Gmail Goes Offline

Google has announced that it will be rolling out offline functionality for Gmail. The company is calling the feature experimental. The functionality is facilitated by Gears, the same web application used to provide offline functionality in other Google web applications. Once the feature is enabled, Gmail uses Gears to download a local cache of your mail. Synchronization occurs as long as you are connected to the internet. Once the connection closes, Gmail automatically switches to offline mode and uses the cache stored on your hard drive. While offline you can compose, search, and label messages. There is even a "flaky connection mode" for weak or unreliable network connections. Early reports are that working with Gmail offline is indistinguishable from working with the application online. You can check to see if your account has access to this feature by clicking on the Labs tab under Settings within Gmail.