On November 22, 2011, Google discontinued support for mobile Java and BlackBerry versions of its Gmail app and removed the download links for these apps from their sites. The Gmail apps still work and are the best way I’ve found to access Gmail on non-touchscreen feature phones. I haven’t used a BlackBerry in years but when I did I used the Google app because it worked better with Gmail than BlackBerry Mail did.
As these apps still work I’m posting them here for anyone that wants them. These are all official versions that I downloaded from the Google servers over a period of years. They are unmodified other than changing the URLs in the .jad files to point at the .jar or .cod files on my servers.
These apps work best on non-touchscreen phones. I’ve run the Gmail app on a N0kia N8 touchscreen phone and it works but it’s frustratingly difficult to accurately tap the correct items in the tiny hierarchical menus
Mobile Java:
V 1.5 “Mail By Google” version that supports Google Apps domains – 157 KB: JAD JAR
BlackBerry:
V. 2.0.6 for BlackBerry OS 4.1 and later: JAD for OTA , ZIP for installation using Blackberry Desktop Manager
There’s also a link to Gmail V. 2.0.7 for touchscreen BlackBerrys posted in this CrackBerry Forum thread.
A word about the various versions. V 2.0.6, which was released in 2009, was the last Gmail mobile Java version. It includes the following new features compared with previous releases
- Support for multiple Gmail accounts including Google Apps accounts.
- Offline capability. You can launch Gmail even when you have no signal to read emails that you previously downloaded and to compose new emails. When you hit “Send”, instead of complaining about the lack of connectivity, Gmail will hold the newly composed email and send it when you move back into a area with coverage.
- Polling, Gmail will check for new email periodically, approximately every 5 minutes when it’s in the foreground and every 20 minutes when running in the background.
- Alerts, when new mail arrives Gmail will alert you. The Java app vibrates once when a new email arrives, which is easy to miss. With the BlackBerry app the Gmail icon on the home screen changes to indicate you have unread mail. Gmail also hooks into the Blackberry OS’s profile based notification system allowing you to configure the phone to do any combination of vibrating, ringing or flashing the message waiting LED continuously to indicate new mail.
Unfortunately, 2.0.6 doesn’t work for everyone. There are two main problems:
- Size: Gmail 2.0.6 is a relatively big download, the generic Java version is 257 KB and is too large to run on some older and very low end current phones. Version 1.5 was significantly smaller at 156 KB and 1.0 smaller yet at only 113 KB. (The BlackBerry version of Gmail that is even larger, but even older BlackBerries seem to have sufficient resources to load and run it without problems.)
- Data and battery consumption: The constant polling uses data and battery power and there is no way to disable polling or change the interval. This is an obvious issue for anyone who pays for data by the KB or who needs to make their battery last as long as possible. The only way to stop Gmail from polling is the exit the app which means you have to restart it every time you want to check you mail. Gmail’s start up time is quite long compared with the time required to do an on demand poll with 1.5.
For most Java phones the easiest way to install Gmail is to point your phone’s browser at the mobile version of this post on wapreview.mobi and click on one of the JAD file links.
JAD (Java Application Descriptor) files are small text files that contain meta data about the actual application which is the JAR file. Loading the JAD file is the recommended way to install Java apps. The phone will read the JAD, which contains a link to the JAR, and then automatically download and install the JAR. Occasionally a phone will have trouble understanding the JAD but will be able to download and install the JAR directly. So if you get an error with the JAD link, try clicking the JAR file link.
Originally posted 1-Feb-2009. Updated 14-Dec-2011 with 2.0.6 versions added and links modified to point to copies of apps on my servers.
Or, download 2.0.5 from this url (registration required). It might work better than 2.0.5. Also 2.0.7 was just sent released.
http://forums.crackberry.com/f35/gmail-2-0-5-googlemaps-2-3-2-opera-mini-4-2-alx-files-124684/
Finally, you can find it on mastiwap.com with this google search
site:mastiwap.com gmail
To work on a blackberry you’ll need to download the blackberry jdk/dev kit/compiler from rim and then compile the app to a cod file. Its a pain but it works.
Now gmail old version running on my samsung guru 2130 thank u wappreview
V 1.5 .JAR can be installed on Blackberry Curve 8900 without problems
Hi. The older versions install in my Nokia 6233 but then when you open the app it says no appropriate certificates. Please help.
In my FlyMC160 phone version 2.0.6 is installed but the application font is not viewable. can you give me any solution why this is happening.
It sounds like 2.0.6 isn’t compatible with you phone. There’s no setting in Gmail that affects font visibilty AFAIK.
I clicked jad files only. But my phone is not supporting. It says “install error”. all the versions are not supporting.. 1.5 version alone downloads and then says install error. other versions are saying install error even before downloading.
That error message does tell us anything, unfortunately. If none of the versions on this page work try a different Email program like http://picomail.com/ which is free and supports Gmail.
i am having samsung d900i. i cant install all the above versions. mine is a 2007 model phone that supports java midp 2.0 it can accept jar files of size less than 512 kb through jad links. i cant install the gmail 2.0 nd above versions as well. pls help!
You need to use the JAD file to install on Samsungs. All the ones on this page are less than 512 KB so they should work.
Try clicking the JAD link in the phone’s browser. If that doesn’t work, post the error message in a comment and I’ll try to see if I can figure out what’s wrong.
This thread has been of help several times. For instance the issue of loading it via the .jad not the .jar. to include the statement not to use native menus…
Now… anyone knows if Google kept evolving its Java ME mobile app?. Any newer version after 2.0 ?
Thanks in advance.
FC
2.0.6 is the latest Gmail Java app. I wish they would update it as it’s almost unusable on pure touch phones due to the tiny nested menus.
Great, it works with IBM. Upgrade HTC WM6 to Wm6.1 and lower part of menu in gmail java is not visible anymore, but it works with IBM. IBM is though much more cumbersome to install as have to know exact URL/file name.
Also I was able to get these to work using desktop manager, but I used the Blackberry JDE and jar2cod to convert them to COD files.
If you’re worried about constant polling, then you can use logicmail, which supports imap. But archiving doesn’t work. At least I haven’t found a way to get archiving to work.
I had Gmail Java pp installed (don’t know which version) on my Samsung D880 Duos. It worked well until few days ago, so I’ve deleted it and tried to reinstall, but official 2.0.6. version starts intallation and quits after a sec or two. I’ve tried your links from above but don’t help. I either get the same webpage with the installation that breaks or nothing. I tried to download both the jar and jad files on my comp and tranfer to mobile phone via bluetooth. when I try to run JAR my phone says “not supported content” and when I press on JAD file it says “JAR not found”. What to do?
I’m not familiar with that phone. A couple of suggestions:
1. Visit the mobile version of this page ( http://wapreview.mobi/?p=2578 ) with your phone’s browser and click on one of the jad links. That works with most phones.
2. If that doesn’t work try:
– Download the jad and jar files for one of the versions to your computer.
– Rename the jar to gmail.jar and the jad to gmail.jad
– Then copy the renamed jad and jar to the “Other files” folder in your phone.
– Then go to the “My files” menu, choose “Other files”, highlight the .jad file, choose “Options” then “Install”.
If neither of the above methods work with any of the three versions its possible that they are not compatible with your phone.
If I`m clicking on the download JAD link using the Nokia browser from m.google.com, gmail v.2.0.6 is installing correctly, but servers GOOGLE doesn`t have gmail v1.xx so I want to install from this server and when I`m cliking v1.0 JAD (http://wapreview.com/dwnld/gmail1.0/gm-Generic-Advanced_MIDP2.jad) I have error “Downloading failed”.
Also when I`m installing v.1.1 a have the same error, when I`m installing v1.5 I have error “INVALID APLICATION”.
I`m installing from JAD files.
The generic Gmail files on WapReview work on most phones. I’m sorry to hear that they didn’t work as you expected on your phone. I don’t have any other versions of Gmail for you to try, unfortunately.
When I install gmail from file *.jar, gmail is running in small screen (ver. 1.xxx and ver 2.xxx), but when install is from *.jad (m.gmail.com) everything is well and apps is running in full screen.
I can`t install gmail v1.xx from *.jad on this site. How do I install gmail from *.jad?
Doesn’t clicking on the JAD link in the post using the Nokia browser work?
My phone is Nokia 5310 XM
http://img168.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=dsc00045j.jpg
On the right Gmail v2.0.6, on the left v1.5
I’m not sure but I think special coding is required to get Java apps to go full screen on some Nokias. 1.5 or at least the generic version on WapReview doesn’t seem to have it.
Thanks.
I have a next question? Why I couldn`t install Gmail 1.5 that will be able to works in full screen like version 2.0.6. After install v1.5, gmail works in small screen and button doesn`t correctly work but v2.0.6. works correctly in full screen.
What phone is this happening on?
Yes I don`t want it to gmail remember my login. In version 1.xxx you can choose option “dont remeber login and password” but in version 2.xx I cant find it this option.
You are correct, there is no option in 2.0.6 to not remember your login. You have to sign out manually (Menu > Accounts > Sign out) each time before exiting the app. It sounds like 1.5 would be better for your purposes.
So you don’t want it to remember your login? Sounds like 1.5 is the answer then.
In version 1.0, 1.1, 1.5 you can do “don`t remember login” but version 2.0.6 start automaticly and save your login.
Do what? Gmail should remember your login. Try a different version if it doesn’t.
How can I do that gmail can`t remember my login and password i 2.0.6 version?
Thanks a lot for the downloads of the old versions! they work perfectly on my Sony Ericsson k800i. I deleted version 1.0.0 because I saw there was a new version 2.0.6. However it doesn’t download the regular way using the mobile site saying it is not supported on k800i. Sending the file from DunxD (Thanks!) by bluetooth works fine on first impression. If it fails i can now revert to an earlier version.
Andre, There are links to Gmail 1.5 in the post.
Hi,I own a Samsung M620.GMAIL V.2.0.6 are not working propr. Do you have a link to v.1.5 please.Keep up the great work. thanks
I was having trouble downloading the latest version to Sony Ericsson k770i. Used the User Agent method to download the latest jad file. For some reason this kept failing to download the jar file (or installing it after it downloaded).
So I opened the jad file in Notepad to view the contents, which gave me the location of the jar file I needed. Installed both to a folder on the phone, and installed via the jad file. This worked.
latest jar file: http://m.google.com/mail/download/binaries/L1/2.0.6/mail_m2.jar
Ok cancel panic station – the wapreview mirrors are still up (click on “alternate link”) Thanks Wapreview!
The links to the old versions are now 404. This is not an author error as I have used these many times. Google must have deleted or moved the old versions. Any one know where they went to?
zipped 1.5 files into zip file, sent via OTA app for Nextel/Boost phones and got it working on a Boost Mobile Motorola i856. Works great!!!!
Ok.. This site explains the resolution and buffering settings needed for the Palm Centro with IBM java installed running the Gmail app.
http://www.wlanbook.com/google-gmail-app-treo-650/
Looks pretty good actually. Thanks for your site’s help as well!
I have a Palm Centro w/the IBM java installed. I downloaded the jar file from here – http://m.google.com/a/v1.5.0.1187/L1/MailByGoogle.jar – through the java install process and it was a success. However the sign in screen and mail pages appear out of alignment and at a horrible resolution quality. I’m wondering if the newer version 2.0.6 will work better.. going to try that and repost.
Try downloading the .jar to you PC using the “Alternate” link above and then send it to to your phone with the Rumpkin uploader at http://rumkin.com/tools/sprint/ Runkin recreates the .jad file with some Sprint specific tweaks.
Trying to get Gmail up and running on my Samsung M300. Apparently there’s a filesize restriction on this phone and the only version that appears to want to work is 1.0 (which I’m fine with). However, when I download the .jad using the built-in browser, it appears to start a download (“Download In Progress”), then gives me “Error #907 Server Error” after a few seconds.
It won’t allow me to load the .jar directly.
The mobile Gmail application for Google Apps:
http://m.google.com/a/v1.5.0.1187/L1/MailByGoogle.jar
or:
http://tinyurl.com/yns3f7
That’s what I figured, but I didn’t know how to modify the jad. FYI it looks like google still has the jar up here:
http://gmail.com/app/v1.5.0/L1/gmail-g.jar
Thanks for maintaining this site.
drteeth,
Try it again, it should work now:
http://wapreview.com/dwnld/gmail1.5/gmail.jad
It looks like Google has removed the 1.5 jar from their server which is why you were getting the error. I’ve modified the .jad to pint to a copy of the jar on my server.
Couldn’t get the jad files here to work, but MailByGoogle 1.5.0.1190 listed here http://my.opera.com/MetroConnect/blog/2009/03/08/gmail-jad-jar-for-iden-phones worked for me.
I don’t have a connection cable for my phone so I put up the jad file here:
http://leroybrown.glassmelter.com/files/MailByGoogle.jad
When I try to use this link I get a 404 error after my phone starts “Downloading Gmail to Applications”
http://wapreview.com/dwnld/gmail1.5/gmail.jad
Specifically the error is:
Data Error 907
Invalid Content
404 Not Found
I already have Gmail 1.5.0 on this phone model…I’m just trying to get it on my other phone.
Installing via the JAR file will (most likely) mess up the GUI of Gmail Mobile. That’s what happened to me. I found out that the reason for this is that “UseNativeMenus: false” is specified in the JAD file. If you don’t install via the JAD, UseNativeMenus will be set to “true”, and thus you won’t get Gmail’s own buttons.
My phone is k530i. I have tried 2.0.6, 1.5.0, 1.1.1, 1.1.0, and 1.0.0, both JARs and JADs, and they all work, with the exception of that JAR-caused GUI hiccup that occurs :-)
The .jad file links only work if you are using your phone’s mobile browser. Use the “alternate” link if you get an error.
Also with Nokia’s, and possibly other phones you can use the .jar links directly.
V 1.5 (156KB) worked with my N95. While the JAD link gave a 404 error, the JAR (m.google.com/app/v1.5.0/L1/gmail-g.jar) worked like a charm.
Yo. Works great on SE K550i. (So does v2.0, but it 30KB a go to download emails I didn’t wanr anyway was costing me a fortune).
Many thanks :) (You’re also #6 in Google UK for ‘mobile gmail legacy’)
Wilhelm Brodmann
For the missing certificate error with Gmail see:
http://www.rickhurst.co.uk/2006/11/13/gmail-mobile-app-certificate-error/
http://tinyurl.com/yhrayo
http://tilu.homelinux.net/
Hi, I was looking for gmail apps for mobile. I download
it ( gmail.jad ). It sends https information. My Phone said
” doesn’t have the appropriate certificate to communicate with gmail”. Please send me more information about gmail apps. My Mig33 beta and my opera mini is working perfect.
You can use this address also [email removed].
THANXS
@antok aja,
I just saw this: http://www.rickhurst.co.uk/2006/11/13/gmail-mobile-app-certificate-error/ which says it’s possible to install the certificate on some phones. You just go to:
http://tinyurl.com/yhrayo
or
http://tilu.homelinux.net/
with your phone’s built in browser to download the certificate.
It’s said to work on some Nokia S40 and Sony Ericsson phones.
@antok aja,
That can be caused by the phone’s date and/or time being incorrect. Check that the month and especially the year are correct.
If that’s not it your phone is missing the necessary certificate. The only way to update certificates on most phones is with a firmware upgrade.
i can instal Gmail V1.5.0, but whaen i try to open, they said no certificate for gmail.
what must i do?
@D thankyou for your research, it’s true they’re working. .Most of s40 (java) phones which cannot download application with more than 1.5kb, is working well with these two gmail appl v,1(jad or jar of 113kb) i have tested with my old Nokia6030. Thankyou and again thankyou.
@datht,
8320 v4.2 sounds like a BlackBerry. These links are not for BlackBerries which require a specific version for each BlackBerry OS.
Here’s 1.5.1 for Blackberry OS 4.2:
http://www.gmail.com/app/v1.5.1/L1/gm-BlackBerry-42.jad
I’ve downloaded v 1.5 but can not install in my 8320 v4.2. Any thing is wrong ?