Google adds IMAP

Google has added IMAP support to its free webmail service Gmail. Users can now access email from client applications using the Internet Message Access Protocol, and at the same time automatically update the message status within Gmail itself. This is something that many people who access Gmail messages via the supported POP service have been long asking for as it enables the problems of read messages remaining marked as unread within Gmail to be solved. IMAP also enables forwarded messages and replies sent using the external client to be reflected in the Gmail web interface.