November 3, 2006

Yesterday, Google launched Gmail for mobile phones that allows American users to do in two clicks what previously took them 10 or more clicks.

For now, Google's Gmail for cell phones is a free, downloadable Java application. It will work on the nearly 300 types of Java mobile phones in the U.S., said Tony Hsieh, product manager for Google Mobile.

The software takes Gmail to the next level. Released about a year ago, Gmail allows users to access their email through a Web browser. Once the new Java application is installed on a phone, a person can quickly launch Gmail instead of having to open a mobile browser and wait for it to load before signing in, Hsieh said.

In addition to being a lot faster, Gmail for Mobile Devices maintains Gmail functions like threading and search, and adds mobile-specific functionality such as the ability to press a button to make a call to someone who sent an email.

What's more, users can view attachments, such as photos, in an optimized full-screen format.

Hsieh added "if it takes someone a minute or two or even longer to check email on their phone, people probably won't do it." "With wireless application protocol browsers, it can take 11 clicks to delete or archive a message, but with the new application it will take just two", he said.

According to Hsieh, there is no cost to download the application, but people will have to pay data charges to their mobile carriers.

Users can download the application by sending themselves a text message from the Google Web site, going to Gmail.com/app from their mobile browser or downloading it from the Sprint Nextel home page.

Source: C-Net News