Of all the BlackBerry applications that RIM have been slowly creating there have been only two that I have waiting for with baited breath, the first was the Microsoft Live Messenger application (which was initially only available on T-Mobile, and actually had me considering getting a T-Mobile device), and now their Enhanced GMail Plugin for BlackBerry Devices, as the current native GMail integration through BIS left a lot to be desired.
(These screen-shots are from my BlackBerry bold and the new plugin)
New Menu showing starred items, labels and more...
Finally, on Sunday, RIM released this plugin. Installing the plugin is simple, and you can add it to your device by going to http://www.blackberry.com/gmail with your handheld browser, from where you can install it OTA. Once you have it installed, you need to add your GMail account to your device in BIS for the plugin to work properly, also your GMail integration must use IMAP rather than POP. If you have configured your GMail integration after March 2009 on BIS, it will use IMAP by default, if not, you would need to delete your GMail integration in BIS and re-add it — I had to do this, as I have been using the same GMail integration in my BIS for a number of years now (and, in fact, directly after adding my GMail account again, I received a PIN message telling me where I can download the plugin, so those of you who have never integrated your GMail account with your handheld will find this process particularly simple). Also, this plugin will only work with OS 4.5 and newer devices, so early Curve/Pearl users – update your firmware.
Additional Settings in the e-Mail Options Menu
So far, I have discovered the following features in this plugin:
- It groups conversations in a similar fashion to GMail on the web
- You can report SPAM
- You can archive messages
- You can perform local and remote searches (I love this feature)
- You can star or label messages on your BlackBerry device. According to RIM this is based on a one-way sync from the BlackBerry device to the GMail, thusly if you unstar something on the GMail web-interface that you starred on your BlackBerry that change will not be reflected on the device. I can live with that.
Message Screen showing a grouped conversation
RIM have definitely produced a piece of software here that makes GMail on the native BlackBerry interface much more of a pleasure to use. The only changes that I would like to see, and I am sure they are already in the works, would be bi-directional sync of labels, stars and so on, otherwise superb.
