On Tuesday, Google made an available beta of an offline capability for its Gmail platform.

Google Said that Gmail Labs are developing and testing offline capabilities that allow users to read compose and archive messages while they are offline.

The business and consumer users can work with e-mail and eventually calendar items while disconnected from the network. Messages are sent when the user reattaches to the network.

Google Gmail Engineer Andy Palay explained that Gmail uses Gears to download a local cache of your mail. As long as you're connected to the network, that cache is synchronized with Gmail's servers. When you lose your connection, Gmail automatically switches to offline mode, and uses the data stored on your computer's hard drive instead of the information sent across the network. You can read messages, star and label them, and do all of the things you're used to doing while reading your webmail online. Any messages you send while offline will be placed in your outbox and automatically sent the next time Gmail detects a connection,

To make it work users need a Google Gears plug-in, once its installed on your browser, Gmail will detect it when you are offline.

The new offline Gmail is still under production and it needs a more carefully engineering concept.

Google Software