iPhone syncs with Outlook and Entourage

It was definitely quickly glossed over in today's iPhone activation and sync walkthrough, but Apple pretty clearly stated that Mac users with Entourage can sync their calendars with the iPhone through iTunes, and PC users can sync their Outlook calendars the same way. That's totally heartening for any corporate calendar users wondering how they were going to get their datebooks on their new phone, but there was no mention whatsoever of contact syncing via Outlook / Entourage for Active Directory, just Apple Address Book and Yahoo Address Book (which could potentially leave PC users in the lurch). So, your thoughts?

Update: According to Mossberg's early review it does in fact sync contacts too! Not the same as live, over the air AD access like on WinMo, but definitely close enough!

iPhone syncs with Outlook and Entourage

Good enough for meHalf way thereOne step forward, two steps backiLoathe the iPhoneVote

[Mayank @ Jun 26th 2007 12:08PM]

you know that technically apple missed it's own deadline for iphone in spring, it's now summer. i don't think that the keyboard feature will work. it looks really poorly designed.

[BoZs13 @ Jun 26th 2007 12:10PM]

Where have you been?

[dom.rout @ Jun 26th 2007 1:09PM]

Is that actually relevant to the post?

[OS11 @ Jun 28th 2007 11:28AM]

no, you are thinking of Leopard, that was supposed to happen in the "spring", the iPhone has not been delayed at all. At the Keynote, Steve said June, and looking at my calendar, tomorrow is June 29. Better luck next time!

[BoZs13 @ Jun 26th 2007 12:09PM]

No Google Calendar and Google Account Sync? :(

[S-Anarchy @ Jun 26th 2007 2:39PM]

If you use Google Calendar simply set up your iCal to import your Google Calendar HTML private url.

For Google Contacts just export them as a CSV and import them into any address book that is supported.

Google and Apple are generally very friendly together ;)

[roc ingersol @ Jun 26th 2007 12:13PM]

How about sync'ing wirelessly to anything? Having to dock to sync your calendar is pretty weak.

hell, they even glossed over syncing bookmarks from Firefox. wth?

[AndrewNeo @ Jun 26th 2007 4:59PM]

I bet you could use their web tools (the 'developer' functions) to access the calendar and address book, then Google's APIs to sync the two, using a web service.

[Neal @ Jun 26th 2007 12:18PM]

My thoughts? Wait till the announcement tomorrow, then you can decide.

[KC @ Jun 26th 2007 12:18PM]

Sync calendars through iTunes? That's the lamest thing I've ever heard. That's like syncing a WinCE device with Windows Media Player.

[Fatima @ Jun 26th 2007 12:30PM]

Who the hell cares? As long as it works buddy. Its called simplicity!

[Adam @ Jun 26th 2007 1:00PM]

its Apple's ploy to get everyone using iTunes for everything. It fits in well with their overall strategy to use iTunes as their beachhead to convert PC users to the .mac train of thought. (i.e. the more time PC users spend in iTunes and iPhone, the inclined they will be to buying a mac as their next computer.) Jobs wants to rule the world. Good for him.

[WWebb @ Jun 26th 2007 1:16PM]

Yes, simplicity is syncing your calendar through your music player to your phone. It would be much more complicated if you synced your calendar directly to your phone.

Why not sync your calendar through iMovie and iSight too, while we're at it?

[KC @ Jun 26th 2007 4:12PM]

Not all corporations allow iTunes to be installed on the PC/Mac at work. That's why I brought up that point.

[GB @ Jun 26th 2007 12:20PM]

IMHO The iPhone is a beautiful device. But it is NOT going to be used for business. It simply cannot match the Blackberry's e-mail capabilities and keyboard.

Just like all apple products the iPhone is sexy, cool, has great innovative features, a lot of good functionality, but in the end it's just not as manipulable or flexible as a PC. Just like a PC the Blackberry is now better looking than ever, sleeker than ever, but still a little corporate-esque in contrast to the iPhone. Despite that, it's just more efficient at getting things done.

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Jun 26th 2007 6:10PM]

"Despite that, it's just more efficient at getting things done."
How can you possibly say that when you haven't used one.

[Mile @ Jun 26th 2007 12:21PM]

Ha! Wonder if anyone has told those two NY Loosers yet?

[Alex Boote @ Jun 26th 2007 12:21PM]

They also made a mistake on the status of the disk space, it shows that the the capacity of the iPhone is 74gb.

[Mrmean @ Jun 26th 2007 12:21PM]

do you want a cookie or something?

[Kevo @ Jun 26th 2007 12:22PM]

How quickly we forget...

iPhone will sync contacts in Outlook. It wasn't mentioned in the sync video, but it is mentioned in the "how to get ready page" a excerpt:

You won’t need to re-enter all your contacts because iPhone syncs with the address book you already use on your computer — Address Book or Entourage on a Mac, or Outlook or Outlook Express on a PC. If you keep your contacts on the web using Yahoo! Address Book, iPhone can sync with them, too

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 12:33PM]

Yeah, so does just about every Motorola phone, just about every Nokia phone, every BlackBerry, every Palm, and every Windows Mobile device. I don't really see the point of even mentioning that it syncs contacts. What doesn't? I would be really shocked, and quite frankly quite derisive, if any high-end phone these days wouldn't sync contacts with Outlook. Now finding one that syncs with Thunderbird, THAT would be a feature I would like to see companies advertise!

Who manually enters addresses in their phone?

[Kevo @ Jun 26th 2007 12:37PM]

I wasn't saying that it's an amazing feature, I was only answering the question posed in the original post, that the phone will sync contacts in outlook.

I'm all about the calendar sync, I use outlook's calendar exclusively, and I do expect this in a smartphone. Unfortunately, I also want my outlook email. I'm just going to cross my fingers that this support will be an update soon.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 12:50PM]

What I'm really curious about is if it will sync LDAP contacts from Exchange through Outlook. I seriously doubt it can, because I haven't heard a word about Exchange integration, but that is one place where the BlackBery, Palm (assuming there is a Good server) and Windows Mobile really have the iPhone completely shut out of the business market. If you can't look up contacts on your company's directory, then syncing to Outlook doesn't really give you anything over any other phone these days.

[ABigBaby @ Jun 26th 2007 12:33PM]

Wah! An iPhone post! Waaaah!

[boe @ Jun 26th 2007 12:34PM]

I like the hardware on the iphone but I need full activesync wireless/OMA with my exchange server. If I could sync calendar, contacts, and e-mail wirelessly to my exchange server through the iphone, I'd probably trade in my ppc6800 mogul.

[Clayj @ Jun 26th 2007 12:36PM]

No ActiveSync support = no iPhone for me.

[Jason Stewart @ Jun 26th 2007 12:39PM]

I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but EDGE? EDGE?!? That's it? Doesn't that make the iPhone essentially almost obsolete?

[AK @ Jun 26th 2007 12:55PM]

Precisely. I use my 3G phone as a modem for my laptop a lot, so no iPhone for me.

[DBX00 @ Jun 26th 2007 12:47PM]

First generation has to be released for the second generation to be on its way...I'll let the suckers beta test this version and wait for the cheaper, smaller, and faster second generation to be released.

[topless @ Jun 26th 2007 12:48PM]

Where's option to vote for: "I use a Mac so I don't care..."

[shon Dempsey @ Jun 26th 2007 12:48PM]

Frankly, I don't care. I use iCal.
I think everyone is forgetting that the iPhone isn't for everyone. Obviously. I have no idea why so many people are up in arms about it. If there was this much coverage on a Blackberry, or a RAZR, obviously those arent for everyone either. Its just another cellphone choice. A CHOICE!!!

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 12:53PM]

Actually, if you look at the sales figures for the RAZR, they practically are for everyone. At this point I think they have sold enough of the damned things to populate an entire continent!

[Chicksta @ Jun 26th 2007 12:51PM]

You forgot to stick out your tongue and say 'so there'

[George @ Jun 26th 2007 12:52PM]

It doesn't appear as though you can sync to do's or notes. It also doesn't appear as though you can back up data that you have entered from other applications or settings. You can back up calendar, contacts and multimedia by syncing, but personal settings and notes seem to have been ignored. These should be basic features for a $600 phone. I'll still get one and hold out for these issues to be addressed. Who care about wireless syncing. It will be slow and you'd have to be 30 ft from the computer for it to work so you might as well drop it on the dock and charge at the same time. Now .mac syncing wirelessly would be awesome.

[Patrick @ Jun 26th 2007 12:58PM]

Um, you miss the point. They're talking about OTA syncing like just about every smartphone on the market does now.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 12:59PM]

it depends on the type of "wireless syncing" you are talking about. For example a BlackBerry can wirelessly sync to an exchange server from anywhere it has signal. By the same token Windows Mobile and Palms can wirelessly sync over Wi-Fi, which depending on your network configuration could be a lot more than 30 feet.

[George @ Jun 26th 2007 1:09PM]

Most people buying this won't have an exchange server so wireless syncing is useless. Those that have access will need their company to support this device which is unlikely. .mac syncing will give you the same thing but will the ability for users to avoid needing company IT support.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 1:30PM]

Ok, first off, I completely admit that I have a somewhat skewed perspective living in LA, but in case you haven't heard, Hollywood is a pretty sizable chunk of Apple's marketshare. That disclaimer aside, every single person I know who wants an iPhone, already has a BlackBerry on a corporate or private network. In fact, I know no less than ten people who would be eagerly standing in line at the Apple store at The Grove for their iPhone on the first day, if it weren't for the fact that they don't want to carry 2 bulky smartphones around, and the iPhone can't replace their BlackBerry, so they would have to carry both. By the same token, a lot of these people really think they want the iPhone, but I can tell you for sure that what they DON'T want, is the details of their next deal to get out on the internet because they are getting their mail through an unsecured POP connection.

I think you underestimate the importance of both enterprise mail, and security to a lot of people. A good number of the people out there willing to spend over $500 on a phone, also take it for granted that their communication is secure, and they aren't going to find embarrassing personal or business information roaming the internet. You don't get that level of security from Gmail, Yahoo, or any publicly-hosted server. That is the sort of thing that requires a private email server with a secure connection to the handheld. That is exactly why so many companies, and even individuals, spend so much money on Exchange and BlackBerry, or ActiveSync, or Good Technology solutions.

[Neal @ Jun 26th 2007 3:01PM]

L.M. -

What you said looks to be misrepresented, Windows mobile devices can sync over data anywhere they have a cell data signal. I'm not sure if you were trying to say "Smartphones can sync via cell data stream, AND WiFi," or not, but it came across to me the way it was written that:

1) RIM devices can sync from the tower
2) WM devices can only sync with with WiFi connection (which is false)

[George @ Jun 26th 2007 3:29PM]

You and your 10 friends are the MINORITY. Apple did not design this phone for you and has said so since DAY 1. The blackberry is what you an your 10 are looking for. This phone is for the general consumer that is not dependent on some corporate network. It's for wealthy consumers that already have some brick given to them by their employers called a blackberry.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 5:27PM]

Are you sure about that George? Check the story about Apple perhaps licensing ActiveSync and then get back to me on how much Apple could care less about Exchange integration.

[George @ Jun 26th 2007 5:50PM]

Positive. You wouldn't design a touch screen device if you were targeting that group. There is a reason that no one else has, THEY SUCK for a large amount of typing. Sure you can send mail and text on them, but there are superior devices for that. Your group of people probably already own them and they are called Blackberries and treos. There is a reason that multimedia isn't used often on those devices, because they SUCK for that. The iphone was designed for general consumers who are forced to use blackberries at work and want the ultimate device for their personal use. I mean really how many companies are going to buy multimedia powerhouses for their employees? They want tried a true communicators like Blackberries and treos.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 6:11PM]

If you are correct, George, about Apple's intended market (which I'm not sure you are) then I think the iPhone is in trouble, because that is the same niche the Sony Clié line was trying to fill, as well as several offerings by Nokia and LG. It has never proved to be a very sustainable market. Time and time again, people have shown that at that price they expect more from their device than just a handheld with multimedia features. The largest group of people, at least thus far, willing to go in the $500+ range for a handheld have been the business crowd looking for a business tool. I personally don't think the market of people willing to carry a BlackBerry AND an iPhone is that big. An iPhone INSTEAD of a BlackBerry would have a lot of followers, if for no reason other than it looks cooler than a BlackBerry, and cost about the same (ignoring subsidies). However I haven't seen many people willing to walk around with TWO bulky smartphones 24/7.

[George @ Jun 26th 2007 7:17PM]

I can't believe you are comparing 2 companies Palm and Nokia to Apple. You must be nuts. Of course their devices failed, look at who was making them. Isn't sony that company responsible for that Dud PS3, and what does nokia make? LOL They haven't had this much coverage for any device that they have ever created. You are correct, people don't WANT carry around 2 devices. Many companies do not pay for your personal calls so you need to have a 2nd device that you pay for, not your company. You living in LA are seriously out of touch if you think that you represent the majority. Most people that are given blackberries barely know how to use 25% of it's capability. This is where the iPhone will come in. You think that the business crowd needs to be there for the device to be a success? IF that is correct, can you tell me which company has supplied their employees with the 100 million ipods that were sold making it an unprecedented success? That's what I though. SILENCE.... The business crowd is not needed for success. IPOD, Sidekick, PS2, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. All were huge successes without the business crowd. Need I say more.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 7:28PM]

Ok, I hate to even indulge someone like you, since your last two posts have clearly shown you are specifically one of those rabid Apple fans that give everyone who uses an Apple product a bad name, but I just wanted to point out that Nokia, for example, has sold more phones than there are people on Earth! Apple on the other hand, is *hoping* they might sell 10 Million phones in the next year. So your right, there isn't much point comparing Apple to Nokia, but then I think that goes the other way than how you meant it.

I will also point out that music players, video game systems, and for that matter shoes, cars, and any other product you can randomly pull into the discussion for no apparent reason, are not the $500+ phone market. General Foods can move billions of boxes of cereal every year without the business crowd, what does that have to do with how well a $500+ phone is going to sell?

[George @ Jun 26th 2007 7:32PM]

You need a HUG man! I will buy you an ice cream cone. Don't they have WM6 sites for people like you to troll around?

[Joey M @ Jun 26th 2007 12:58PM]

The iPhone is cool, but I won't buy one until it comes with a flux capacitor.

[tweak @ Jun 26th 2007 1:06PM]

I want it to sync with Thunderbird. I hate outlook.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jun 26th 2007 1:08PM]

Good luck with that! I agree with you 100%, but I have yet to be able to get rid of Outlook, because everything wants to sync to it.

[G-stylez @ Jun 26th 2007 1:08PM]

For all the HATERS...you should read this.

Secret iPhone Details Lost in a Sea of Hype and Hate
http://roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q2.07/34C8BD5D-E210-4A62-BE6F-FD21E046A397.html