Psst! Google launches new mobile services
Google has once again quietly launched new mobile services while its rivals Yahoo and Microsoft are duking it out in the media.
The search engine giant launched a new mobile phone tricks channel on YouTube, installed a mobile notebook and created Gmail for mobile. Additionally, the launch of Google Sync enables BlackBerry and smartphone users to synchronize their calendars and documents on handsets.
With Mobile Tricks, Google's product for YouTube, users can send in videos of themselves demonstrating tricks for mobile phones.
Videos approved by Google will be posted to the consumer's playlists in one centralized space. The company will also post blogs about the videos received. Tricks include anything from using a mobile phone to gain Internet access on a computer to gags such as juggling tricks.
Users can also view YouTube videos directly from their handsets. Users can access their YouTube account including their favorites, their own uploaded videos and their favorite channels.
The application also allows users to upload, share, rate and comment on videos via email or MMS on their mobile phones.
Another new mobile offering that Google launched is the ability to view documents via compatible mobile phones. Documents are stored securely online and available to users on Google Mobile's Docs application.
The application's main page displays a list of recent documents and a box in which users can search for documents. Small icons on the side of the document name indicate file type and size.
A word processor document is displayed with Google's mobile formatting in a narrow layout. Capable mobile browsers allow users to edit the document.
Upon clicking on a spreadsheet document, the owner and collaborators of the document are displayed as well as link to view it in HTML. Then, the first column of the spreadsheet is visible with a link to see the next 20 entries vertically and a link to go to the next column horizontally.
Spreadsheets are not available to be edited.
Google's new Gmail page claims to be faster and uses less data than previous versions. Users can now sync their phone's mail client inbox with IMAP, or the Internet Message Access Protocol. IMAP is a method of accessing remote emails as if they were local. Users can open attached messages, such as photos, Microsoft Word documents, and PDF files.
Google Mobile's calendar application Sync allows BlackBerry and smartphone users to native access Google calendar from their handsets. Even in areas without network coverage, users can be alerted for appointments via sound or vibration.
Calendars remain synched whether accessed from mobile device or computer. Users can add or edit entries via handsets or computer with Google Calendars.
Lastly, Google Mobile's Notebook application allows users to view notes from any mobile device. Similar to Notepad found on computers, users may use the application to jot down thoughts and lists without pen and paper, and save it for future reference.