T-Mobile G1 has push Gmail with Google Talk presence

Sure, there's a lot of to love about the open-source, Android-powered T-Mobile G1, but Google's Andy Rubin just confirmed what might be the new handset's killer app: push Gmail. While that's not a first, it could be a major differentiating feature for Android phones here on out, since it sounds like the app is advanced and partially web-based: it has the threading, search, and Google Talk presence features of the web client. We'll let you know more as soon as we find out.

[Ike Turner @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:18AM]

No thaanks, give me Exchange support.

[Joe @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:28AM]

Seriously. That's my holdout as well.

[Yaniv @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:36AM]

Thats the beauty of Android....
within a short time there will be tons of apps for it.
Ive downloaded the SDK and already wrote a personal training app for it :)
WOOOOOHOOOOOOO
Me wants new toy!!!!

[kjb434 @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:14PM]

Exchange support isn't difficult and you can bet there will be a third party app if it isn't natively supported.

[Rabin @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:16PM]

Or you could get your exchange emails forwarded to your gmail account (create a separate account for that if you like) until some app is written to support exchange; If you really want the device, that is.

[theefman @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:18AM]

Err, so what if you dont actually use Gmail? And what is it about giving Gmail push capability that makes it a killer app??!!

[fh @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:26AM]

If you don't use gmail, just wait a few days until some devs code a conduit for your email service of choice.

There isn't anything revolutionary about push-gmail per-se, but given that it's there straight out-of-the-box, you can see how a lot of average consumers will be delighted at having direct and immediate access their full gmail account sans pc.

[Mike Warren @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:19AM]

My Centro has Gmail Push with ChatterEmail....

[Aaron @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:10PM]

Then your palm doesn't have push email, chattermail does and you (presumably) had to pay extra to get it.

[DEvolve @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:21AM]

Free? bye bye Blackberry . . . you will be missed RIP

[Ike Turner @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:26AM]

??
You can have free Gmail Push on any mobile phone: Windows Mobile, iPhone, Nokia (symbian etc..)

[Dave @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:22AM]

does it support more than one Gmail account? I have one for work and one for home.... if it only supports 1.. dud

[Todd @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:06PM]

I'm curious about this, too. I'm going to assume it must, becasue the Gmail software for my current Blackberry manages multiple accounts, including custom domains...but would love someone else who knows what this actually supports.

[Charlie M @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:26AM]

I presume thats the same for Google Enterprise apps. If thats the case then it really could be a challenge to exchange.

Google Docs isn't really the killer app in that package its the email and calendaring. If are pushed to Android then its certainly makes it worth having. Currently I have to forward my mail to a hosted exchange service to get it pushed to my win mobile HTC phone.

[Gav @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:26AM]

I get pretty much push gmail e-mail on my BlackBerry.

Well, in fairness, it does take about 20 seconds sometimes to come through, but I'm not complaining.

[bioadam @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:45AM]

My Blackberry receives my gmails before my web client. And my Blackberry is not on T-mobile's network, so double bonus.

[Cirian75 @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:27AM]

oohhh, possible replacment for my BB 8800

Push Gmail yay :-)

[Jash Sayani @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:28AM]

Nice. I see GMail Push coming to the iPhone !

[Tony @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:34AM]

It's called IMAP IDLE and the iPhone already supports it. I think this article is an 11 on the 1-10 scale of Google Kool-Aid consumption.

[kevin @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:56PM]

IMAP IDLE is not actually push email. The end result it nearly the same, but there are still a few advantages to real push email. I myself have not seen anything that states that this is IMAP IDLE. Google could have created real push email.

Plus this is without paying any extra fees for MobileMe. So I think it still warrants a mention.

[Monk @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:35AM]

That's funny, given that there is "push gmail" app for Symbian phones for a long time already. I use it and it works. Killer app, anyway. :)

[majalo @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:36AM]

How does the touch screen look/feel?

Is it glassy like the iPhone or more similar to the touch screens on portable GPS units? (Please tell me more glassy...)

[Case @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:12PM]

The entire device is plastic and looks cheap, so I highly doubt the screen is high-quality glass like the iPhone.

[Jakob @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:38AM]

Please Google just announce push Gmail and eventually push Gcal. I'm tired of using a second push (exchange-cabaple) to get my mail directly.

Anyway I like the whole Android / G1-concept - very open and with a lot of possibilities. But since T-Mobile doesn't exist in Scandinavia (unless they use Telia, which has the same magnenta color) it is gonna be a while.

[Randall Bennett @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:42AM]

I have push gmail for my BlackBerry Pearl.

Though, it doesn't support IMAP read states.

[Big John @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:47AM]

Push Gmail as a killer app? Hardly. If that's what Google and T-Mo are relying on to differentiate themselves from the iPhone and Yet Another iPhone Clone, they're going to end up short. Consumers in general aren't starving for that feature so bad they'll switch over.

[Tony @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:59AM]

Ninja Edit to the Rescue!

Original article:
"... push Gmail. That's a first for any platform, and it could be a major differentiating feature ..."

New article:
"... push Gmail. While that's not a first, it could be a major differentiating feature ..."

:)

[nu86 @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:00PM]

i just ordered it!!!! cant wait to get it oct 22

[theefman @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:19PM]

Well first we had isheep now we have gdroids, still the same hype believing, kool-aid drinking clueless fanboys. Pathetic looking phone, abysmal 1GB data cap, no A2DP, Google collecting all your data - I detest apple but I would take an iphone over this rubbish. Fortunately I dont have to settle for the iphone either as I use the copy & paste wielding WM OS on my Samsung Omnia.

[andrew @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:40PM]

Oh man I can't wait to see location-aware apps for this. Web 2.0 developers, start your engines!!

I just hope the Gmail app is speedy and transparent in that it processes requests right away.

[Dr. Groovy @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:09PM]

So whats the deal with this Limit of 1 GB of data per month? Or am I just reading it wrong?

"If your total data usage in any billing cycle is more than 1GB, your data throughput for the remainder of that cycle may be reduced to 50 kbps or less. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users."

Other then that, it looks like this will be something great to build upon.

[scm209 @ Sep 27th 2008 1:55PM]

T Mobile lifted the 1GB cap on data usage. Fierce had an article about that...