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Gmail gets IMAP
When we checked Gmail Help database this evening, Gmail had said that they support POP, but not IMAP. Then a few minutes later, that doc was gone, and a stack of IMAP related help docs were up. The new pages explain how to integrate the new mail feature. It's as easy as setting up POP, but with huge benefits.
Why is IMAP integration a good thing for Gmail? POP was a stepping stone, but IMAP pushes Gmails benefits over the top. With IMAP, users can now access their email via a desktop application like Outlook or Thunderbird, read emails, make changes, delete, and have the changes made across platforms. So if you now log into your Gmail account, the message which you read in Thunderbird, will now be marked accordingly. No more wasting time trying to sift through emails that had already been answered.
Take a peek under your Settings in Gmail, and click into your 'Forwarding and POP IMAP' tab to see if you are one of the lucky ones who got IMAP first.
UPDATE: Some users are reporting that if they log out and back into Gmail accounts, IMAP settings are showing up! There is hope!
UPDATE 2: Dont worry if you IMAP isn't appearing in your account, Google will be rolling it out to everyone over the next few days.
Comments
87
Subscribe to commentsponsOct 23rd 2007 11:32PM
I haven't got the upgrade, but I have some idea on how to enable it for user who don't have the option in their panel.
For someone who's got imap, please put your mail in basic HTML mode (on the bottom of the page) and then go to the settings and select Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
The url should show something like ?v=prfap, but not exactly the same.. That's maybe the point to get it
kmeOct 23rd 2007 11:43PM
Wow. I just checked and I have IMAP access too. It's a 2005 account, I think.
Great...
Thomas AylottOct 24th 2007 9:02AM
Aww man!
My wife's account has it but not mine.
#18: I tried the "basic html" querystring trick on her account but it only shows up in the "standard" view now the basic.
Lame. :'(
GdogOct 24th 2007 12:14AM
Just signed out and signed back in...I have IMAP! :)
Jason HOct 23rd 2007 11:57PM
Grr my account isn't enabled yet! Tried logging out and back in. Had POP enabled already. Had the account since 2004. I've been waiting forever for this!!! I can finally dump my clunky forwarding system!
shohom67Oct 23rd 2007 11:59PM
Thank you! It worked the first try!
theycallmeguyOct 24th 2007 12:34AM
please G-gods... hook a tru believer up.
GdogOct 24th 2007 1:57AM
BTW, works on my iPhone perfectly...swweeet!!
Chuck ReynoldsOct 24th 2007 12:16AM
Both of my GoogApps accounts have it and it works MUCH better on my blackberry 8100 now... Thanks Google!
MysteriusOct 24th 2007 12:20AM
Not only do I not have IMAP, but the navigation bar has reverted to the retro-style, blue link bar.
Connie BensenOct 24th 2007 12:28AM
Rock on Chris! My sister has been needing this for a shared account we're using. Way to go! nice find.
Connie
keruntOct 24th 2007 12:24AM
My main account (created on September 5, 2004) has the option.
My spam account (created heck knows when) does not. Logging out/logging back in did not change anything.
Cool stuff :)
JROct 24th 2007 12:35AM
Gah! My main account doesn't have this option yet (created in 2004), but my spam accounts ALL DO!! This isn't fair. I've been waiting for IMAP support from gmail for a year.
AmadiOct 24th 2007 6:41AM
I have it!!! I've been waiting so long for this. I was so desperate for IMAP, that I signed up for AOL mail had my Gmail forwarded to AOL. I set up my Gmail account with ease in Mail.App. Does anyone know how to get it to work on the Cingular Blackjack? There's no option to input the port numbers.
neenOct 24th 2007 2:34AM
I've got IMAP! :)
I have about 40,000 emails though....so it's gonna take a while to download them all...
PierreBNov 5th 2007 12:01AM
I think that Google may have done this now because in the Apple video on Leopard indicating changes to Apple Mail, the ability to add Gmail and Yahoo Mail is mentioned. Maybe they decided to go the IMAP route.
NateOct 24th 2007 1:25AM
Outlook’s IMAP support sucks — even in Outlook 2007 the trash can doesn't work and you have to manually purge deleted messages in each folder. Thunderbird is much better for IMAP support. Outlook Express (note *Express*) and Windows Live Mail are not too bad.
BrandonLiveOct 24th 2007 1:33AM
@Nate -
You obviously don't know how to use Outlook. It's very simple to configure it so that you don't have to purge folders, or to hide deleted messages from the view (View -> Current View).
Trash works fine on all my GMail accounts. If you have one of the pickier servers, and you didn't configure the IMAP root properly (usually the auto-configure gets it right), then folders including Deleted Items / Trash might not work right. But I've actually never seen that in Outlook, just on the Mac Mail client.
NateOct 24th 2007 1:52AM
@BrandonLive: I'd be very interested to know how to configure Outlook to auto-purge folders. What you are describing (View > Current View) is frequently suggested but will only hide deleted messages, not remove them from the server.
Outlook *Express* can be configured to purge automatically when switching folders. Outlook (at least through 2K3) cannot. I've also tested this feature with 2K7 and it didn't work, but I don't use 2K7 on a regular basis.
But if you don't believe me, believe Omar Shahine of Microsoft, who is one of the developers of Microsoft Office. He points out the IMAP problems with Outlook and recommends Thunderbird:
http://blogs.msdn.com/omars/archive/2004/02/19/76061.aspx
NormanOct 24th 2007 3:21AM
the feature is not available in the german google mail app.