|
|
|
|
Cellphone NewsGoogle Brings Gmail to Mobile PhonesDec 19, 2005 "Gmail Mobile uses SSL for login to protect users' passwords, and [it uses] XHTML," said Keith Coleman, Gmail product manager at Google. "To access the service, users have to have a phone that can handle these two protocols." Google has launched a wireless version of its Gmail e-mail service. Called Gmail Mobile, the service lets you send and receive e-mail messages through a mobile phone. It competes with a rival wireless-e-mail offering from Yahoo. Currently, the Gmail Mobile service only works with certain kinds of Web-enabled phones. According to a list published on the Gmail site, mobile phones that can use the service include the Nokia 3100, the Nokia 6010, the Nokia 6200, the Nokia 6820, the Samsung SCH-A890, the Samsung SCH-I730, the Siemens CT66, the Siemens SX66, and the Sony Ericsson K600i In addition, several PDAs, including the BlackBerry 7100G and the Blackberry 7290, can use the service. Google indicated it will update the list of mobile phones that work with its service as it completes tests on individual models. "We're in the process of testing many more phones, so we will continually update this list with more compatible models," the company said on its Web site. Ease of UseAs yet, Gmail Mobile is only available for users who live in the U.S. And the service is only provided in English. To access Gmail Mobile, visit the Web site through your phone's Web browser at http://m.gmail.com, then sign in to your Gmail account as you would for the PC-based version. You can view attached photos and documents from your phone and can reply through a voice call to people whose phone numbers are stored in your Gmail account address book. Gmail messages are automatically synchronized, regardless of whether Gmail is accessed from Gmail Mobile or the PC-based Web. In addition, the Web page automatically optimizes its interface to display correctly on whatever mobile phone you are using. Wireless OperatorsWireless operators that allow their subscribers to access Gmail Mobile include AT&T, Sprint, Cingular, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Google said users should check with their providers about their data-service plan to see if there are any additional charges for Web access. "Gmail Mobile uses SSL for login to protect users' passwords, and [it uses] XHTML," said Keith Coleman, Gmail product manager at Google. "To access the service, users have to have a phone that can handle these two protocols." Almost all the new mobile phones on the market in the U.S. can use both SSL and XHTML, Coleman explained. But older phones and some less-popular models might not be able to handle the protocols. "We know that U.S. mobile carriers are mostly able to support Gmail Mobile, but we have not tested the service outside the U.S.," he said. "Currently, we only offer the service in English, but we do plan to provide access in other languages. The version of Gmail for PCs supports 38 different languages. Our intention is to test the Gmail Mobile service outside the U.S. and then launch it in other markets." Quick Thumbs?"Generally speaking, I think that this is a good move for Google and the industry as well," said IDC analyst David linsalata. "One key for future growth in the mobile market will be the integration of mobile services with preexisting services in other markets, for example the PC." Google's integration of Gmail with the mobile phone, especially given the broad array of brands and models that the service supports, is a clear example of this, he said. "The move also has the industry benefit of encouraging data use on mobile phones and introducing more consumers to the power of their mobile phone." At the same time, though, Gmail coming to mobile phones doesn't solve the issue of using a phone to actually write long messages, Linsalata pointed out. "Even though this service improves the display and connectivity issues, writing an entire e-mail on a standard keypad still a difficult endeavor and one area that needs to be improved as the industry moves forward." |
Tag This Page: Digg Del.icio.us Reddit |
Need More Information? Search the whole Web or just the Mobilook site here: |
Top Pages on Mobilook
|
top cellphone
news site map home |