Google has demonstrated a version of its Gmail messaging
system for the Apple iPhone that can be used offline with no
network connection.
At the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Vic Gundotra, Google's
vice-president of engineering,
demonstrated a "technical concept" of Gmail when an iPhone was
offline.
In January, Google released an offline version of Gmail for
desktops and laptops. Like that technology, the mobile phone
version runs in a web browser, not as a native application.
The software demonstrated by Gundotra allowed him to browse and
read e-mail after he switched the phone into Airplane mode, which
sees the wireless network switched off.
Although offline applications can't retrieve new data from the
network, they can synchronise with the server when network access
is restored. With the Gmail system, when offline, e-mail is stored
in a local database on the phone to speed processing.
As well demonstrating the system on the iPhone, Gundotra showed
it working on the new
HTC Magic Android phone, soon to be launched by Vodafone.
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