I’m a rampant Gmail user. Yeah, the kind of guy who has it open all day long, like some people would have their Outlook account. Of course, the added bonus is the Google Talk feature, but that’s for another day.
Right now I’d like to talk about a few different ways which you can get your Gmail on your BlackBerry. This is a personal journey I took, and after actually reading a few short, short articles, I found that it shouldn’t have taken that long at all. So, before I bore you, let’s start at the beginning: My first experience syncing up Gmail on my BlackBerry.
Basic sync
The first thing I did when I got home with my 8830 was to add Gmail to my email list. I use it all the damn time, so it makes sense to have my mail pushed there.
So I opened my Gmail account, went to “settings,” and then “Forwarding and POP/IMAP.” Whether it was right or not, I enabled both POP and IMAP. Then I went to my BIS login and clicked “add email.” After tapping in my Gmail address and password, it gave me a confirmation. And that was that. Really that simple. Now all of my Gmail messages passed through my BB.
Problem is, that got a bit annoying. All of my Gmail was hitting both Inboxes, no matter what I did. That is, if I read it through my web browser, like I normally do, it would still show up as unread on the BlackBerry — thus causing it to blink. And the blinking kinda gets annoying after a while, so I’d constantly be going in to mark these messages as read.
Another complaint I filed was that my outgoing messages would show up in my mailbox as new messages, whether I sent them through Gmail from my BB or my browser. That’s another annoyance, though it presents no real intensive problems. I even set “Hide Sent Messages” to “Yes,” figuring that would solve it. Not so much.
The final one is a bit less annoying, but something to talk about nonetheless. I have certain messages that automatically archive into a label, so they don’t hit my main Inbox on Gmail. These messages, unfortunately, hit my Inbox on my BlackBerry. Not a huge inconvenience, but I archive and mark my Borders coupons as read for a reason.
So it looks like the basic push email feature comes with some caveats. Most of them are annoyances, so it’s not like I was throwing my BlackBerry through the wall or anything. But still, there has to be something better…
The Gmail Application
Finally, frustrated, I downloaded the Gmail application. As I said before, I didn’t want to. I absolutely love the convenience of push email…I just don’t like it when I’ve got to open up items or mark them as read on multiple devices.
The Gmail app is really everything you could hope for…except one thing, which I’ll get to in a minute. It’s got the basic Gmail display, giving you your last 10 or so messages. You can explore a bit deeper, too, delving into your labels and other folders. All of your contacts are available, too.
What I like most about the application is that nearly every function of Gmail is available. I can search messages, mark items as read, star them, archive them, slap them with a label, or even my favorite, report it as spam. It even has your unread message count under the icon, which is a huge bonus. However, it doesn’t flash. That’s my only real complaint about the application.
Yes, it’s small. Yes, it’s rather petty, too. But I quite like being able to glance across the room at my BB, or even just pull it out of my pocket, and see a flashing red light telling me I have new messages. Still, it’s far better than the original method of push Gmail I had pursued. But there’s one thing I left unchecked:
IMAP pushing through Gmail
Okay, so I was in the middle of where I wanted to be. On the one hand was the push email which I enjoyed so much. But it didn’t reconcile the way I wanted it (yes, I had all my reconciling options set correctly). On the other hand was the Gmail application, the only problem with which was the notification process. And so I checked out Google’s instructions for IMAP syncing on the BlackBerry.
Good stuff, I gotta say. The steps weren’t exactly as listed — it seems that this is meant for older BlackBerrys, as the instructions refer to the jog wheel. So I followed those instructions. The key, by the way, is not entering in your password at first. If you do enter it, you’re going to be set up with the original sync I talked about above…and if you’re like me you don’t want that.
After doing everything, including making sure the port was set right, I started sending out some test emails. If I read a message on my BlackBerry now, it is marked as read in my Gmail inbox. So when I’m on the road, I won’t have to see a ton of messages I’ve already read once I get home. The messages I have set to filter in some way or another don’t hit the Inbox on my BlackBerry, which is nice.
So only things that hit my main Inbox are pushed to my BB. The only problem that still persists is when I read something in my browser, it still shows up as new on the BlackBerry. But since the other issues were cleaned up by this, I’m rather satisfied.
Verdict
After spending a week with each, I’m putting my vote in for the push version of Gmail. I’m going to keep the Gmail application installed. Though it might be redundant, it does have some features that are lacking in my push email. I can use the application to change settings and organize my messages…if I so choose. But I can still use the convenience of push email, with a minor inconvenience attached.
107 comments… read them below or add one
Thanks, Dave. As I said, I’ve been using it through the IMAP instructions, which eliminates the sent messages problem, along with the other ones I mentioned.
Joe, I wonder how much research you did on the filtering thing and POP push of GMail. You can setup a simple filter to stop the sent items from returning each time (which has to do with how GMail strings messages).
I know there are several articles out there explaining about how to this if you want to give it another try.
By the way, Yahoo Mail does have 2-way sync with mail. No matter where it’s read it is marked as read in both locations. Very nice compared to Gmail.
Yeah I was having similar issues although I didn’t get the imap working. I just forward it to my Blackberry email now because it’s the fastest. I do have the gmail app on my bb but only for searching of old emails.
Joe, as a avid GMail user and a new blackberry owner I feel your pain and I too have your identical set-up.
But I discovered one thing in regards to “unwanted” messages showing up on your BB if they were set to “archive” in your GMail….
I got around this by setting up a web BIS account with my provider (you have to do it from the phone) and going into the filters for my BIS email and filtering any message you do not want to hit your BB (basically mirroring your gmail filters)
It’s not as advanced filtering as GMail but it works to keep “unwated” email out of your Push email.
When you say that gmail doesn’t flash, I’m assuming the new email notification that causes the led to flash? I do have an entry for gmail in the custom profile that I use – wouldn’t setting that to flash for repeat notification be what you’re looking for?
I do have it turned off on my 7130 because of all the non-priority email that my gmail account gets, so can’t speak to if it works :)
Another complaint I filed was that my outgoing messages would show up in my mailbox as new messages, whether I sent them through Gmail from my BB or my browser. That�s another annoyance, though it presents no real intensive problems. I even set �Hide Sent Messages� to �Yes,� figuring that would solve it. Not so much.
Your fix can be found here
“However, it doesn’t flash…telling me I have new messages.” Hi Joe – if you go to the settings pages on the Gmail Application you can turn on new mail notification.
The gmail app that I currently use on my BlackBerry does notifications… You have to enable it in the settings of the app, and then go to your Profile(s) and edit the newly listed “gmail – new mail” option to your liking.
It’s still not exactly push, but you get all the features of gmail, and you still get notified. The trick is you have to leave the app running.
Ever tried of signing into gmail on your BlackBerry Browser (http://mail.google.com/) and checking off “Remember me on this computer” so you never have to type your username or password againg.
Then just check your mail, minimize the browser (Press end or “D”) and anytime you want to view your mail simply restore the browser and hit refresh (Hit “R” to refresh also). Beautiful Gmail the way it was meant, on your BlackBerry Browser!
Tips :
Bookmark the Gmail Inbox for faster access. When asked to view in mobile mode, choose view in HTML with no JavaScript. View Gmail like on a PC!!
Article on how to configure the BlackBerry Browser so it renders and displays websites like a PC: http://core.profusehost.net/archives/blackberry-tips-and-tricks/2008-79-tips-tricks-a-howto-on-the-blackberry-browser.html
I use Gmail on my BlackBerry as well. Let me tell you how to fix your problems, if you still have them.
I use push email as well, because the Gmail app not only doesn’t blink, but it takes longer to notify you of new messages.
To avoid your ‘sent’ messages showing up in your BLACKBERRY inbox, first go to your BIS site and log in and create a filter for your BlackBerry to block any incoming messages from your OWN gmail address. Next, to avoid your sent messages showing up as new ones in your Gmail inbox, create a filter in your gmail settings to automatically delete any messages coming from your own email address.
Do this and you should continue to receive push gmail to your BlackBerry without the annoyances or receiving your sent messages.
The gmail app is nice, but like I said push email comes immediately and the app takes a few minutes after an email is actually received to notify you.
Great review.
BTW, Google “apps for your domain” version of gmail doesn’t work on the Gmail Blackberry app.
Thanks, Rick. And that’s crap re: the “apps for your domain.” I’ve just started experimenting with that, and it’s a disappointment to know that I can’t use it on my BB. D’oh.
your own domain email hosted by Google works for BB just that it’s not the same Gmail application.
Point your BB browser to this address and download Mail by Google (not gmail). Make sure to write in the username @yourdomain.com too.
http://m.google.com/a
if you also use the calendar, you can download the sync application between google calendar and your BB
http://m.google.com/sync
cheers,
b
I miss the ability to archive messages using imap and blackberry. I know on iphone they can set the delete somehow so that instead of deleting the message is archived. I rather have that then deleting the message on the gmail account. Any ideas?
Hey all (esp Adam)
How do I “go to your BIS site and log in and create a filter for your BlackBerry to block any incoming messages from your OWN gmail address”.
Thanks for any help!
Bill,
When you log into your BIS account, you’ll see your email addresses listed. Next to the address, you’ll see an icon for filters. You can set it up through there. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to do this on my device. Looks like the BIS login is the only way, and I don’t know about anyone else, but I haven’t been able to login to my BIS via the Web for about a month now.
Hi
That is fun because I had the exact same problems and I took the exact same resolutions.
I know have my gmail mails in push (connecting throught IMAP) going to my Blackberry. Reading mails on my BB make them as read on my Gmail , sent emails are only appearing in my IMAP/Sent folder and the deletion seems to work fine as well. Life’s _almost_ perfect.
But I still have the same problem as you, all the mails I read on my Gmail interface are not marked as read on my BB so I have to read them twice.
Is there any way to make the BB trying to “refresh” to the imap server ?
How are you doing actually ? Do you let all your messages as “unread” waiting for the expiration date ? ;-)
Cheers
Ok, after several tests it seems that archiving my mails on the Gmail interface are deleting them on my blackberry so I don’t see them anymore. That is a first step … but still looking for something better.
Any ideas ?
Thank you, Adam! I just got a new blackberry (Pearl 8120) and was going crazy because all of my sent email was showing up in my inbox as if I had sent it to myself. I had triple checked every setting and was about to return the phone, when I saw your message re creating filters.
We shouldn’t have to do that, but if it works and keeps my sanity….!
For some reason the filters don’t work for me. If I put a filter to filter out myname@gmail.com when it is in the FROM field, it filters out emails that people send to myname@gmail.com. However I have a myname@knology.net email that is forward to my gmail account. It still gets sent to the phone. When I removed the filter, I start getting emails again. So it is like the filter is filtering out myname@gmail.com if it is in the To or From field (even though I only have From selected in the drop down menu).
I found out the gmail mobile application was messing up blackberry getting the messages from gmail. So unfortunatley I had to remove it. However I really like the Imap soluction prevented here, but the only issue I have is that if I compose a message from my BB and send it, the message does not show up anyway in my gmail account. So there is no record of the sent message except in my phone. I guess I could do a BCC on every sent message, but that isn’t really a clean approach either.
I must be doing something wrong. My 8820 has a profile option to ring/flash/vibrate on mew gmail messages. But it never works. In fact, new messages don’t even appear in my Gmail inbox (I am using the gmail app) unless I manually hit refresh. *sigh*
Hi Shane,
I have the same problem that the sent messages from BB don’t appear on the sent messages of Gmail. Did you find a solution for it?
also another question is relating to yahoo but i’m not sure if this is the right thread but i couldn’t find any other thread relating to it.
To keep an archive of sent mail I enabled the Auto BCC on my gmail account in BIS. I then setup a filter in gmail that looks for my email in the from address and contains “Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry” to apply a BB Sent Mail label. This doesn’t integrate with your “real” sent mail on gmail, but as long as I have a copy I’m happy. I hope this helps some people.
Hi, So I tried to use the filter and filter out all the sent messages that pop up on my blackberry from using gmail, but when I create the filter, it seems to block all emails to my blackberry. Why is this? Does anyone know what i’m supposed to do so that I can recieve emails but still not have to deal with all the sent messages cluttering my inbox?
you mention…
What I like most about the application is that nearly every function of Gmail is available. I can search messages, mark items as read, star them, archive them, slap them with a label, or even my favorite, report it as spam. It even has your unread message count under the icon, which is a huge bonus.
I have this google app working great…however, I don’t see how to add a label to an email. I do see how to add star or archive….just not add a label. Can you explain how to do this (i.e. click drop down menu, select… or open email then…)
Thanks
FYI – if you create a Label called “Sent Items” in GMail… messages sent from a blackberry will have that label attached and show up in the conversation properly.
YYMV, I had to do this with ATT and so far IMAP on a BB is great except for not being able to archive versus delete from the BB.
Trevor
@Trevor Hart
You can archive vs delete from the BB, but you have to set that up in Gmail. First you have to enable “Labs” for Gmail, then you have to enable “Advanced IMAP Controls”. Now go to your “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” and “Do not automatically expunge messages” and then choose your choice of Archive/Trash/Delete Forever. I know this isn’t as cool as having Archive OR Trash/Delete but at least it gives you something.
-chris
http://www.strangedesign.net
I would really like to use the push method for all my mail without going through the apps for each mail provider, but I hate that they come into my messages icon. I would prefer they they only go to the icon designated for that mailbox and leave txt messages to the messages icon. Is anyone aware of how to set that up? Thank you.
Thanks for pulling this info together – bits and pieces are scattered all over ‘net, but this article sorts it all out nicely.
THANK YOU!! Holy cow this made my life better! I moved the the Gmail app for the same reasons you did, but can you believe Gmail didn’t know what to do with WAV files…? Huh…
Anyway – thank you!
I think this is so crazy. I have been using yahoo mail forever and recently switched to gmail on recommendation of an avid gmail user. I switched and then started having all the problems mentioned above with syncing to my blackberry. If yahoo can do 2-way sync then why can’t gmail – seems a little ridiculous if you ask me. After using yahoo mail and having no problems with the flash or syncing as being read on the bb and in my web inbox and not having to deal with seeing a copy of every one of my outgoing messages, I just switched back to yahoo until of course, gmail can do the sensible thing and fix this!
Joe,
Just got my BlackBerry a couple days ago. While my e-mail tastes aren’t quite as refined as yours, I was annoyed by having every e-mail I sent come back through my BB inbox. The additional problem of not seeing in my Outlook inbox messages sent from my BB was starting to make my enthusiasm for my new smartphone wane. Thanks for solving both problems!
Don’t mention it, James. Glad to be of service.
Sorry, Thea, but there’s no workaround for this. However, if you use the IMAP instructions, you should see items marked read in your Gmail inbox when you read them on your BlackBerry.
Hi,
I’ve found many useful comments and set my BB 9000 to work as it shoud but I still have a problem with syncronising read messages. All the mails I read on my Gmail interface are not marked as read on my BB (and other way around) so I have to read them twice. Please help.
Thnx.
this thread has been informative, so thanks! however, despite pushing my gmail account to my bb (older one) by following the gmail IMAP instructions, i’m still seeing messages that i’ve opened on my bb marked as unopened in my inbox. does anyone have any other thoughts on how to fix this?
thanks.
Hi Joe,
Great blog, lots of useful information summarized.
I understand Gmail/Blackberry does not have full 2-way sync, but on my Bold, emails that I have read on my Blackberry (in the native email program) don’t show up as read in my Gmail inbox. I configured my Gmail account per the Setup Wizard on the device. I can’t follow the IMAP instructions you’ve posted above and also on Gmail help (https://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=78882).
Specifically, I can’t complete #5 and move on to #6 (won’t let me not enter my email password). Any suggestions? I’m assuming this is why emails that I have read on my Blackberry are still showing up as unread in my Gmail inbox.
Thanks,
Jason
“5. On the ‘Email Account Set-up’ page, enter your full email address (including ‘@gmail.com’ or ‘@your_domain.com’) but leave the ‘Password:’ field blank. Select Next.
6. You’ll see a screen that says ‘We were unable to configure [username@gmail.com].’ Select I will provide the settings to add this email account, then Next.”
Jason,
I’d take the advice from Adam, who commented above:
“To avoid your ’sent’ messages showing up in your BLACKBERRY inbox, first go to your BIS site and log in and create a filter for your BlackBerry to block any incoming messages from your OWN gmail address. Next, to avoid your sent messages showing up as new ones in your Gmail inbox, create a filter in your gmail settings to automatically delete any messages coming from your own email address.
Do this and you should continue to receive push gmail to your BlackBerry without the annoyances or receiving your sent messages.”
I’d also give the IMAP instructions another go. If you did it on your device, try to do it on your BIS login. If you did it on your BIS login, try to do it on your device.
The gmail app does ‘flash’. You need to set it up in your profile. There is an option there ‘Gmail – new Mail’. In there i can set it up to have different reactions to new mail depending on if it is holstered or not.
Ahmad is correct. The Gmail app does flash/blink when a message is received. It has to be set up in your profiles. The Gmail app may have changed since 9 months ago, but LED notification is definitely there.
The only downside I find is that mail tends to reach my BB Bold about 30 secs slower than through BIS.
Hope that helps you Joe!
hello all – thanks for all the info. i’m new to bb and just got a bb storm, using it with my company’s bes. some of the recommendations here say to add filters to the bis … can anyone comment on where to do the filtering in the bes? thanks!
The way to do this on the storm is here:
http://forums.crackberry.com/showthread.php?t=109111
Katherine: You can find your BIS login in this post. You’ll have to use a desktop Web interface to do it.
Thank you for posting all of this info. I am still a bit confused about something though. Please help me!
I can’t figure out how to make a filter. What is a BIS login??
I tried to make a filter by:
1. Went to Message list
2. Clicked options
Couldn’t find Filter option
Thank u to anyone that can help me! I hate getting my Sent messages sent back to me!
How do you ‘archive’ mail? On all my other mobile devices I used to be able to delete the mail, which would remove it from the inbox. Unfortunately the Blackberry actually deletes the mail, sending it to the gmail trash.
Also, why doesn’t the Blackberry actually communicate back to the IMAP server? its odd.
I figured BlackBerry would be quite tuned for IMAP service.
Was there ever a solution found to the ‘mark messages as read’ problem?
Thanks
Here you are,
Configure Gmail for IMAP on Storm
In your Gmail account: Goto Settings then Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Disable POP and enable IMAP. Save Changes.
Using a web browser on your computer goto Verizon’s BIS site: BlackBerry Internet Service (MUST do on a computer browser) and logon.
If you cant logon to BIS, call VZW data technical support for blackberry so they can set up an account for you, or you can try to do it manually on your phone by going to ..BB Menu > Setup > Email Settings.
If you already have your Gmail account setup in BIS, delete it now.
Click on Add An Email Account.
Enter your full email address (including ‘@gmail.com’ or ‘@your_domain.com’)
Some say you MUST enter a password, BUT you need to enter the WRONG password, and other have had success leaving the password field blank. Try either one till you receive the error noted in the next step.
You’ll see a screen that says ‘We were unable to configure [username@gmail.com].’ Select I will provide the settings to add this email account, then Next.
Select Internet Service Provider Email (POP/IMAP), then Next.
You’ll see ‘The BlackBerry Internet Service could not configure [username@gmail.com] email account.’ Select Provide The Settings to continue.
In the ‘User name:’ field, enter your full email address (including ‘@gmail.com’). Google Apps users, please enter your full email address at your domain. Then enter your password in the ‘Password:’ field.
In the ‘Email server:’ field, enter ‘imap.gmail.com,’ then select Next. Google Apps users should enter the server name provided; don’t add your domain name in this step.
If IMAP access was successfully configured, select OK.
Below your newly added Gmail address, select Edit.
Select Advanced Settings at the bottom.
Make sure the port is set to ’993′ and ‘Use SSL’ is set to ‘Yes.’
Definitely the way to go is GMail with IMAP. You lose the functionality of searching, starring, marking spam, etc. But if you’re like me, anything really important makes me go back to my mac. (By the way, if you haven’t done it yet take off the default signature/guerilla advertising and stop telling everyone “I’m emailing in the crapper.” Especially important on your work email…)
If you skipped to the end hoping to find all the answers in one spot, here they are. (For reference, I’m on Sprint with the 8130 Pearl.):
First, Disable POP, Enable IMAP
Make a new email account in BIS – skip the BS about the wrong password. I just entered my real PW and it worked fine. (I don’t know if you even need to bother with this. Plus, I didn’t have to do any SSL or port stuff either. Could be a VZW thing…)
Add filters for YOUR SENT MESSAGES, and ANY OTHER JUNK by clicking on the little filter icon in BIS. Unlike the gmail filters, you can keep adding email addresses in that one box with semi-colons in between. (i.e. all messages FROM john@web.com; tom@web.com; jane@web.com)
To filter out your sent messages, filter messages FROM youraddress@gmail.com
People saw a problem with unread messages not being synced correctly. The problem: read it on your BB then it’s marked in your inbox – that’s OK; read it in your inbox NOT marked read on your BB – NOT OK.—My only fix so far is just a short cut to marking a lot of messages. Go to the date bar, click the trackball, select “mark prior opened.” Unfortunately EVERY message gets the treatment – for those of you who keep messages unread for some reason.
Hope this helps….
Hi, who can help me?
for my private emails I use the gmail application with my business blackberry (business mails are pushed and synchronized via outlook with our server). Can I be sure that our administrator cannot see my private emails from the gmail application on his screen?
Would be great if someone could help me.
Thank you
Wollfrau
, I HAVE A COMPANY BLACKBERRY AND I HAVE ADDED THE GMAIL APPLICATION. IS MY EMPLOYER ABLE TO SEE MY GMAIL MESSAGES? P.S. I AM ALWAYS LOGGED IN BUT I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO RETAINS THE BLACKBERRY. I DO NOT MINE IF THEY CAN SEE THAT I USE THE GMAIL APPLICATION. MY CONCERN IS GMAIL PRIVACY OF MY MESSAGES. PLEASE ASK ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO ANSWER MINE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I CAN ALSO BE REACHED AT THANKS GREG
Hey Joe,
First of all, I cannot believe that this article is exactly what I was looking for after a whole week of frustration trying to do this. I have read it over a few times but I cannot understand what you finally had to do in this step:
“And so I checked out Google’s instructions for IMAP syncing on the BlackBerry. Good stuff, I gotta say. The steps weren’t exactly as listed — it seems that this is meant for older BlackBerrys, as the instructions refer to the jog wheel.
So I followed those instructions. The key, by the way, is not entering in your password at first. If you do enter it, you’re going to be set up with the original sync I talked about above…and if you’re like me you don’t want that. ”
Where exactly are you advising not to enter the password? Google has changed its help page to not assist in any support since you first wrote this article so I am wondering when this happens. When you go to set up your Gmail through the BIS? i.e. as you mention”
“my BIS login and clicked “add email.” After tapping in my Gmail address and password, it gave me a confirmation. And that was that. Really that simple. Now all of my Gmail messages passed through my BB.”
The problem I am having is that my blackberry BIS will not successfully complete the Email Setup without entering the password and the icon does not show up on my main apps screen.
Kindly advise as to how and where we can get past this phase and get confirmation without entering the password as Google has altered their support page.
Much thanks!
Thunder,
This was an issue before BIS 2.6. Now you can add Gmail as normal and it will work just like the IMAP sync I described above.
now there is a new issue with the recent update to the mail servers. since it now automatically blocks all messages sent form our own address, it will no longer show me mails i send to myself. a lot of times i send a mail to myself from gmail to gmail for record keeping, or sending a file to my BB when i dont have the data cable / card reader available, in which case i send the file form the pc via browser gmail to myself. now to prevent the sent copies coming they have made some invisible filter and i cant do the above =)
any ideas ?
Please, can you PM me and tell me few more thinks about this, I am really fan of your blog…gets solved properly asap.
I use the GMAIL app and it lights up my blackberry light when I have new mail and I can also set it to make a sound or other alerts. It’s just the same as if I used the outlook one.
If you need help, let me know.
I’m using the third option: Imap and push. Why can’t I see my messages sent via BlackBerry on the mobile interface?
In not for this, the third option would certanly be the best one.
Well I am too lazy to read though the 65 other comments to see if this has been mentioned but you can get the red status light with a new email though the gmail app.
You configure your profiles, and you will see a gmail option in each profile you can set vibrations, tones, and status light.
With that now possible I am using the gmail app for my BB, and I am signing up my company for Google Apps to get my business email though the gmail app too.
I’ve been using gmail (only) on my Blackberry Curve for a couple of years with no problems. Just switched devices to a Blackberry Bold and now ATT and RIM/Blackberry tech support are telling me that I can no longer have a two way sync between the Gmail on my handheld and the Gmail on my home computer. Is there a workaround to this? I just want the email inboxes on my handheld and my home computer to be the same. Am I asking too much??
I just set up a new Gmail account on my phone and got rid of my old one. On my old account, I actually LIKED when I would check the email on my phone and then go to my Gmail on a computer that it was still marked as unread. Is there a way to get my new Gmail to do this? Whenever I open something on my BB, it is marked as read on my computer. I’d like to fix it so it doesn’t do this. Help!
I have read most of these post but I am still confused. When I read messages on my BB, they are unread on the computer.
Can someone please say exactly what the settings should be for POP and IMAP?
Please help!
Kristen, it sounds like you’re still set up on the old POP method (which is what Dayna wants). From what I can gather, the default setup now is for a one-way sync, where items read on your BB will be marked as read on your Gmail inbox, but not the other way around. If I find out any more information on this I will pass it along. Kristen, it seems you should delete your Gmail account and re-add it. That could solve your problem.
On a Bold, and there still doesn’t seem to be a way to manage labels through the gmail app…only via HTML view. Does anyone know differently? Would love to hear thoughts:)
Is a data plan required to use gmail mobile? I’m looking at getting a 8320 but don’t want a data plan to receive email push via gmail. I was hoping the wifi would enable the feature.
Thank you in advance.
Yes you can get this through wifi
Great article. Thanks!
Check this out: http://forums.crackberry.com/f141/here-s-how-get-gmail-imap-working-tour-9630-a-270804/
You say you can add a label with Gmail App…
“I can search messages, mark items as read, star them, archive them, slap them with a label”
…but after using the Gmail Mobile App for several years I sure don’t see how you do this?
Using Verizon BB Storm with Gmail thru BIS, not the new Gmail app. Until recently it seemed like I had near instant push – mhen i received an email on my desktop it immediately also showed on the BB. THe last few days or so though there can be up to a 15 minute lag from when I see an email on the desktop and when it shows on the BB. Any thoughts? Thx.
Rob,
It seems to be a coming and going problem. I’ve had almost instantaneous delivery recently.
Hey, just wanted to post this again because it fixed my problem (using BBerry as my gmail reader, email not deleting off server)
Thanks Chris!
@Trevor Hart
You can archive vs delete from the BB, but you have to set that up in Gmail. First you have to enable “Labs” for Gmail, then you have to enable “Advanced IMAP Controls”. Now go to your “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” and “Do not automatically expunge messages” and then choose your choice of Archive/Trash/Delete Forever. I know this isn’t as cool as having Archive OR Trash/Delete but at least it gives you something.
-chris
http://www.strangedesign.net
i have seen that Google also deal with blackberry and Sync Google apps on you Blackberry device .. your email with blackbetrry
Hi,
Does anyone know how to sync SENT messages for a POP email address that pushes to gmail and Blackberry? I have copies of all my received message in gmail and on the POP server but when I send from my blackberry, they don’t ‘go’ anywhere except as sent message on my blackberry. Its important that I have backups though on the ‘real’ mailboxes. I’d also like the sent message from my gmail (done from the computer) show up on my blackberry. I used to have this set up on an old blackberry but can’t seem to figure it out now.
Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated.
There is one more issue with the gmail app, which I discovered on a recent vacation. When you’re in a place with spotty coverage, push email works a lot better, since it caches a lot more on the device. The gmail app wants you to have a connection pretty much all the time in order to be useful. For instance, you can lose a mail you started typing if you lost your connection in the meantime. With push this does not happen and even if it fails to send you can always resend later. In other words, working in what I’d call “near offline” mode is a lot better with push. In fact i think this is one area where BB definitely beats the iPhone.
Great thread. My comment is a reaffirmation on the original problem between Gmail App versus BB push:
Me: BB tour with Gmail. The initial article sums the issue up perfectly. GMail App: notification problem. BIS Push: Cannot sync deletes from Gmail Browser to BB.
Sidenote on notification: Bug on the Tour – goto notifications, custom profile, open “other”, GMAIL APP is missing, so unable to modify, thus, cannot add notifications to GMAIL APP. There are tons of threads on this issue. YMMV on fixes. Most believe it is an OS issue with BB. Hoping for a fix with the upcoming 5.0 OS updates.
Sidenote on BB Push and GMail: My issue remains, email deleted on Gmail Browser, does not sync to BB, forcing duplicate deleting on the BB. An annoyance. Tried the DAVEBO instructions…This provides archiving versus trash on Gmail. Fun playing with the Labs stuff. Alas, does not resolve the Push issue with Gmail Browser deletes.
Thanks for the thread. t
I can search messages, mark items as read, star them, archive them, slap them with a label, or even my favorite, report it as spam.
You say you can slap a label in gmail app on blackberry. I can only view conversations belonging to a certain label but cannot add a label. And this is very frustrating because I can’t organize my email in gmail app that I like a lot better than the std bberry email app with google plugin.
But I could have sworn that when I first instaled the gmailk app on my blackberry, I was able to add labels to conversation and now 2 weeks later I can’t find that functionality?
Anyone have any ideas or similar experience?
Alexa, I haven’t played with the label feature too much on the Gmail App, but I’m guessing the issue is a similar bug to the notifications problem. Further thread-reading on the subject, leads me to conclude it is related to the initial battery pull.
So, you download the Gmail App, everything is working fine. Then, you perform a standard battery pull on your BB to clear memory and restart, and suddenly, things are missing from the GMAIL APP (such as notifications and probably labels)…bugs.
Let’s hope these issues are related to the BB OS 4.7, as some have suspected, because if so, then perhaps the release of 5.0 will resolve these and other bugs relating to GMAIL APP, along with a long anticipated resolution to true 2-way GMAIL IMAP push through BIS.
I use the gmail app and totally love it. I have the bb 8900 running on OS 4.6.0.250, and it flashes red whenever I get new gmail messages. Works for me. What I’d like is when my bb viberates and flashes red, I take it out of the holster, I’d like for it to automatically open up the gmail message instead of me having to click on the gmail icon to get in to see the message. As for bbm messages, it opens up and shows the message as soon as I take it out of the holster. hmm.. my 2 cents.
This problem looks to be getting resolved:
“Sidenote on BB Push and GMail: My issue remains, email deleted on Gmail Browser, does not sync to BB, forcing duplicate deleting on the BB. An annoyance.”
I noticed just today that emails are now getting deleted on the BB, when deleted in Gmail Browser. Something’s been fixed, either on the Google side, or on the BB side…Would love to know who did what. It did, however, take approximately 2 hours before email was ‘reconciled’. Ideally, it should be close to instant. Hopefully, more improvement will be seen in the future?
Any insider info on the fix for Gmail BB IMAP push working today, would be greatly appreciated.
Will the Gmail App option be a part of an unlimited push email plan by the provider?
I mean I have a phone plan which has unlimited push email. And this is an app, I dont wanna be paying extra for accessing apps so I am not sure if Gmail App will count as push email?
Tay, it won’t count as push email. It will count as normal data.
Yes, assigning Gmail to BIS is push, and will work just fine.
thanks Joe
and how about assigning Gmail into BIS?
is that still push email ?
omg y’all are such lifesavers
thank you :)
Good one – also a good post on this:
http://techietrick.blogspot.com/2009/11/blackberry-tip-1-search-all-your-mails.html
Has some good rationale for why google rocks!
Though RIM’s Enhanced Gmail Plugin helps some, providing a few of Gmail’s features to Gmail/IMAP via BIS, it will get a lot better if we can just wait until (rumored) March 2010. Here’s a link to the changes for Gmail and the plugin for BIS 3.0 and 3.1 this coming year. If it weren’t for this coming down the pike I’d probably be switching to Android. http://tinyurl.com/ykxqm52
It took me forever to read through the comments, but learned more reading them than from the original article. Not the authors fault as it is 2 years old. Btw, using Bold v 5.0.0.238 and standard gmail setup on BIS 2.8 and email deleted or marked read on EITHER the BlackBerry or pc web browser is reflected on the other. No sent items get sent to the BlackBerry as BIS has the filter to not send email from your gmail address to the BlackBerry as some people have already mentioned. Don’t use the gmail app (tried and I hate the way text and html emails are displayed) so I can’t speak to the label problem or notifications. Congrats on a great article to the author!
Ok, I have read through most of these comments and I haven’t found a solution to my problem. I have both the gmail app and gmail imap setup on my BB Storm. The only reason I do not use IMAP solely is because when I read a message on my computer it does not get marked as read on my phone. Is there a solution to this or a setting that I am missing?
Dustin, for now there is no solution. Gmail offers only a one-way sync. It should be resolved early next year with a new BIS release.
@Joe do you have any idea when early next year? I’ve been looking forward to this feature for a long time.
I have a BB Curve 8900. I prefer to use the gmail app. However, I get new emails and they now end up in not one, not two but three different folders on my phone:
1. In the gmail app (obv)
2. This envelope with a little browser globe over it that says my email address
3. A folder called Messages
As you can imagine this means I am getting triple notifications and have to read/mark as read everything 3 times!
Any help would be much appreciated. As i said my preference would be just to use the gmail app.
You can set up filters for your BIS email that will catch the gmail messages and stop them from forwarding to your BlackBerry.
Read this post for some insight (deals with spam but it is essentially the same process)
http://www.bbgeeks.com/blackberry-guides/how-to-filter-spam-from-your-bis-email-account-88953/
Happy New Year everyone!
Is anyone else not able to see html in their Gmail app messages? I do not get any links or embedded images, simply text – of course I do on a PC.
I have a Curve 8310 4.5.0.182 with Gmail mobile app 2.0.6 and recently turned off the Gmail push in favor of the app. I was able to turn on the LED blink for the Gmail app in profiles, but my battery is consumed about 50% faster and without html (at least I get links in the pushed messages to BB), it’s not great. Stopping the push also killed my facebook app (1.7.0.22) notifications, I believe.
I use my browser for other things so keeping gmail on in it would be a pain – I want to use the app but don’t understand why it doesn’t show html or work with the facebook app.
@Jules
unfortunately the app strips out HTML at the moment. Hopefully this is addressed in a future update =(
Got my first Blackberry this week and absolutely fallen in love with it but can’t believe how hard it is to get Gmail working as I want it to. To be honest after much messing I much prefer the Gmail App to setting the push mail up on the BB itself. If I am to write all of the things down I want to do with the device and my Gmail then the App ticks all but one single box yet the other setup ticks only half the boxes.
The one and only thing I can’t do is label my emails. I can see the emails assigned to each label but I can’t look at my inbox and organise new mail into the right labels as it won’t as the original poster said ” Slap them with a lable ” if the app had this then that would be it for me as otherwise it is perfect!
Is it just a case of waiting for them to update the app?
Helppppp!!!!?
Amazing the knowledge base you have developed here, unfortunately have not been able to find a solution to my problem. I am not a very sophisticated user of gmail and just got a new bold which I setup for gmail via BB email wizard. So far it works great, but I have one minor issue: I have my gmail account setup so all messages sent actually send from a different email address (Settings->Accounts and Imports->Send mail as with a non gmail address set as default). My issue is that when I send messages from the BB out of the gmail account (I have multiple email account syncing with the BB) it does not seem to pick up the settings of the gmail account and sends with the gmail address on the From field. Any ideas of how I can fix this?
Thanks!!
I have the Boost version of the 8330 and Gmail domain apps email pushing works good. same problems, but the push works great.
I opened an gmail account last night. I am able to receive all of my emails on my BlackBerry; however, once i reply, I can’t see the replies on my BB once sent. In other words, I can’t see the sent emails on my BB.
How do I fix that?
The issue I am having is somewhat related but not completely, I have pop setup in outlook for Gmail and in the BIS accounts I have gmail also setup. The problem I am having is that not all the mail is being sent to both (Outlook and Blackberry) any idea of a configuration setting that I may not have setup rigth. It is set to leave the mail on the server and set to download everything received from now on.
Push Gmail as an additional email address:
Pros: immediate, I can access the same contact list as my primary (work) email address, easier to manage, all new emails come in separately and are not filed or lost
Cons: All messages also show up in my primary email inbox intermingled with my work emails!
Gmail App:
Pros: emails are separate from my primary email address
Cons: slower, can’t access contact list or add contacts, emails are filed by subject and are sometimes slow to update or emails get lost in the shuffle unless you expand all to check for new emails
Hi can someone help me, my gmail on my blackberry was working fine. Until it gave me the option to synchronize, and i pressed yes. Anyway everytime i send a message it doesn’t show up on my blackberry- how do i put it like before to show up?
it doesn’t let me remove, or add filters or labels? and i have hide sent messages set to no??? i’ve tried everything..
Thanks.
Hi now another problem i can’t email myself to the same account on my blackberry? i used to be able to???
@Lina Are you getting a specific error message?
Gracie,
I don’t have that problem with the application. I also use Google Sync and it sync both my gmail app and bb contacts.
Hi–I am having the same problem. Sent emails don’t show up on Blackberry. No sent folder anywhere. I have “hide sent messages” set to “no”. Has anyone figured this out?
i am very un happy with gmail have 2 emails and one has 9000 thousand and i keep getting more and and the email that i am sending has at times starting to triple and so i am very upset so will some one please contack me and lets get this big mess taken care of this has been going on now for almost 2 yrs so please help me here thank you for helping me here if i get no help i have no choice but to drop you as carrier for my emails so help please
@sara I am not sure this is your specific problem but it sounds like it – check out this support document:
http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=KB10332&sliceId=SAL_Public&dialogID=136856489&stateId=0%200%2063387622