Google goes after biz with Gmail out of the cloud

Google has enabled an experimental ability to read, write, and search Gmail messages even while not connected to the network.

Google is a keen advocate of cloud computing. But there are times when the network is inaccessible, and generally web-based applications like today's Gmail effectively seize up under those circumstances.

Offline Gmail access begins a new chapter for Google's ambition to appeal to business customers for services such as Google Apps, of which Gmail is a component.

Todd Jackson, Gmail's product manager, said: "This is a feature we've heard loud and clear the enterprise wants."

Trying to sign up business customers generally means wooing them away from the dominant email products, Microsoft's Exchange server software and Outlook PC software. Google and Microsoft began in separate spheres but are ever-closer competitive rivals, each with a strong cash-generating business that can be used to subsidise forays into other markets.

Google Apps customers will get another major offline option "soon", too: Google Calendar access, though not initially the ability to create new entries. If the organisation's administrator enables the "New Features" option, each person within that organisation will get access to the calendar, Google said.

New features help make Gmail more compelling for business customers but for many, a bigger problem is the fact that Gmail still sports its beta tag, said Gartner analyst David Smith.

"That's one of the biggest stumbling blocks for businesses," Smith said. "You're hard-pressed to find any businesses who decide to go into production with anything that a vendor calls beta, no matter how good it is." Google promises customers will get 99.9 per cent availability through a service level agreement for Google Apps, which includes Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs.

Original article: Gmail grows up with offline e-mail access from CNET News.com