Mountain View, California — Search titan Google Inc. on Tuesday unveiled an improved and sophisticated Web-based version of Gmail and Calender services both for Apple Inc.’s iPhone and devices based on its own Android operating system, including access to messages that is faster and promises an experience similar to your desktop Gmail.
The newly improved Web-based version of the Gmail e-mail service include faster performance when opening e-mail, navigating your Gmail folders, and searching archives, as well as an updated user interface that makes it easier to use within the iPhone and Android browsers, said Shyam Sheth, a product manager for Google Mobile, on the company’s Mobile Blog.
According to Sheth, the updated Gmail service would not break-up even if a user loses contact with a wireless network and empowers offline mobile device users to access the Gmail application, write e-mail messages and open recently read e-mails. The updated Google Calendar can also be accessed by users who are offline.
The improved Web service is designed to be much more identical to using Gmail on the PC, and it also includes search, threaded conversations and according to Sheth called a “floaty bar” that retains frequently-used features, like Delete and Archive, just a click away.
“We wanted to make sure that if you are an iPhone user, you can always have a Gmail-like experience on your device,” said Sheth.
The iPhone comes with Gmail built in, but Sheth said Apple controls that software code, so Google was not able to fine-tune it and improve the experience.
According to a recent survey by marketing research firm comScore, 52 percent of iPhone users avail the benefit of the built-in e-mail, while 37 percent access e-mail through a Web browser and 12 percent download an e-mail application.
Eric Ravenscraft, publisher of OCEntertainment.net, commended the new Gmail interface but said he was disappointed that Google chose not to update Android’s internal Gmail software as well.
Aesthetically, Google has given Gmail for iPhone and Android a mini-facelift, improving the look and ease of use of the application’s buttons. Google also enhanced the look of labels and messages to make them look more like the desktop versions, and moved the search bar into the top header.
Sheth said Google is concentrating on improving software that runs in the browser because of the flexibility it offers Google to make improvements without writing multiple versions of code that are tailored to specific devices. “It is one of the key things that allows us to unleash a lot of innovation,” he said.
Sheth added that there are plans to continue to improve Android’s software.
Google last week demonstrated the Web-based mobile version of Gmail and also assured faster speeds, even if the network drops. "You’ll still be able to open recently read messages and to compose over a flaky, or non-existent, network connection,” Joanne McKinley, an engineer with Google Mobile, wrote in a blog post.
“All this is achieved with aggressive caching and by leveraging new browser technologies, like HTML5 and Gears,” McKinley wrote “The total effect of this new architecture is not visible yet, but it will enable us to significantly improve performance and quickly roll out new features in the near future.”
The new browser-based Gmail is compatible with any browser that conforms to the new HTML 5 programming standard. While Google and Apple were the first to adopt the standard, other companies are expected to quickly follow suit.
Sheth noted that users can check-out the updated Gmail and calendar tools by accessing http://gmail.com/app in their mobile browser (that link only works on mobile handsets, not on PCs). Google’s newly updated mobile apps are available on all Android-powered devices and on iPhones using Version 2.2.1 or higher of the iPhone operating system.
It is currently only available in English, and is rolling out throughout the day, so check back if you do not see it immediately, McKinley wrote.