With so many new users getting the iPhone 4, many might not know the “secret” to getting push gmail on the iPhone. Unfortunately, if you set up your gmail account using the standard “gmail” settings on the iPhone your email will not be pushed to you. You have to follow these instructions from Google, which make use of the “Exchange Sync” features of gmail.

Google has provided a mechanism for iPhone users to get Push Email functionality. Apple is still dragging it’s feet for allowing the iPhone to support it natively, so Google has enabled mail to be synced via the ActiveSync mechanism that is available on the iPhone.

However, there is one limitation. iPhone users that already have an ActiveSync account enabled (e.g. for work email) will not be able to use this option. This is because Apple only allows a single ActiveSync account on the iPhone. This is an Apple limitation, not Microsoft or Google.

Lifehacker had a great summary article about how to access GMail when they are experiencing problems, such as earlier this week. The article goes into detail but there is a summary of links:

• Plain HTML version
• Safe Mode
• Old Version
• Without Browser Check
• Mobile Version
• iPhone Version
• iGoogle

Since Gmail came out with it’s large 1gb email accounts, millions and millions of people have signed up for it and use it as their primary email. However, one of my friends just had his email account disabled for no apparent reason. Moreover, a Google search of “Gmail disabled” reveals that this has happened to thousands of people over the past few years. Some of the people get their account back, but many just don’t hear from the Gmail team at all and are forced to lose their email and switch to another provider.

We rely so much on email these days that it’s hard to imagine someone being so careless with handling their customer service this way. However, Goggle is a virtual company and there’s no phone number to call, and their email is not answered by many of the people that have contacted them.

For now, I’m going to lessen my reliance on Gmail.