Using Gmail Offline feature

Again a Gmail Lab feature under experimental grounds called “Offline” which allows you to access email on your Google mail or Gmail account being offline means without connected to Internet.

One may argue that whats the difference in using it when you can use mail clients like Mozilla Thunderbird or Outlook? The answer is simple that you don’t have to install any other application except Google gears.

How it works?

Gmail uses Gears to download a local cache of your mail. As long as you’re connected to the network, that cache is synchronized with Gmail’s servers. When you lose your connection, Gmail automatically switches to offline mode, and uses the data stored locally instead of the information sent across the network.

Features Available

You can read messages, star and label them, and do all of the things you’re used to doing while reading your webmail online. Any messages you send while offline will be placed in your outbox and automatically sent the next time Gmail detects a connection.

Features Missing

• You cannot add attachments to your messages.
• Contact manager is not accessible.
• Search results are limited to the local cache.

How to activate?

1. You will need a supported browser and Google gears installed on your system.
2. Go to Labs under settings tab of Gmail account.
3. Enable Offline Gmail and save changes.
4. You’ll see a new “Offline 0.1” link in the upper righthand corner of your account, next to your username.
5. Click this link to start the offline set up process.

You will have to agree that Gmail + Labs = Possibilities multiplied