Google has finally started an experimental release of its offline GMail client. It uses Google Gears as you might expect. The current downside is that it is only available for US and UK customers. Since I like being a Beta tester (it hones my work skills as a tester) I’m a little disappointed. But it’s only a question of time until it gets released for all.
You would be able to find offline GMail in the Google Labs tab in your GMail settings. For more details have a look here.
I’m probably not the right customer for this as I’m always online if I sit in-front of a computer but maybe this allows my wife to switch. She’s the one using the laptop. I will still give it a good go though. Who knows, the next internet-cable-cut maybe just around the corner.
I think this is a huge and important step for Google. If this works it is the corner stone that will be used to gun for Microsoft Office. This technology can then finally replace office software completely. Even companies could now join in (provided you’re not bound by legal issues of storing information off-site). I hope Google will be clever enough to provide this as one of their appliance kits as they do with their search-pizza-boxes. I know I’d love to leave Exchange behind too.