Google announced the release of a new mobile client, Gmail, for mobile devices. The freely downloadable Java application delivers Gmail users the look and feel of Gmail through an interface optimized for mobile devices.

Although Gmail users can already access their accounts through the browser on their mobile devices, the application adds new features such as search, conversation view and automatic synchronization with the desktop version; as well as faster access, due to automatic pre-fetching of messages; fewer keystrokes needed for reading, composing, or searching mail; attachments, including files and photos, are viewable and automatically resized to fit the user's phone.

"Google's mobile products are designed to enable people to quickly and easily get the information they want on the go," said Deep Nishar, director of product management at Google. "We realize the role mobile phones play as a key driver for balancing online and offline worlds, and we're committed to developing products that help people stay connected when they're away from their computers. Gmail for mobile devices delivers on that commitment."

Users with J2ME-enabled phones can go to gmail.com/app from their mobile browser and download the application for free. Users who don't have a Gmail account can sign up for an account via SMS by going to gmail.google.com and clicking on "sign up for Gmail."