One of the reasons I use Gmail (or ‘Google Mail’ to give it its correct name here in the UK) is because it’s so portable. Home or work, my email is always available; and visiting Gmail from my mobile phone or my BlackBerry allows me to check my email using a really nice interface wherever I am.

So, I was slightly perplexed when Google announced today that they’d released a new application, called Gmail mobile client. I didn’t think it needed it. The mobile version of the HTML is just fine, and works perfectly on my Windows mobile phone and on my BlackBerry. Why would I need anything else?

And then I installed it (onto the BlackBerry), and - blimey, it’s good. It uses the same keyboard shortcuts, and it even appears to occasionally keep itself updated. It’s almost as if it acts like the official BlackBerry email client. And yes, despite Google claiming it’s for the US/Canada only, it works just fine here in the UK - presumably, it’s the good old trademark issue coming back to haunt us.

Two screenshots - click to expand - are enclosed… Google’s press releases are heavy on the “It’s rather good”, but not so heavy on the screenshots…

| Permalink | Comments RSS | Leave a response, or trackback.