Leon Kilat: The Tech Experiments

Trying Gmail for mobile application…and it’s still loading

I tested the recently released GMail for mobile application, a java program for your phone to connect to what is probably the world’s best e-mail service, and I couldn’t get it to work. Up to now, hours after I installed it, the phone still can’t open my inbox and I only get a screen that says “loading.”

gmail on k750 Gmail for mobile application makes access to your email from your phone easy, if your phone supports it and you can make it work. Click on photo to enlarge.

The installation went fine. I went to gmail.com/app and I was prompted to download the program. I clicked on download Gmail and the program was downloaded in just a few minutes, at such a cheap GPRS rate at 10 pesos.

I promptly entered my username and password. It was torture doing so using the phone keypad as I use a 30-character password. When I clicked on sign in, the phone screen just displayed loading. I waited for several minutes before exiting the application and opening it again, still no luck.

I tried reentering my username and password, such torture, and signing in again, still no luck. I tried letting it connect for close to an hour, my inbox still wouldn’t load. I could access settings, but these options are programmed into the application, but I couldn’t get my emails.

I tried sending a test email and I got a 502 error, service unavailable. I don’t know where the error lies, whether it is with Gmail or with my Smart connection.

I can connect to Gmail using the m.gmail.com address in my Sony Ericsson K750i but I couldn’t do so using the recently launched application.

The Gmail help center says (emphasis mine):

We’re currently only able to support users in the United States. However, Gmail users in any country are able to download and use the Gmail for mobile application on their compatible mobile phones.

I’ve been browsing forums and there are users outside the United States who have been able to use the service. I’ll spend the next few days trying to make the application work in my phone.

gmail for mobile Downloading and installing the Gmail for mobile application took just a few minutes and went without a hitch. Click on photo to enlarge.

Why bother when you can connect to your account using m.gmail.com? For one, the Gmail team promises “Speed. Serious speed.â€? Also, the application allows you to search your mails and offers Conversation view, which is what sets Gmail apart from other providers. The application also gives you the look and feel of the product.

Why bother at all to access your emails in your phone, you ask? It can be useful at times when you absolutely need to check your messages or send an email and you don’t have Wi-Fi access and you can’t find a vacant Internet cafe unit.

Has anyone using either a Globe or Smart connection been able to use GMail for mobile application? How were you able to make it work?

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27 responses

  1. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    We believe Google will eventually release a single app that combined Gmail, Gtalk and GCal. There is another free application called Morange has put all these together, push mail, IM, calendar, virtual disk, Push RSs etc, etc, It is available on GetJar.com, http://www.getjar.com/products/6188/MORANGEFullVersion

    So far the users love it and give it high score, May I have the honor to invite you have a look of Morange? and give us some feedback? really appreciate it.

    Reply
  2. Max Limpag Avatar
    Max Limpag

    Michael,
    I have been looking for such an application for so long. I wasn’t able to search getjar.com extensively because the site is so slow to load. Thanks for the tip. I will be trying it out. The K750i, though, isn’t listed as among the phones verified to be MORANGE compatible. Has anyone tried installing it on a K750i?

    Reply
  3. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    K750i should be able to run this application
    at least the hardware specificatino is ok

    Reply
  4. wilson ng Avatar
    wilson ng

    Max, I believe I read somewhere that the gmail mobile app is only for US market for now.

    Gmail is accessible through POP. I use windows mobile and pull the email using email inbox client.

    Reply
  5. Miguel Avatar
    Miguel

    I got it to work on a Nokia N70 with Smart prepaid. I get the stuck “loading” when the phone has no load. It’s nice!

    Reply
  6. deuts Avatar
    deuts

    I’m currently in Qatar, and I’ve tried using the mobile gmail app, and it’s working. I don’t know but maybe you have problems with the access point, i don’t know really. because for mine, I was prompted with many different access points and I tried each one until I was able to finally connect and get it working.

    Reply
  7. Max Limpag Avatar
    Max Limpag

    Wilson, Migs, Deuts,
    Thanks for the feedback. I finally got it to work. It turns out that the changing of Internet settings of the phone didn’t do me any good as you have to specify the Internet setting for Java applications in the K750i.

    Reply
  8. Chin Avatar
    Chin

    Hi Max,
    My experience pretty much mirrors yours. All I saw was the Loading… sign. I finally gave up.

    Reply
  9. Max Limpag Avatar
    Max Limpag

    Hi sir,
    I finally got it to work. It turned out you have to set the Internet connection for Java apps in the K750i. 🙂

    Reply
  10. wison Ng Avatar
    wison Ng

    Cool! When I have time, I’ll try it on windowsmobile too.

    Reply
  11. Nelly Avatar
    Nelly

    Installing Gmail app went smooth and everything is working great on my V800, it’s fast and cool. But I must say that for me, using 2 or 3 programs just to check my mail’s is stupid. I am using Movamail http://movamail.com/ for all off my accounts (incl. gmail) and I don’t think I will change it.

    Reply
  12. Nash Avatar
    Nash

    I’m from the UK and on the O2 network (Samsung Z400). I had the same problem witht the loading screen as well, but after trying out a few things I got it to work! 😀

    I just had to change the Internet profile from WAP to Mobile Web for Gmail. Now its running and loading as smoothly as the desktop version.
    I’m Impressed

    Reply
  13. mark Avatar
    mark

    Yeah, I had the same problem. Although I did change my java-settings to the internet profile that I was accessing the Internet with, but it was still not working. I added a new data account as well as internet profile and now it works! (btw, I’m located in Germany using Simyo (eplus))

    Reply
  14. Jorge Avatar
    Jorge

    I had the same problem as the rest of you. I finally got it to work by enabling POP access in my Gmail account (pretty obvious…) and also changing the language to English (US). Now it runs smoothly, and I’m located in Portugal, not US.

    Reply
  15. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Thanks all for the helpful comments. I had the exact same problem.

    My solution (South Africa) was to change ‘Settings for JAVA’ from VLive! to Vodacom in the Settings > Connectivity menu of the K750i.

    Just by the way, ShoZu is now also working for me, which previously wasn’t the case!

    Reply
  16. mistermagus Avatar
    mistermagus

    speaking of morange, has anyone been able to use it on a nokia 6233 using smart 3g in the philippines?

    Reply
  17. bongnate Avatar
    bongnate

    FLURRY java software is quite a good email application for k750i. Opening the YAHOO email inbox costs around 3 kb ~ 50 cents (better than 10/30 min one-time-transaction of smart.). You can also send email. The only reservation i have is the security. The software will ask your email password for them to open for you. Perhaps creating a dummy email account where emails are forwarded is a better remedy.

    Reply
  18. Glynn Avatar
    Glynn

    I have a Samsung Z400 and have changed my internet application settings and it still says for all apps inc. Gmail and Morange “Network startup failure” any ideas?

    Reply
  19. Andre Avatar
    Andre

    I managed to download and use the gmail for mobile application and think it rocks. it is better than http://m.gmail.com as you have more options and a better UI. It worked straight and I did not have to change any settings. Nokia E65 on Vodafone. Best André
    I am also using skype and messenger on my E65: http://n0comment.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/the-first-few-days-with-my-brand-new-nokia-e65-symbian-s60-v3/

    Reply
  20. Max Limpag Avatar
    Max Limpag

    Glynn,
    Have you tried experimenting with the setttings? Can you also check if you have a separate Internet setting for Java applications? In the Sony Ericsson K750i, there is a setting entry for “Internet Settings” but there’s a separate Internet setting for Java applications.

    Reply
  21. Dino Mavridis Avatar
    Dino Mavridis

    Hi all,
    I’ve been having the same problems on my Nokia 6101, on O2 in the UK.
    It’s not only Gmail – whatever I try, I just can’t get applications to access the internet. Web access from the phone’s browser works fine. I’m also trying to use Jajah’s mobile application, same luck… Any ideas?

    Reply
  22. Max Limpag Avatar
    Max Limpag

    Dino,
    I think your phone’s Internet settings haven’t been set properly. Try asking your telco’s service enter to do it for you if you’re having a hard time setting it up.

    Reply
  23. Prakash Suthar Avatar
    Prakash Suthar

    I have K310i. But I am still getting problem while connection with GMail app. It says “this program requires data connection. bla bla…”
    Can you please give me some idea.

    Reply
  24. Ajay Avatar
    Ajay

    Not able to access gmail on my sony ericsson k310i

    Reply
  25. Gmanatse Avatar
    Gmanatse

    Am using a w810i, what do i do to download gmail cause am getting the same message as other ericsson users about the settings

    Reply
  26. DenneBean Avatar
    DenneBean

    I can open Gmail in Opera Mini. I am actually using Globe and it is for free. I haven’t tried downloading the Gmail application on my phone. The one that I want to have working on my phone is the default email application on it. I am using K800i and I cannot make it to work. I downloaded the email settings from Sony Ericsson support website but it is not working. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  27. DenneBean Avatar
    DenneBean

    I have Opera Mini on my phone and I am using Globe. My phone is SE K800i. I can browse the Internet for free. I don’t really have any load but I can browse. Even if I have load, it is not charging me for the browsing.

    The only thing that I really want to work on my phone is the default email application on it. I already downloaded the email settings and configure it but it is not retrieving the emails to get into my email inbox. Anyone who made it working?

    Reply

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