Google adds offline access, new features to Gmail and Calendar for iPhone and Android

Gmail

Google Calendar

Today Google released new versions of two of its mobile apps for the iPhone and Android platforms. The new versions of Gmail and Google Calendar for mobile devices make heavy use of Google Gears, caching, and HTML5 technologies to allow for offline access of recently viewed messages and calendar appointments. So now you can get some work done even when your cell signal is bad or non-existent.

Gmail for the iPhone and Android also received a user interface update. Selecting a message in the inbox automatically brings up a "floaty bar" that provides quick access to common functions - without the need for scrolling back to the top of the list. The labels now look more in line with the desktop version of Gmail, and the search menu has been repositioned, as well.

Google Calendar, on the other hand, gets some sorely needed new functionality. Appointments can now be edited on iPhone and Android devices, and appointment invitations can also be accepted and responded to. The new version of Google Calendar for mobile can be accessed at google.com/calendar/gp.

Both of the updated Google apps will run on any Android device, or an iPhone/iPod Touch running OS 2.2.1 or later.