I've seen a few news items all referring to the exact same post regarding the yet-to-be-released mobile version of Gmail. It refers to a list of upcoming features from Google including "plain HTML" as the evidence that mobile Gmail is imminent.
I don't think this neccesarily means much regarding mobile Gmail, but I do think mobile Gmail will happen.
The lack of mobile access to Gmail is a no doubt a bummer. I enjoyed being able to check my Yahoo mail on my trusty old Verizon VX6000. Pretty basic, but it worked, showed my what folders had how many new messages, etc.
I've tried to access www.gmail.com through a variety of mobiles and there are three basic problems:
The first is that Gmail requires what is called HTTPS support, a secure method of transferring information. Very very few mobile phones have HTTPS capability.
The second issue is the prolific use of Javascript in Gmail. Very very few mobiles have a browser that can handle Javascript. In fact, if you turn off Javascript in your desktop browser to protect from a mailicious Javascript virus, you cannot access Gmail at all. I believe it is due to this particular issue that Google is working on a "plain HTML" version of Gmail - so you can check your mail on your PC without Javascript enabled.
The third issue is interface. Gmail is designed to run on a PC and to effectively run it on a phone the user interface needs to be redesigned. Yahoo did it and Google will have to as well.
Fortunately, these issues can be fairly easily overcome. Google's email server just needs to recognize the incoming browser and if it's from a mobile device (WAP browser, for example), it would just redirect the visitor to a special "mobile version of Gmail" that doesn't use HTTPS, doesn't use Javascript and is laid out properly for mobiles.
I am looking forward to it!
btw, have you checked that :
http://www.dblookup.info/2005/11/04/gmail-mobile-screenshots/
and here :
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gmail-mobile/
Gaston
Posted by: Gaston | November 05, 2005 at 04:52 AM