I met two Google Mobile developers at the Dev Conference this week (yes, I got down on my knees and bowed to them), and while they wouldn't tell me what was coming down the pipe for us BlackBerry users from the big G, it looks like we didn't have to wait long for something to surface. From the Google Mobile blog:
Today, we're thrilled to introduce Gmail for mobile version 2.0 for J2ME-supported and BlackBerry phones. Our focus for this version was to make the experience faster and more reliable. We rearchitected the entire client to push all the processing to the background, greatly improve the client-side caching scheme and optimize every bottleneck piece of code we came across.
So, what does this all mean for you?
- Overall performance improvement: You should experience significant raw speed improvement, smoother scrolling, and no freezing.
- Multiple accounts management: If you have both a Gmail and Google Apps email account, you can easily switch between them quickly. You will no longer have to use two different mobile apps to access personal and work emails.
- Multiple mobile email drafts: You can save multiple email drafts in your mobile phone, so that you can pick and choose what you would like to send later.
- Powerful shortcut keys: If you have a QWERTY phone, you can use shortcut keys. Hit 'z' to undo, 'k' to go to a newer conversation, and 'j' to go to an older conversation. See Menu/Help in the app for more shortcuts.
- Basic offline support: Can't get a signal? Not a problem. You can compose and read your most recent emails even when there is no signal. Also, any outgoing messages will be saved in the outbox on your phone and sent automatically when you're back in coverage.
Just point your browser to m.google.com/mail to take a look!
Reader comments
Officially Announced: Google's Gmail for Mobile 2.0!
is there a way to make my email only go to the gmail app instead of to my normal message inbox and the gmail application?
Could somebody please wake me up when Google comes up with a way to sync my BB contacts with my Gmail contacts. I love what they have done with calendar sync. I'd be way more interested in seeing a Gmail contact sync application then an email application for an already email savvy device.
I use the mobile Gmail account on my BB because I do not have access to exchange mail. If I look at email from my BB using BIS, I only see the inbox and any work I do does not appear on my desktop, which used to be Outlook.
Switched to Gmail and the BB mobile client, now every thing is accessible and the same whether I'm on my BB or my PC.
I've tried POP and IMAP on my BB and still all I get is the inbox. No folders and forget about seeing Gmail tags.
If anyone has any idea how to get at all folders on a BB without exchange, please let me know. I'd like to reconsider the more integrated BB email client... especially if HTML mail will be available.
I just went there and download 2.06 which was an upgrade from 2.05 and looks nothing like the picture above.... any help?
My company blocks the use of BIS for personal mail so an app like this is VERY attractive. I just wished they would fix the basic issues (address autocomplete, html mail, ability to copy text from an email).
I had the 2.05 version before when using os 4.5.0.77 and it was fast and worked well, i uninstalled and put this newest version on and now it's soooo slow - unbelievably slow and it wont scroll smoothly or anything - anyone else have that problem?
i guess ive been living under a rock...
Really?
go to http://(your carrier).blackberry.com
ex...http://www.att.blackberry.com
You can set up your email account to be pushed to your phone there. Make sure you resend service books after you create a new account, just to be sure. It is easier to do this on a PC than it is to do it with your phone.
I just downloaded this latest gmail version to my sister's Curve and compared it to v2.0.5 on mine. One difference I noticed is in the settings. They've now included again the option to use a larger font. There were many complaints on the google boards because that option was removed.
Personally, I don't like it that their icon is a lot smaller so I'm gonna keep 2.05 on my Curve. I prefer the smaller font anyway.
This app stays open and the app gets your mail before the Blackberry does. It is push enabled.
I disagree...
I get my gmail on my blackberry before I see it on my actual gmail account. I totally agree with B!aze. The only reason I could see ahving this is for the poster that stated he had multiple accounts and didn't want them all pushed to his phone. With 4.5 having html email, there is really very little use for this program on a BB imho.
The only reason i installed this is to be able to set emails as spam without the use of a computer. It works great i hardly ever get spam on my phone now. Thanks Gmail spam filter devs!
Hijacked!
Can anyone tell me how to use gmail app to send email from my crackberry address? i can pick it with a drop-down on firefox on my PC, but no option on gmail mobile...
I've been using version 2.05 on the Bold for a few weeks now. I tried using BIS but kept getting back copies of anything I sent (I know how to fix that now). I *do* like how you can type in a few letters (just like on the web version) and it shows all the email addresses you've sent to before.
Also, it appears to act like push email on my Bold... I've seen mails appear automatically there (and trigger the flashing red LED) even before it appears on the web version!
well, I just don't like to have push e-mail for like 5 of my gmail account. I would prefer to check them on my own time. so for this purpose the gmail app is perfect for me :) I'm actually trying to figure out how to remove one of my gmail account from the BB e-mail so I won't get bothered by it alerting me.
What's the point on getting such an app, even really cool, on a Blackberry? Does it support Push e-mail? HTML viewing? BB are such great devices for mailing, I don't get the use for a Gmail app... except maybe for starring some mail... Well... I just think like Bla1ze on this...
Ok. Am i going crazy or this is old.
I have gmail 2.05 today on my blackberry 3810 curve att. I had those features long time ago. Plus i download the new version wish is 2.06 today.
What am i missing here?
I'm not sure I will update it, but assuming I do should I uninstall the current one first or just install the new one on top? And I thought the google app was supposed to handle all updates, but I see no "check for updates' option?
While I appreciate Googles efforts and I def like the UI, I still don't quite understand this app, I mean...my BB handles my gmail accounts fine, just doesn't look as pretty when doing it lol, I guess it's a great alternative for some people but it's an alternative I personally have never found a use for.
you can't delete multiple emails at the same time. i tried everything. if someone finds out how to delete multiple emails, please send me a PM. thanks.
Address autocomplete still does not work and still no copy/paste within an email.
I wish Google would make a Blogger app...
Does anyone know if this will run in emulation mode on the Storm, or will it support the touch interface?
This Google Mail is version 2.06 the last version was 2.05. I do not know the difference and have not gone to google mail blog to check
Odd. I've been running v2.0.5 for a couple weeks now. It came as part of Google Mobile App (v3.1.133).
This new release is v2.0.6. One thing I immediately noticed is the icon is the wrong size now. It appears to be half the size of my other icons. :(
Noticeable enjancement: from the account screen you can log out of any individual account. 2.0.5 would keep all accounts logged in without the ability to remove one. This made loading your blackberry to someone else so they could check their mail impracticable. :)
I've had this on my BB for at least a month....
This is version 2.0. Just updated and officially announced.
yes, that's what i have...BB shows 2.0.5.1262 PackWeb
Yeah, I guess this is sort of news but not news. It's officially announced today on their blog (supports 35 languages too), but i guess it's been available for a few weeks.
I guess now it's time to announce it to the world...and not just the hardcores to who track it down early.
ahhhhh ok. Thx
PS - NOV 4th!!! Bold, baby, bold!!!
I looks like the only difference with the newest version, 2.0.6, is that we now have the ability to use large fonts, which wasn't available in 2.0.5.