Google Gears will take Gmail offline?

Soon after Google Reader became the first web application to add offline mode using Google Gears, people started visualizing how useful it will be, if Gears was integrated with Gmail! Finally, rumors are leaking that offline version of Gmail is in works.

According to Hindustan Times, “highly placed sources” have confirmed that Google has developed an offline version of Gmail and is expected to come out sometime later this year. The offline version allows users to interact with the web application without having an active internet connection. Users can compose, reply or save draft and synchronize it with the server as soon as network becomes available.

The report also mentioned that offline version of Gmail is already built, and just some internal testing is left behind. However, when Wired asked Google about this development they just said that “we’re always looking at ways to improve Gmail, but we have nothing specific to announce at this time.”

I wouldn’t be surprised, if Gears gets integrated with Gmail. After all, why would Google hesitate from using one of their own project to make Gmail available offline?

This post was published by on September 17, 2007

About the Author: Thilak Rao works as a Social Media Expert. He is one of the first professional bloggers from India, and he loves to write, travel and click photos. Follow him on Twitter @thilak

  • http://www.techiesden.com Vaibhav

    Gmail going offline is a good news. this will definately make a person shift from mail clients liek outlook, and OE, to the original stuff.

  • http://www.technospot.net/blogs/ Ashish Mohta

    It will be rocking if they do. I dont want to use Outlook.

  • http://sunnytalkstech.blogspot.com Saptarshi Purkayastha

    I think we are missing the point of Google Gears and Gmail. Google really wants people to stop using stuff offline and get everyone online. Examples are Google Docs which want people to shift from Office Apps!!

    I have made an observation here on the same topic: http://sunnytalkstech.blogspot.com/2007/09/does-it-make-sense-to-take-gmail.html

  • http://indyankk.blogspot.com/ indyank

    Microsoft Outlook is typically used in enterprises.In my company, i can access my inbox from home(thro. https).

    What about a feature like pst that helps us to save mails on our desktop.Is there anything similar being introduced in this offline version?

  • http://www.kungfound.com Matt Arnold

    This will be awesome. I hope it happens! :)

  • http://www.geekywood.com Uzair

    I don’t think this is worth the hype. I have Thunderbird and MS Outlook installed, but I still prefer to check my mail on Gmail.com

  • http://www.friendlydirectories.com Bidding Directory

    Ashish Mohta – Why don’t you use gmail online?

  • http://cybersurge.org Michael

    I love Gmail but I like to use my iPhone for a lot of my email, POP is an option but I’ve had too many bad experiences with it. IMAP would be a much better choice then creating a Firefox plugin to do something that current technologies can already do, but I guess if they do that then they can’t monetize it with advertising. I wish Google would just enable IMAP and make many more people happy.

  • http://www.linksbuilding.net asso

    It will be great if they do i do not like outlock

  • Joline Muhl

    It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of looking at why their is a problem in the first place.

  • http://indyankk.blogspot.com/ indyank

    Microsoft Outlook is typically used in enterprises.In my company, i can access my inbox from home(thro. https).

    What about a feature like pst that helps us to save mails on our desktop.Is there anything similar being introduced in this offline version?