How to Manage Gmail on Your Blackberry Using the Gmail Application

My previous post should have helped you receive all your latest Gmail messages on your Blackberry. There is more than one way to reaching Gmail on your favorite wireless device though: you could also use the Google Mail application.

Major Advantages and Disadvantages

Before you download the application, you should be aware of the major benefits and disadvantages. First and foremost: if you do not sync Gmail with your Blackberry directly, then you have no control over your Blackberry’s blinking notification light. Basically, every time you get any sort of message (think: spam!) your phone will blink enthusiastically. Thinking you received an important or entertaining message, or at least a personal one, you check your inbox. Just to find some useless email suggesting how you can enlarge certain body parts. Using the Blackberry Internet Service to import Gmail directly, you can filter out messages you do not want to receive on your Blackberry. Aside from saving your sanity, it can also cut down on your data fees.

The main benefit of the Gmail application for Blackberry is the superior functionality you get compared to integrating your account directly. Instead of just receiving your newest messages, you can use most of the functions that make Gmail great directly on your Blackberry. For example, you can search all your contacts, use and search labels, and search your entire inbox. Basically, you have access to all your messages, not just your most recent ones.

Installing the Gmail Application

Now you can install the Gmail Application directly onto your Blackberry. No need to download it to your desktop, and then sync it with the desktop manager. Just point your Blackberry browser to the application download site (http://m.google.com/mail), and hit the ‘download’ button.

Thanks to Google’s smarts, it will automatically know which Blackberry device you have, and download the right version of the application to your phone. A few seconds later, it is ready to use!

Note: if, during the download, your screen seems to be stuck and the download does not proceed, check with your wireless service provider that you have an appropriate data plan! When I first tried to download the application, the download lasted more than three hours and never completed. It wasn’t Google’s fault, but instead my wireless carrier had ‘forgotten’ to add my data plan to my account. I had no idea, because I was still able to use the Blackberry browser despite this.

Using Your Gmail Application

A Gmail icon will be installed automatically to your screen. If you are also using the Google Mobile Application, you might not want to have extra icons floating around. In that case, you can just file it a folder that already contains other applications. Deleting the icon will delete the application from your Blackberry, so be cautious with this.

As soon as you start up the Gmail Application, it will prompt you for your email address and password. This only happens the first time, and unless you sign out it will keep your Gmail open. If you’re worried about someone getting access to your phone, and therefore access to your full Gmail account, you may want to be aware of this. Anyone who can get close to your phone, can get into your email account and contact list. Signing out of the service mostly defeats the purpose of using the Gmail application.

From the menu button on your phone you can control all of the Gmail functions, such as search, and contacts. You can mark important messages, report spam and archive as well.

Whether you decide to use the Gmail Application, or directly import your new messages using the Blackberry Internet Service, will depend on how you want to use your Gmail account. If you just need to receive your important email and respond to your messages, importing them directly will be handier. If you care strongly about accessing all Gmail functions, then you can’t go wrong with the Gmail Application.

Have you used the Gmail application yet? How do you feel it stacks up compared to using the Blackberry Internet Service only?