As Google Gears turns one, it lands its biggest customers yet

By Ed Oswald | Published May 29, 2008, 4:50 PM

Google's Web services project has been renamed simply "Gears," and the company has announced that MySpace will use the technology in its e-mail platform.

"We want to make it clear that Gears isn't just a Google thing. We see Gears as a way for everyone to get involved with upgrading the web platform," software engineer Chris Prince said.

The social networking site's 110 million users send some 170 million messages per day according to site statistics. With Gears, users will be able to search through their e-mail quicker.

Gears will be a separate download that MySpace will prompt visitors to install. It will also store some e-mail data offline, which was a signature feature of the technology platform. It is this offline storage which speeds the search process.

Another large client, WordPress, has also agreed to incorporate Gears into its service. There, subscribers will be able to manage their blogs offline.

Gears is supported on Firefox and Internet Explorer, and Google said it is working on support for both Firefox 3 and Safari as well. Opera is also working to add support for both its desktop and mobile clients.

Google plans to also upgrade its Gmail and Calendar apps to use Gears. Google Reader and Docs already do so, in order to enable offline use.

View comments by with a score of at least

'A pivot from war to peace:' The AMD + Intel armistice, in their own words

An extraordinary day in technology history is recognized by two long-time rivals that mutually decided it's futile to fight anyplace else except the marketplace.

PS3, Xbox to soon get Twitter, Facebook integration

Both Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3 will integrate with Facebook in the near future.

Windows Marketplace for Mobile now available in browser, iTunes' App Store still not

You can now check out what Windows Marketplace for Mobile has to offer without a Windows Phone.

Microsoft damage control after marketer claims Win7 inspired by Mac

Have you ever said anything you wish you could take back? Ever? No? Not even once? Well then, you won't sympathize with a mid-level Microsoft manager today.

Blockbuster's way down, but poised for a comeback

Though it took a serious beating in 2009, Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes says the company can turn it around.

iTunes Preview deson't go far enough to create Web-based option for store

Apple has rolled out iTunes Preview, a Web interface for browsing iTunes.

PDC 2009 Preview: The move to Office 2010 and Visual Studio 2010

The major focus of Microsoft's conference next week will likely be explaining why two pillars of its software sales strategy deserve to remain where they are.

Dell's first smartphone aids the Android onslaught

Longtime PC leader Dell has finally announced its Android-based smarphone.

After the Intel + AMD armistice: Do we really want a level playing field?

Scott Fulton On Point: One by one, the reasons for us to continue suspending the course toward open and fair competition in IT, are dropping like flies.

FLO TV launches pocketable, smartphone-like TVs

Qualcomm's FLO TV Personal Television made by HTC launches in retail today.

Google acquires Gizmo5, builds IP telephony portfolio

Google Voice today confirmed rumors that it would acquire IP telephony company Gizmo5