Google has acquired JotSpot, an application wiki company. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Google has also announced the release of a new mobile client, Gmail for mobile devices. The freely downloadable Java application delivers Gmail users the look and feel of Gmail through an interface that's optimized for handheld devices.

Gmail users can already access their accounts through the browser on their mobile devices, but this application brings users the experience--complete with search, conversation view, and automatic synchronization with the desktop version--with the following new benefits: up to five times faster access and use, automatic pre-fetching of messages; reduced clicks and scrolling to access email; fewer keystrokes for reading, composing, or searching mail; and attachments, including files and photos, viewable and automatically re-sized to fit the user's phone. Users can go to gmail.com/app from their mobile browser to download the app. If users don't already have a Gmail account, they can sign up for an account via SMS by going to gmail.google.com and clicking on "sign up for Gmail." The application is available completely free of charge from Google (carrier mobile data charges may still apply). It is currently compatible with all J2ME-enabled phones in the U.S. and works with a variety of carrier service plans.

(www.google.com; www.jotspot.com)