Google GMail Mobile

Google announced last week a version of their popular GMail email client for mobile devices (gmail.com) that support J2ME (Java 2 Mobile Edition). There are actually two forms that you should be aware of, so that you don’t stumble around like I did.

First, there’s the in-browser mobile version which has two modes: plain text (with links) and HTML. I gave both modes a run through on my Palm Treo 650 (CDMA, EVxDO data network) using both the Blazer and Opera Mini mobile web browsers. Neither mode is  a pleasure to use, there’s too much explanatory text, and the net feeling is “why bother?” It’s like most mobile applications other than games and media players. Unless you are a masochist, this is not something you want to use a lot.

Second, there’s the Java J2ME (Mobile Edition) application which has to be downloaded to your J2ME-enabled mobile phone. But if you don’t have the IBM Java environment or something similar to load the “midlet”, all you’ll be doing is downloading the app, unable to run it. Presumably there’s instructions on how to get the Java environment on your phone if it’s not there already. I had it from months ago, though I’m hard-press to tell you from where because it was an automatic download and install from when I tried to install a VoIP-related application from Mino Wireless (which gives you inexpensive long distance calls from your Java-enabled phone).

After downloading the GMail midlet, you still have to install it using the Java environment then launch it. Now after all this hassle, it’s actually not bad. The interface is very similar to regular GMail, with scrollable threads of discussion, including the in-thread cascaded tabs. (If you’ve used GMail, you know what I’m talking about.) Supposedly you can view attachments in the downloadable client. I tried on PDF attachments but had no luck despite the fact that I have two different, functioning PDF viewers. Which of course might be the problem.

The Google info page says that you can also view photos and documents, though I haven’t tried. It also says that your account stays synchronized. In other words, if you view a new message on your mobile, it won’t show as new when you login to your GMail account on your desktop/ laptop computer - and vice versa. Similarly, if you delete a message through your mobile, it’ll be gone daddy gone when you check on your computer.

Overall, it’s one of the first mobile apps I’ve downloaded to my Treo this year that has some semblance of usability. While I like the interface and its easy of use, I’m disappointed that I couldn’t view attachments, but then again, given the ridiculous cost of my wireless data plan ($100/mth for a 250 Mb bandwidth cap), maybe it’s better that I can’t. Although I’ll be honest and say that I don’t know if the attachments are being downloaded anyway, whether I view them or not. I certainly hope not, else I’ve probably exceeded my monthly limit already

[sources: CBR Online, CNet News]