We all know of the the great mutual love and respect that exists between Microsoft and Google, but up until now that hasn’t stopped the latter from using the technology of the former when it suits their purposes. Google has provided Push functionality for their Contacts and Calendar applications using Microsoft’s Exchange technology for a while and the world hasn’t ended as a result.

But what about mail?

As i understand it, Exchange was developed as an enterprise mail solution with contacts and calendar data bolted onto the back. Google have taken the bolt on’s quite happily but left the main structure behind. They’ve made their somewhat unique form of email service work with POP. They’ve made it work with IMAP. So why no Exchange Push functionality?

Personally, I imagine that the big G has stopped short of this exactly because it is their flagship service. They can’t bear to commit it to the hands of Microsoft technology.

That’s understandable but leaves them a bit short in the service department for many users.

On the desktop we have Gmail Notifier providing a Push type service to the always on PC user. For the Mac we presumably have something similar (OK, I haven’t a clue really) but for the mobile device we have nothing.

With the advent of Push Notification in the release of v3.0 of the iPhone OS, I (and presumably others) have been expecting that Google would be quick to address this shortcoming by releasing a notifier application for iPhone to get around the self-imposed limitataion. As yet, however, nothing.

I guess the fact we’ve seen nothing for any other mobile platform should have given us a clue!

So what’s the plan Google? Having a brilliant mail service for desktop use will get you so far but the world’s gone mobile and expectations are increasing. While you can’t show Ads to mobile users so easily, you equally can’t show Ads to users who cancel your service and go elsewhere for Push notifications! Mike