/POP and develop a good syncML service for the address book before launching a mobile client.

  47. cablefish

    I’ve got a Samsung D600 and this app crashes my phone every time i log in.

  48. cablefish

    ahhh…. just looked at the installer again and it’s us/canada. Once again, Australia gets the shaft.

  49. James

    I use Gmail’s push mail on my blackberry but i just wanted to echo some of the sentiments that have been said. Please give us access to OTA syncing of gCal! on Blackberry’s and other PDA’s. There’s already a hack out there at gcalsync but it has serious time zone issues. You could just buy that and tweak it I’m sure.

    It’s the last step to complete and total worldwide dominance! You can do it Google!

  50. Mediawatch assistant

    Someone just stole your story - passing it on as their own…

    http://www.smarthouse.com.au/C.....s/B4Q9G9E3

  51. Miguel Paraz

    #42 - odd choice of handsets indeed. not supported on K700i either. thought these were pretty popular.

  52. Sasa

    It doesn’t work on Sony Ericsson K700i. So they say. I got that message when I tried to download it.

  53. Muralikrishnan

    Works perfect for me (India, Blackberry 7230)

    Good work from Google this. Now I only hope that they have something that can sync a Blackberry with the Calendar

  54. Dek Mak Pek

    I love Gmail :)

  55. Scott

    Another group of tech-lemmings fawning every time Google farts. Gimme a break… Gmail isn’t anything more than a warmed-over and less capable version of Yahoo’s mail and the mobile version sucks out loud. Access only your Gmail account? C’mon - take a look at Flurry.com and get a sharp, easily downloadable app for your Java phone (and it works on ANY phone - not nearly as fussy as Gmail) that polls ALL of your accounts. If you’re tired of carrying multiple devices as I am (I gave up my Blackberry before most of Silly Valley even knew what they were) just use Flurry on any decent mobile and collect your mail. Then, if you’ve got an important message, here’s an idea - CALL.

    After 25 years conceiving, launching, running and selling tech businesses I’ve been down this road before and am still amazed at how Google-myopic everyone has become. Get a clue.

  56. Bolivar

    Works excellent on my nokia e62, but anyone know how to get rid of the annoying “allow application Gmail to use network and send or receive data?” pop ups?

  57. francine hardaway

    The offhand point you made about wanting to use Gmail to access other accounts is a real issue for me. Yahoo has had that capability for five years; I don’t understand why Gmail doesn’t let you pull over your other accounts.

  58. B Mon

    *Sigh* — uver-tech-geek Scott doesn’t get it. Not everyone *needs* to poll 10 email addresses and such. One *central* and easy to manage Gmail address is all I use and the web interface for Gmail smacks Yahoo! so hard it hurts. I MUCH prefer a simple and fast *email* client that is rapid and very easy to use. Yahoo!’s new beta is *not* that — it’s just more complicated. That’s fine for some people, but not me.

    Google gives me the solution that fits the way I use email fast and easy, synched from PC or phone — at all times — with a GUI that stays consistent, and now more than ever with the new J2ME app for phones.

    Even tho flurry.com is great, that is WAY more than most normal people need, as we’re all connected by not complete email goobers who check email 50 times a day. Google-myopic? Please. Go back to selling tech businesses to even more geeks and let the normal people use what works very well for them.

  59. Scott

    B Mon:

    For the record I only access TWO accounts - and at that, only a few times a day. I’m not glued by the thumbs to a Boysenberry or any other fruity device (other than my Apples) but want a quick, easy-to-use email client for when I’m out of the office. I check email wirelessly only when absolutely necessary and use my phone for that instead of a Treo or some other email-dedicated device.

    The point here is that the Google mail client on the mobile leaves a lot to be desired. If you use Flurry (or some other equivalent - I’ve got no axe to grind about them) for even one email account it’s a better solution than Gmail Mobile.

    And, by the way, the businesses that I’ve sold have been to decidedly NON-geek constituents specifically because I find the best tools for the job, not just the lastest/greatest thing to come out of Googles labs.

  60. John

    I noticed that Movamail http://www.movamail.com has released an all new version. It has a great new UI, and provides new features.

  61. jm

    no ‘all mail’ option in ‘more views’ - i need this
    app works great otherwise

  62. HuLsH

    Yea! Movamail is getting better and better every day. I love it!
    Gmail mobile is great and nice bit it’s not so usable like Movamail

  63. Mark

    I highly recommend this phone plan for Gmail Mobile:
    http://sprint.p.delivery.net/m.....nding.html

    $30 per month, unlimited EVDO data on the RAZR (although I’m sure there are better phones to go with).

    Don’t know a Sprint employee? Well Google does. Go ask Google. Use a *.

  64. john h

    I use gmail app on my slvr, but I can’t seem to use word/t9/itap mode with it?