GMail opens up IMAP Support

This just in — Google Mail (GMail) is now officially supporting IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol. And people thought Google would not give in to the popular demand.

The GMail Help Center publishes a support page outlining usage of IMAP for GMail.

IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, lets you download messages from Gmail’s servers onto your computer so you can access your mail with a program like Microsoft Outlook Express or Apple Mail, even when you aren’t connected to the Internet.

IMAP creates a constant connection between mail clients (desktop and/or mobile) and Gmail.

That’s on top of the POP service. Some speculated that Google would not support IMAP for GMail because it does not provide any avenue for subscribers to land on a Google web property or view and ad (which is basically their bread and butter).

Surprising so see IMAP support this soon. To enable IMAP in your Gmail account:

1. Log in to your Gmail account.
2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
3. Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
4. Select Enable IMAP.
5. Configure your IMAP client* and click Save Changes.

Here’s the configuration instruction if you want your GMail Account on IMAP with an email client like ThunderBird or Outlook. On IMAP, all custom labels on GMail will end up as a folder.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

15 Comments

augustine says:

17 years ago

Google Apps powered emails got this feature also….
It’s there already, at least for my domain. :)
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Glenn says:

17 years ago

Set this one up yesterday and it works well. The Labels became folders though and I don’t see how you can archive the emails.

Oh, Google Apps powered emails should also be getting this service also soon.
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ordnacin says:

17 years ago

Anyone using this already ? Was able to set it up and outlook informs me I have new mail but for some reason I don’t see it in the inbox…
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jeffrey says:

17 years ago

this is indeed a good news to everyone… been a big fan of gmail and this will surely boost their popularity more…
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autocad says:

17 years ago

Great feature.I wonder how will they profit from that?
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Dusty says:

17 years ago

Nice … no …. Awesome!!!
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Jaypee says:

17 years ago

It’s about time! :D
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www.japanhotties.com says:

17 years ago

gmail and google will control the world!

http://www.spymac.com/details/?2285189
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Lhurey says:

17 years ago

hayyy….salamat naman
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Eugene says:

17 years ago

Although I’m using Thunderbird in our office intranet, I don’t think I’ll be using it for my GMail account soon. I’m quite happy with the web interface. :-)
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Lonely Pinoy says:

17 years ago

at last!
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Mikko says:

17 years ago

Woah. I’ve never used IMAP before. All I have tried was POP3 but I think they are more or less similar, you still have to dig in on their technical aspects to differentiate them.

;D
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herbert says:

17 years ago

Mabuti naman. Thought will be stucked in POP.
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minor says:

17 years ago

hay sa wakas naman
- Reply

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