According to MG Siegler, Google is getting ready to release a native Gmail application for the iPhone, finally. Leading up to today’s information, there’s been much speculation about whether Google would ever release a native Gmail client for the iPhone. Many believed that Apple would never approve another mail client for iOS.
Google is on the verge of launching their native Gmail app, multiple sources tell me. In fact, I believe it has already been submitted to Apple for review. If it gets approved, it should be out soon. And I think it’s going to be approved.
Siegler is undoubtably one of the most well connected “Apple journalists” writing today. We’re inclined to believe him; however, we really have to ask: would you use a Gmail client over Mail.app on the iPhone or iPad?
The problem with third party mail clients, both in iOS and OS X, is that they lack the tight integration with other applications. For instance, the Mail app on both devices works seamlessly with iCal (Calendar on the iPhone), letting you input events directly into iCal from Mail. No other application can do that, and Apple will never let them. This is one of the reasons that I haven’t switched to Sparrow full time on the Mac. For that reason alone I probably won’t be using the Gmail app if it ever makes it to the App Store.
What about you? Would you leave the Mail app behind for the Gmail app?
