Gmail Mobile Confusion

October 23, 2007 3:23 PM

I don't understand cell phone java applications... Can the hive mind help me to troubleshoot Gmail Mobile?

I just replaced my mobile phone. On the old one I was always using Gmail Mobile to check my mail. I picked the new one because I thought Gmail Mobile would be even better on it's large screen.

Launching the Mobile Gmail app on my new at&t Samsung SGH-a437, I put in my password in and it tries to load some data, then it gives me the network error "java.lang.RuntimeException: Unexpected server response: 415 Unsupported Media Type". I really don't understand what this means. I use other java apps that access the internet from the device (Opera Mini) and they work fine, where's the problem?

I've tried to troubleshoot this myself, tried to get a Verisign certificate (which they say to do on the google mobile faq site), but doing so didn't seem to work, and I'm not even sure that has anything to do with this problem...

I'm not even sure if the problem is with a) my new phone or b) the new version of Gmail Mobile (1.5) that just came out. I'd like to try the old version on my new phone, but I can't find anywhere to download it now that google's put up the new one.

Gmail mobile app is pretty important to me, if I can't get it working I'm going to have to exercise the 30 day return policy on this shiny new gadget.

I've already asked this at the Google Mobile Help Google Group, But I suspect that they have one, maybe two experts up against hundreds of problems. I LOVE YOU ASKMETAFILTER.

posted by shanevsevil to technology (7 comments total)

Just tested the new version of Gmail Mobile on the OLD cell phone (which is a Motorola V180 by the way) and it DOES work. So the problem seems be between the Samsung handset and the Gmail Mobile Application.
posted by shanevsevil at 3:50 PM on October 23, 2007

unfortunately probably nobody but someone using gmail on your phone model on your carrier could truly answer this, but please try calling the provider's customer service and asking them to update your phone's firmware.

It is not all that unusual for various java apps to crash at various times on various phones though.
posted by oneous at 4:56 PM on October 23, 2007

Hey I happen to have that same phone samsung a437 with me at work (i work in mobile content). I havent used gmail before, but I was able to log onto my gmail account by going to www.gmail.com from the phones browser...do you have to use the java version or can you just use the web based one?
posted by Charlie Lesoine at 5:08 PM on October 23, 2007

I meant to say I havent used gmail mobile before
posted by Charlie Lesoine at 5:10 PM on October 23, 2007

I just downloaded the java version and I'm getting the same error when I try to log in. It looks like the mail server isnt talking to the phone the way the phone wants. I'm sure google will fix it eventually...but you can still use the web based one
posted by Charlie Lesoine at 5:15 PM on October 23, 2007

You may have to enable POP downloading in your settings for Gmail.

Once you log in via a normal web browser, the settings link is on the top right.
Go to the Forwarding and POP tab, and enable POP.
posted by whoda at 6:35 PM on October 23, 2007

this link has others with the same problem.

have you checked the application's properties to ensure that data is enabled? from the application manager, select properties or options, and check the 'network' or 'data' settings.

if that's not the problem, i would try the older version of gmail that can be downloaded at http://gmail.com/app/v1.0.0/en/gmail.jad and http://gmail.com/app/v1.0.0/en/gmail-g.jar (if you're going to side load the app using a tool, you'll need both. else, try going to the .jad file from your phone's browser).
posted by jivesoul at 7:09 PM on October 23, 2007