Google is simplifying data portability by allowing its Gmail users to download and backup all their messages and calendar items, or select particular labels and agendas to be moved to its other services.
Data portability has long been in demand to transfer or back up important files and information. Google offers this feature in Blogger, Contacts, Drive, Plus, Voice, Hangouts, Messenger, YouTube and Picasa Albums. Since most people use Google's email service for important tasks like contacting co-workers, family members or friends, it is evident that users would want to back up precious memories like an e-mail with the first job offer or message threads with loved ones.
With the latest update, Gmail users will be able to download all emails and calendar events or choose a particular subset of labels and calendars.
"Having access to your data and being able to take it with you is important," wrote Nick Piepmeier, a Google software engineer, in a company's blog post.
All Gmail users will be able to see a new addition to their "Download Your Data" option under "Account" page. As Google said, the calendar items can be archived but the email messages are yet to appear in the list. The Google Calendar items will be saved in the common ICS iCalendar format, which is widely supported by many desktop-based calendar programs. Users can import the calendar data by following the instructions on how to import an ICS file.
The Gmail messages will be downloaded in the MBOX format, which is commonly supported by several mail clients including Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird and Apple's Mail program.
The Internet giant rolled out the backup feature for Calendar data starting Thursday, while the feature for Gmail messages will be rolled out next month.
