Gmail, Calendar Updated for iPhone and Android Devices

Google on Tuesday updated its Gmail and Calendar offerings for Apple's iPhone and Android-based mobile devices. When users access Gmail and Calendar through mobile browsers, Google promises an improved experience.

In Gmail, Google has improved the mobile user interface to make it easier to "message on the go." The search giant also unveiled what it is calling a Floaty Bar so common actions -- such as archive and delete -- are only a click away. Messages got a face-lift so labels look more like the Gmail labels users see on a desktop.

"You'll notice that it's a lot faster when performing actions like opening an e-mail, navigating or searching. And if the data network drops out on you, rest assured that Gmail won't," said Joanne McKinley, an engineer for Google Mobile. "You'll still be able to open recently read messages and to compose over a flaky, or nonexistent, network connection."

Scheduling on the Fly

With the updated Calendar, mobile users can edit or respond to an event. Like Gmail, the application is accessible even without a network connection. To quickly navigate between Gmail, Calendar and other mobile applications, Google said users can use the classic links across the top of the screen. And the More menu provides access to the full list of applications.

"Being able to check the week's schedule is great," said Jyri Engestrom, a product manager at Google Mobile. "However, I've been missing a way to respond to invitations and change my attendance status on the go. And I haven't been the only one. The number-one idea on Google Product Ideas was the ability to edit Google Calendar on mobile devices."

Why Web apps? From a product perspective, Web apps allow Google to iterate quickly. According to Shyam Sheth, a product manager for Google Mobile, users benefit because they will see...