Google Mobile App for iPhone gets pushy

Monday, August 23, 2010 | 10:00 AM

Ever missed an appointment or important email because you were away from your desk? Now Google Mobile App can help with push notifications from your Google account to your iPhone -- an icon badge shows you’ve got new mail in Gmail, and Google Calendar event reminders appear right on your home screen.




We’ve also added spiffy features to get you information faster -- when looking for flight info, weather, stock quotes or currency conversion you’ll see answers before you even hit ‘Search’.


You can get the update from the App Store by searching for ‘Google Mobile App’.

If you have any questions or comments, or if you want to learn more, please visit our help center.

Update 8/24 5:00 PM PST:
  • You will only receive pop-up messages and sound/vibration for calendar alerts - new email is shown using the unread count on the Google Mobile App icon and in the apps tab.
  • To ensure you get alerts go to the Settings > Google Accounts panel inside Google Mobile App and switch on the notifications you'd like to receive. If you initially didn't allow Google Mobile App to receive push notifications when prompted, you can enable the feature again in the iOS Settings' application's Notifications panel.

70 comments:

Unknown said...

Why? I guess that ever iPhone user is (or should be) using Google Sync that all ready push mail and calendar updates to my iphone.

Unknown said...

The default iPhone calendar only pushes one notification for an event. Hopefully this will push all notifications you set.

Asher Bond said...

God Bless Google Apps. They still might be better off with a Droid, but time will tell.

Unknown said...

Awesome, if only I still cared about my iPod. Great work though Google. Still sucks how the iPhone handles notifications, but at least now people can have push Gmail if they can't use ActiveSync.

daa said...

please please please enable google voice to send push notifications on SMSs and voice mails.

JB said...

Any chance you'll add GOOGLE TALK push notification?

Vincent Zoo said...

I know this may be off-topic, but does the update allow you to be able to choose between two different email address that you currently receive in your inbox?

Unknown said...

Doesn't seem to work in Canada I just reinstalled it on my old 3G.

Eric said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Eric said...

What us iPhone users really need is a full fledged native Google app that has native Gmail, Calendar, Talk, Latitude, Pics, etc.... That is what we need! We can already get these push notifications already with Google Sync.

wet.chimera said...

For those of you not understanding why this is and for those of you who have incorrectly assumed what it is (most posts above mine), "PUSH" and "PUSH Notifications" are different. Google Sync with ActivSync Exchange only pushes content to the phone. The new Google Mobile App sends a PUSH Notification (Pop-up). This is useful because the average user taps the Gmail button in mail setup which does not default to ActiveSync Exchange. As well, some users want to be notified with a pop-up (PUSH Notification).

Spending a little more time understanding what the feature is, helps a lot to know why it is being implemented.

Mobile battery life is important and providing the end user with more ways to manage how they are notified of new content is invaluable.

Kraig Guffey said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Unknown said...

Odd it says there's an update but it doesn't actually update. It keeps redownload 0.56xxx even though it shows v.60xxx in the update description.

elmimmo said...

Now we only need an interface to actually be able to add reminders to Google Calendar events.

Update the mobile interface to Google Calendar. As is now, it is pretty useless.

Please :-)

Keith K said...

@Thuan, I have that issue as well.

Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

benjiphone said...

I don't see the need. If you're using Exchange ActiveSync on your iPhone with the current OS, you already get all this using the existing apps on the device. Using Google Calendar, I can create one or more SMS reminders for an event, which remain in Messages until I delete them. Push Notifications disappear once you view them. Seems like an unnecessary layer of gunk. Reminders become reliant on 2 sets of servers now from both Google and Apple.

What I'd rather see is a Google-made app that gives me an alternate interface to my Google Apps account, especially Contacts & Calendar. They could store the contact and calendar data locally, or have it work real-time with your account -- getting around alternate UI's touching Apple's databases. It'll wind up in the native iPhone apps via Exchange ActiveSync anyway... If they threw in email software that let me work with labels, that'd be icing on the cake, but, I do find their Safari email very impressive.

The Safari-based Calendar is another story, creating new appointments has no option for a reminder, much less setting SMS ones. I have found one app that does much of this, including setting SMS reminders for new appointments: Calendars by a company named Readdle. Personally, I prefer the native Calendar App for general use, but if I need to create an appointment with reminders, I use the other app: http://readdle.com/products/calendars

$6.99 for the option to set SMS reminders; I'd rather get it free from Google :)

CZ said...

no account setting in setting, just download today

wet.chimera said...

Notifications for email aren't even working for me, nor is the app updating that I got new email unless I launch it.

Anyone else not getting notifications for emails?

Adam said...

Push notifications aren't working for my emails either. I've tried several test messages.

Will Thai said...

Kinda buggy when updating the app on my iphone4. Updated a few times, didn't see any changes in the app. So I removed the app and re-downloaded it to get the new version.

I now see the accounts page, and was able to turn on PUSH. But PUSH is not working when I test it a few times. You have to load the app just to see a update badge.

WarmersWebMaster said...

No notifications for me either yet :(

Tom said...

I'll chime in on the no notifications front also. Badge updates seem to be working, though.

I even disabled the iPhone native mail app to be sure it wasn't interfering in some way. (I disabled the Gmail account, at least.)

Unknown said...

No push notifications for me too.

Unknown said...

Email push pop-up window isn't working! Tried a iphone power down, still not working.

Unknown said...

same - push notifications not working

Unknown said...

Be sure to go to Apple Apps on your iPhone and download the google update first..one thing I noticed, you need to be logged into your account in your browser before the push will replicate your inbox and notify you of new mail. Works pretty good right now...

DK said...

Same here. Badge is updating with the right number of emails, but no notifications.

Unknown said...

Push notifications aren't working for me either. I'd really like them to add Google Voice push notifications. That would be outstanding.

Unknown said...

Spoke too soon, badge works...
Sound and notification are not working..

T-Will said...

I thought the Gmail push notification wasn't working too, until I went back and re-read the post...

"...an icon badge shows you’ve got new mail in Gmail..."

mrpc said...

@T-Will

i thought the same thing as was sorely disappointed that only an icon badge indicates new mail. an alert of some kind (vibration, message preview, combination of these two) would be ideal for new mail

wet.chimera said...

@T-Will

Some user have commented on the redundancy of the updated Google Mobile App features in regards to Exchange ActiveSync and after reading your comment and re-reading the original post. I am now in agreement with what others are saying.

If there is no pop-up for email notifications, there really is no point to this app. I get badge updates on the native mail app already.

The Google Mobile App for iPhone is becoming more and more useless.

Google, seriously WTF, do your devs have issues with understanding a features purpose. Your mobile app is reason enough for Apple to pull it for confusing users. How about you make a "Fart" app too since your getting into the habit of making crap. To watch a once amazing company grow to see it become another Microsoft is sad. If you wanna waste money, feel free to make anonymous donations into my checking account.

Please update this app with useful features or tell me how and why badge counting is useful to me the user if I already have that with the native mail app.

wet.chimera said...

I figured it out, the new Push Notifications via the Google Mobile App is specifically for the people who don't know how to enter the Settings App in their iPhones. This makes me wonder though, do those same users know how to download an App?

T-Will said...

I agree with what you guys are saying, ideally the Google App would push the new email notification. Not sure why they chose not to push the email message.

Victor said...

Common Google. You need to have email push notification, not a badge. I've had the badge for a over a year now.
GMail is still the best though.

Mr. Six said...

I have to agree that a badge for email notification is pretty weak. I was looking forward to getting push notifications of new mail in the form of pop-ups. Perhaps Google will add it later, but I've already deleted the Mobile App (again). If Google actually wants me to use the app, it really needs to add some useful functionality.

Mr. Six said...

I should add: I'd even accept a sound in addition to the badge change, in lieu of a pop-up. But even though the setting is there for a sound, it doesn't appear to apply to new mail. Again, weak.

Unknown said...

***************** read this
For gmail this app will only show badge alert no pop up. That's by design. It will show pop up only for calendar. Personally I don't know what is stopping google. May be apple. Check above in the blogpost the way the developer describes the app, it's clear that gmail will only show badge. :(

courtlandj said...

Push notifications do not work for me either. I got badge only, but I already have that on the Apple Mail app.

Sean Bradley said...

"an icon badge shows you’ve got new mail in Gmail, and Google Calendar event reminders appear right on your home screen." from the Google mobile blog.

all you get for mail is the badge on the Google app. It seems this is aimed at the technically challenged who cant set up exchange correctly. I understand Keeping it simple for users but come on.

Fabien Penso said...

For push Ive been developing http://2apn.com which is also supporting Twitter and rss feeds...

Kenny said...

this is awesome. Thanks google. Any plans to include the browser in the google app for any services so I don't keep getting more tabs? Thanks again

Unknown said...

Uh… seriously? Badge only, no alert? I can't even possibly describe how pointless and disappointing this is using mere words.

Unknown said...

PUHLEAZE ADD GMAIL PUSH NOTIFICATIONS.

GMAIL PUSH+ SOUND NOTIFICATION please google.

Add gmail push notification,
Thank you Google.

Unknown said...

Gmail push notifications are not working :(

Dave said...

"What us iPhone users really need is a full fledged native Google app that has native Gmail, Calendar, Talk, Latitude, Pics, etc.... "

What you iPhone users really need is an Android device. ;-P

NiN said...

Icon badge is working -great!
but, 'pop up notification', aka "SMS' style notification didn't appear..... is it missing?, or is it a bug? or not really in the feature:(

Plss...pls..pls..
we really need the SMS pop up style notification.
it's very very useful...

Make it awesome team Gmail for iphone!

Really hope ope there'll be an update soon to fixed these :)
..and i'm waiting patiently :)

Unknown said...

Please add a real notification/popup for mail and not just a badge update. It'd also be really nice if there was a filter in GMail that enabled "Mobile Notifications" so people can receive notifications for messages that skip the inbox. It's very easy to make important message go to a folder/label but difficult to make everything but the non-important stuff skip the INBOX. Therefore notifications for messages that are skipping the INBOX are going to be more important.

A "Mobile Notification" filter option wouldn't have to be iPhone specific, it could also be used by Android devices.

NiN said...

Hi to 'Awesomest' GMail iphone team!

1st thing when i heard this happy news, i straightfully deleted the IM+ apps (which works really great with Push Notification aka Pop Up style)on my iPhone.

Now that i discovered the truth (the no Push notification pop up style from Google -whichisreallySAD),
i'm gonna delete this Google Mobile App and install back the IM+.

Pls do something Google, u can do much better than IM+ :(

Nick said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Nick said...

badges working,
sounds and notifications NOT working yet

Unknown said...

Google!! Google!!! You need to add GMAIL PUSH+ SOUND NOTIFICATION.

Add gmail push notification, with a pop-up like sms... if not, the functionality is USELESS.
BR Google.

NiN said...

With all the comments regarding the SMS style push notification (almost all of it above), I wonder the if the team are ready to launch their fixed update ASAP.
Millions iPhone gmail users are waiting all over the world!
Come on guys, speed that fixed up! :)

Unknown said...

Too bad the most relevant feature of all, email push notifications, is not working! I really hope Google either makes this app or google sync stable one day...

diesel99 said...

EVERY ONE WHO WANTS PROPER NOTIFICATIONS - JUST DOWNLOAD THE PUSHMAIL APP..been using this for 18 months and works great.

Wade said...

LOVE the new push notification for gmail, but VERY disappointed that it only includes badges and not sound notifications, especially given that there is a setting to specify time ranges for which sound notifications are disabled. If I want to be alerted whenever a new email arrives, I have to actually have my phone out, on, and be staring at it!? Sorry, but that's just lame (and useless). Certainly hoping for a QUICK app update that includes sound notifications for gmail.

wet.chimera said...

Me, you and everyone else that has been writing here feels the same.

Google has become dumb.

Thank you Google for replicating a feature I already have built-in to my iPhone.

Let me know when you pull your head out of your ass.

Thanks bye,

Los buscadores said...

Ups.. Doesn't seem to work in Canada

Mau said...

I think the same as @wet.chimera, seriously???? what the heck!!!! is this an Eric Schmidt thing, the being stupid thing?

Where is the awesome (and smart) Google???

Darn, shame on you.

Anonymous said...

We NEED sound and popup notification for email....

Unknown said...

The email push functionality is virtually useless without a pop-up notification to alert the user. Without this feature, you still need to check your phone periodically to see if you have email. There is no benefit whatsoever. Pop-up or at the very least a sound/vibrate is needed to really make this feature worthwhile.

I like the app overall, and it's replaced several of my home screen shortcuts. It would be perfect if proper notifications were added for the email though.

Kojiro said...

I want a notice to the home screen and sound in Gmail.

raxsun said...

please help me about free voice

Neckaros said...

Please add sound and popup notification for mail. The badge is useless the Apple mail app already does that with activesync

Fisher said...

Well from the comments its apparent that everyone was really looking forward to this feature and jumped to use it only to discover it's not what we thought (actual sound & popup notification on GMAIL). Now any competent product manager would see this as the community obviously wanting for a feature that is not provided.

Google has thrived by being the company that provides features other services forget but increasingly has become more like MS and is leaving glaring holes in their products (especially mobile) which just leaves them wide open for a competitor. Do the right thing, give us the simple update that enables sounds & popups, just make it user-configurable as to which types of notifications we want for each service.

That being said, it's more than obvious that 90% of the users here are wanting the popups/sound to enable notification on some very specific emails, not our entire inbox. Most likely these are Google Voice users looking to get notifications for SMS/Voicemail which is another glaring hole in the mobile product lineup. So, if you really want to knock it out of the park, let us filter the notification type based on TAG so we can have our SMS/Voicemail messages auto-archive and tagged as well as provide a handy sounds/popup on our iPhones.

Thanks much, don't mean to be rude, just really disappointed.

Stephen Magown said...

Please add alerts and sounds for gmail.

Dave said...

Is there any particular reason that Google Voice is treated like such a red headed stepchild and has no link in the google mobile app? Furthermore, when online on the google mobile site, voice is not even in the drop down menu to be selected, rather, you have to choose 'even more' and scroll to 'voice' to click. In my opinion, Voice should be the 2nd biggest priority to google behind GMail.

Toni said...

Any hope for text alerts in gmail? That's what we really need...

Peter Walker said...

Does the exchange sync push not only work for the paid / edu version of gmail ?

If so if the mail popup worked this could be a killer app.

Fully agree should be native app not just browser links.