Uh oh. Reports are pouring in from users of the HTC G1 Android phone and the news is not good. Users are saying that the mobile e-mail client fails to retrieve e-mail and reports mysterious "connection errors." Many complain that mobile e-mail doesn't work at all on the G1. Google, T-Mobile and HTC, you'd better fix this one fast...The posts over at Forums.T-Mobile.com are pretty damning.

One user writes:

I have set the incoming and outgoing settings properly for a Yahoo business account. It is clearly able to authenticate and work as it allows me to save the settings. When I go to the in-box it states "Connection error". It is not network related, as I am able to access the mail via the Web browser on the device. I have tried it with Wi-Fi on and off. My in-box has only 40 messages in it. This software is unusable. Having used a BlackBerry on T-Mobile for 2 years, this is a step into the dark ages. Honestly a disappointment and can't recommend any one to buy this phone.

This user is not happy, and asks for help. Another frustrated user writes:

I am having the same issues with my Comcast.net account. I have a permanent "Connection Error" and only one e-mail ever displays in the Inbox. I, too, am extremely disappointed in this phone.

There are pages and pages of complaints about the G1's ability -- or, in this case, inability -- to retrieve e-mail. Perhaps the one that hurts the most reads:

Just packaged it up and am sending it back today . . . this is no iPhone. Apple has nothing to worry about . . . now, when is that touch-screen BlackBerry coming out?

From my perspective, the G1's mobile e-mail product worked flawlessly for about one week. The day that the device launched, the Gmail client stopped working entirely. I was never able to resurrect the e-mail system before I needed to return the phone to T-Mobile. I don't know if my device was experiencing the same issues as these users, but the end result is the same: no e-mail.

This is a pretty major problem, T-Mobile, Google and HTC. Mobile e-mail is supremely important to many. I hope that fixing this is a high priority for all involved.