Google has had its eye on mobile devices for some time, so it was only a matter of time until the search giant took one more step in this direction. The company has recently released a free Java application, which enables Gmail users receive and send messages from mobile devices.

According to Google, the new app is up to five times faster, due to automatic pre-fetching of messages. The company adds that fewer keystrokes are needed to read, compose, or search mail and that it requires the user to click and scroll less than before. Also, attachments such as including files and photos are viewable and will be automatically resized to fit the user's phone.

At present time, the new app is supposed to be compatible with "all J2ME-enabled phones in the US" and to work with a "variety of carrier service plans", which, unfortunately, Google has left unnamed.