Gmail avatar not showing up for random contacts

[flyingdroid]

I have a few contacts that had gmail avatars that showed up on my phone just fine but now for some reason they don't..just the little droid icon...?? I've rebooted, relogged into each account, had them logout and log back in....still no gmail avatar showing up on their contact icon...??

Any ideas would be great. Thanks.

 

[flyingdroid]

I think the fact that my work blocks gmail chat - that might have something to do with it?

Thoughts? Maybe if I log into gmail at another machine that allows gmail chat, these avatars won't get blocked.....