Google Gears, the open source browser extension – still in beta – that enables web applications to provide offline functionality using JavaScript APIs, might be the key to an upcoming online/offline version of Gmail.

Google Gears specifically allows AJAX web apps to run offline without a net connection. An open source runtime, it allows you to build offline Web applications, so presumably the bright folks at the Googleplex are keen to eat in their own kitchen.

Such, anyway, are the current rumors circulating round the blogosphere.

Meantime, Google Gadgets Architect Adam Sah will be delivering a session called "Google Gadgets for the Enterprise" at AJAXWorld Conference & Expo 2007 West (23-26 September 2007) in Santa Clara, CA, at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

AJAXWorld Conference & Expo 2007 West - Please visit our At-A-Glance 10-Track Schedule & Speaker Sessions

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The world’s leading Rich Internet Applications & Web 2.0 event is expected to attract more than 1,000 i-technology developers. AJAXWorld grew from a single track, one-day seminar, less than a year ago, into a four-day international conference & expo with more than 150 sessions delivered in ten simultaneous tracks, by more than 150 faculty members. 

Track 01: Rich Internet Applications in Action
Track 02: Web 2.0 / Enterprise Mashups
Track 03: Enterprise AJAX
Track 04: RIA Frameworks & Toolkits
Track 05: Security & Performance
Track 06: Hot Topics
Track 07: iPhone AJAX Applications
Track 08: Advanced AJAX
Track 09: Platform Choices / Real-World AJAX
Track 10: OpenLaszlo Diamond Track

The conference now includes the world famous AJAXWorld University's AJAX Developer Bootcamp, OpenLaszlo Track and Adobe Flex Developer Bootcamp. This year’s AJAXWorld Expo Floor is expected to display bleeding edge RIA technologies from the leading AJAX vendors.

AJAXWorld 2007 East Conference & Expo Sponsored by the World's Top  Web 2.0 and RIA Technology Leaders!
AJAXWorld Conference & Expo 2007 East sponsors and exhibitors included: Laszlo Systems (Diamond Sponsor), JackBe (Platinum Sponsor), Adobe (Platinum Sponsor), Cynergy (Platinum Sponsor), Backbase (Gold Sponsor) Google (Gold Sponsor), Nexaweb (Gold Sponsor), ICEsoft (Gold Sponsor), Oracle (Gold Sponsor), Helmi Technologies (Gold Sponsor), JetBrains (Gold Sponsor), TIBCO (Gold Sponsor), Kapow Technologies (Gold Sponsor), Sun Microsystems (Silver Sponsor), Parasoft (Silver Sponsor), Servoy (Silver Sponsor), Etelos (Silver Sponsor),  Microsoft (Expo Plus Sponsor),  Lightstreamer (Exhibitor Plus Sponsor),  IT Mill (Exhibitor Plus Sponsor), FrogLogic (Exhibitor Plus Sponsor), ThinWire (Expo Sponsor), Quasar Tecnologies (Expo Sponsor), Zapatec (Exhibitor Plus Sponsor), MB Technologies Bindows (Exhibitor), OpenSpot (Exhibitor), ILOG (Exhibitor), Passport Corporation (Exhibitor), Addison-Wesley (Exhibitor), The Thomson Corporation (Exhibitor), Isomorphic Software-SmartClient (Exhibitor), Universal Mind (Exhibitor), Farata Systems (Exhibitor Plus),  Manning Publications (AJAX Book Sponsor), Apress (AJAX Book Sponsor), Conference Guru (Media Sponsor), Flash Goddess (Media Sponsor), AJAXWorld Magazine (Media Sponsor), Web 2.0 Journal (Media Sponsor), SYS-CON.TV (Media Sponsor), IT Mill (Media Sponsor), Methods & Tools (Media Sponsor), Web 2.0 Journal (Media Sponsor), and OASIS.

As of Today OpenAjax Alliance Members Include: 24SevenOffice, abiss.gr, ActiveGrid, ActiveState, Adobe, American Greetings, Aplix Corporation, Appeon, Aptana, Arimaan Global Consulting, BEA Systems, Cisco Systems, Coradiant, Curl, Custom Credit Systems (Thinwire), Document Advantage, Dojo Foundation DreamFace Interactive, Eclipse Foundation, edge IPK, eLink Business Innovations, ESRI, F5, Fidelity Investments, Finetooth, Getahead (DWR), Global Computer Enterprises, GoETC, Google, Helmi Technologies, HR-XML, IBM, ICEsoft, Ikivo, ILOG, Innoopract, iPolipo, Isomorphic Software, IT MILL, JackBe, Javeline, JSSL, JWAX, Laszlo Systems, Lightstreamer, Microsoft, MobileAware, Mozilla Corporation, NetScript Technologies, Nexaweb, Nitobi, Novell, OpenLink Software, OpenSpot, OpenSymphony (OpenQA), Openwave Systems, Opera, OpSource, Oracle, OS3.IT, RadView, Redmonk, RIFT Technologies, SAP, Scalix, Seagull Software, Service-Now.com, Sitepen, Software AG, Sun Microsystems, Tealeaf Technology, Teleca Mobile, Telerik, The Frontside, Tibco, Transmend, Vertex Logic, Visible Measures, Visual WebGui, Volantis Systems, Webtide, XML11, Xucia, Zend, Zimbra, and Zoho.