Google Pulls the Plug On BlackBerry Gmail App 122
hypnosec writes "From later this month, Google has decided to stop providing its popular Gmail app for BlackBerry. This can be viewed as a shock for RIM as they are putting in strong efforts to prevent customer defections to handsets that run on Android and iOS. Thus, from 22nd November, BlackBerry owners will not be able to reach Gmail on their devices; only those users who already have Gmail installed will be able to access and use the Google app. On Tuesday, Google on its official apps update blog stated that the company will now be focusing on 'building a great Gmail experience in the mobile browser.'"
Garbage (Score:5, Insightful)
No self respecting BB user uses the Gmail app. It is clunky and slow. You use BIS with your Gmail account with the Gmail plugin. The article is tripe as well.
As a blackberry user... (Score:5, Insightful)
So really, this isn't a big deal. Not to say that RIM isn't in trouble, but losing an app that wasn't that great to begin with isn't a huge blow to blackberries.
Wary of this... (Score:5, Insightful)
'building a great Gmail experience in the mobile browser.'"
Seems to be a function of time that Google's products become worse; more whizzy, but add no value; useable interface replaced by inexplicable interface and really useful, neat ideas, are not implemented in favor or more cruft.
RIM's best bet (Score:5, Insightful)
I still think RIM's best bet is to make an enterprise grade 'app' for Apple iOS and Android to provide Blackberry style service on non-RIM hardware.
Re:RIM's best bet (Score:1, Insightful)
Why not stay in the hardware game? They seem to be able to make attractive devices. Start producing their own Android handsets and only provide the Blackberry software with their handsets.
Re:This is untrue (Score:5, Insightful)
If anything this might be the start of big companies getting the clue - we already have an app for that*, it's called a web browser.
*obviously that doesn't apply for everything yet, but they're working on it.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)