Google is previewing a new version of Google Contacts that aims to simplify the service -- by combining users' Gmail and Google+ connections in one place.
The new Google Contacts, a service usually accessed on desktop browsers, will make it easier for people to find connections and keep contact information up to date, Google says.
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To create this more streamlined experience, contact information will be synced across Google+ and Gmail. Google Contacts will automatically pull in information from your contacts' Google+ profiles, such as job titles, addresses and phone numbers. It'll also add contextual information, such as any meetings you've recently had or emails you've exchanged with this person.
"The new Google Contacts comes with a fresh look and feel, and conveniently pools together all your contacts, circles, and the people you talk to most in Gmail," Google writes in a blog post.
"The new Contacts ensures that the info you see is still accurate and ready to use by blending your contact’s Google profile information with the stuff you already have."
It also comes with a redesigned tool for fixing duplicate contact information that allows suers to quickly merge multiple entries. Gmail's contacts already has a tool for doing this, but the new one promises to be much more intuitive and user friendly.
In theory, at least. Clicking on the preview link touted in Google's blog post yielded a 404 error Tuesday.
Google says it will be rolling out the contacts to Gmail users "over the next few weeks." As with the Inbox app, this feature won't be immediately available to professional Google Apps users -- though the company says its "working on it."