Gmail guesses when you're awake with Sender Time Zone

Google has unveiled a new Gmail Labs add-on that helps users determine if their Gmail contacts are awake.

Green means you're good to go.

(Credit: Google)

Dubbed Sender Time Zone, the feature, which can be turned on in the Labs tab in Gmail, displays a green phone icon next to a contact in another time zone who's probably awake and reachable. A red phone icon will be displayed next to those who could be sleeping or out of the office. According to a post on Google's Gmail blog, the green icon will be displayed between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the sender's local time zone.

The add-on uses Gmail's message headers to determine time zones. If time zone information isn't readily available in the message header, neither the green nor the red icons will be displayed.

The Sender Time Zone add-on is available now in Gmail Labs.

[cust0mb4ll3r]

This is only marginally useful. Yes, if you have friends and/or business contacts in different countries, it simplifies making time calculations in your head.

Otherwise, this is just an ok add-on.

[sythara]

I agree. Marginal addon at best.

I cant wait for the "google is evil and taking over the world" crowd to start talking though

[Josh.Lowensohn]

I like the idea, I'm just not a big fan of the implementation. Me being color-blind keeps the tiny green and red logos (that look identical) from being all that useful.