5 Favorite Gmail Add-Ons
Maybe you already love Gmail from Google. But are you taking advantage of the free add-ons in Gmail Labs that turn this Web-based e-mail service from good to great? Here's a look at five favorites.
You could send them an e-mail, but not everyone owns a smart phone with e-mail. But many of those folks have SMS Text, at least. As a result, this add-on is handy because it allows you to send an SMS text message to them from your Gmail chat box.
How to set it up: There is a little legwork involved after you click to "enable" SMS text on the Gmail Labs page. After you enable it and click save, return to your Gmail inbox and go to the chat widget (it's on the left column of your Gmail by default, but there's actually another feature in Gmail Labs that allows you to move it to the right side if you wish). Go to the search bar in the chat widget (it says "search, add or invite"). In that field, begin typing the name of the desired contact. Once the name pops up, scroll down to the name. Once you scroll over the name, you'll see an option that says "Send SMS Text."
From there, add and save the number for that contact.
Now, go to that person's name on your buddy list in the chat widget, and you'll be able to send him or her an SMS Text.
Doing No Good: Be mindful that normal text messaging fees apply for your recipient, and that only U.S. phones can utilize this feature for now. Because SMS texts have 160 character count, it would be nice to see a character countdown as you type the text (like you would on Twitter).
Also, when you receive a text from a Gmail sender, a random phone number appears (we presume from wherever it gets routed). When I sent my colleague and mobile expert Al Sacco a text message (see screenshot below), a Montana-based number appeared in the message on Sacco's BlackBerry screen. This could throw off a recipient who doesn't memorize your number (since my number, for instance, is a San Francisco-based 415, and calling me back at this Montana number would be useless).
2. Forgotten Attachment Detector
How it helps do no evil: It happens all the time. You craft an e-mail message, explaining what you'd like done or someone to see in an attached file. But, of course, you send it and forget to attach said file.
If you enable the Gmail forgotten attachment detector, a pop-up reminder will come up when you use words like "attach" or "attachment," asking if you've forgotten it.
