No Internet access? No worries. With Google's new offline capabilities, you can still be productive in Gmail, Docs and Calendar. Traditionally, if you found yourself without an Internet connection — say at the airport, on a train or in the midst of a hurricane (ahem, Irene) — you were usually out of luck if you wanted to get some work done.But not with Google Apps. Making good on its promise at the Google I/O conference this year, Google is announcing its first steps in bringing offline access to its suite of web-based software. Starting today and continuing through next week, Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs will be available offline.[Summer of Google: 10 Hot New Features] Gmail Offline allows users to read, respond to, search and archive messages without network access. To get it, visit the Chrome Web Store and download the app. This HTML5-powered app is based on the Gmail Web app for tablets, which was built to function with or without Web access. Once you download the Gmail Offline app, you can continue using Gmail even when you lose your Internet connection. Switch to Offline mode by clicking the Gmail Offline icon on Chrome’s “new tab” page. After its first start-up, Gmail Offline will automatically synch messages and queued actions anytime Chrome is running and an Internet connection is available. Note that if you use a public or shared computer, you should not enable Offline Gmail. To work offline in Calendar and Docs, click the gear icon at the top right corner of the Web app and select the option for offline access. In Calendar, you’ll be able to view events and RSVP to appointments. In Docs offline, you can just view documents and spreadsheets.Google says that offline editing isn’t ready just yet, but they’re “working hard to make it a reality.” Also coming soon is the ability for users to customize the amount of email they wish to synchronize. Gmail Tips: 10 Features to Try Now 5 Great Gmail Timesavers Google’s Top 10 Best (and Worst) Innovations of the Year Kristin Burnham covers consumer technology, social networking and Web 2.0 for CIO.com. Follow Kristin on Twitter @kmburnham. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline and on Facebook. Email Kristin at kburnham@cio.com Related content brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership brandpost Sponsored by BMC The data deluge: The need for IT Operations observability and strategies for achieving it BMC Helix brings thousands of data points together to create a holistic view of the health of a service. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership how-to How to create an effective business continuity plan A business continuity plan outlines procedures and instructions an organization must follow in the face of disaster, whether fire, flood, or cyberattack. Here’s how to create a plan that gives your business the best chance of surviving such an By Mary K. Pratt, Ed Tittel, Kim Lindros Dec 07, 2023 11 mins Small and Medium Business IT Skills Backup and Recovery Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe