Gmail for iOS got a new update. Beyond bug fixes, the only feature is a new option to open web links in Chrome, if installed. While it may not be a feature-rich update, it could be a very significant one.

Chrome has been available for iOS just over the summer, and getting it integrated in such a fashion with more apps on iOS can only lead to more people using it as their default browser on iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. Opening web links is a pretty important part of web browser use, obviously.

Google has been adding this functionality to various apps on iOS, including Google+. Gmail is a major avenue to iOS users for Google, particularly as Apple aims to have users accessing Google services less, at least by default. Google is going to need to do everything it can to keep users immersed in its universe, and this, while a small step, is an important one.

Something tells me Apple is about to start counting a lot more people as iOS users.