Google just announced a new service for pushing Gmail contacts and Google Calendar updates to mobile devices. For iPhone and Windows Mobile devices Google is using Exchange ActiveSync with some limitations due to the beta nature of the service, but it'll also work on many other devices that support SyncML (a vendor list is
here). Google Sync works automatically, and replaces all existing contact and calendar information on the device, so sync-er beware -- we wouldn't let Google get close to our contacts without some serious preflight cleanup and maintenance. Google Apps users can enable the service per domain. There's an explanatory video after the break.
Update: SyncML doesn't "officially" support calendar sync, though experimental types can add "calendar" as a remote database. Sounds like a thrill ride! [Thanks, Nikolay]
posted February 9th 2009 12:59PM
Why do you think you have to pay $15/month?
You are using the Exchange sync features built-in to the iPhone to sync to Google's services via your data plan - no extra fees.
AT&T require u to have enterprise data plan to use an enterprise account which is 45/month. I have the regular data plan which is 30/month
Your comment is incorrect. You do not need the Enterprise Data Plan to use an exchange account. You can go ahead and set this up with your regular data plan.
The Enterprise Plan is for business, solely based on the fact that AT&T is assuming they will be using more data than a regular use.
Just set it up, works great. The calendar updates immediately from either end (ipod touch and pc) and the contacts info takes about a minute to show up.
This is the kind of seamless cloud-based integration that makes it worthwhile to dump all your info in. I actually find myself updating people's pics in my contacts list because I know I won't ever have to do it again, no matter what device I'm on.
I feel relieved that we're finally being unburdened from maintaining our own little IT centers in our homes. Let highly trained computer engineers work out the technical annoyances and just give me a screen and an input device. Here's to this process proceeding and ending quickly...
Google will be able to extend their value proposition to their customers through this license with Microsoft.
Earlier today Google announced Google Sync, which is made possible by a patent license they obtained from Microsoft covering Google’s implementation of the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol on Google servers.
Of note, Microsoft recently announced an expansion of its Exchange ActiveSync Licensing Program, and licensees currently include partners and competitors Apple, Nokia, Palm, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson, among others.
check out vufone.com is has all that and much more. automated, periodical hassle free sync to the web. contacts, calendar, messages, photos, videos and music - all synced to a single account and can be connected to Google, Facebook, Flickr, Picasa etc.
These guys support Windows Mobile, Symbian, J2ME, Android and Blackberry
http://www.vufone.com
/Vx
Yesterday, I used Google Sync and it worked great. I did lose all of the photos that I had storred to my contacts in my iPhone though. I did upgrade to OS X Version 10.5 a few months ago so I could sync my Address Book to my Google contacts. This worked for awhile but a few contacts were getting deleted as time went on so I turned the sync off. So, I am very happy so far that Google Sync is working at it is free! Now if we could get our politicians our of our back pockets and give us something free. How about more freedom and less government?
@strang
You have to navigate to m.google.com/sync once your setup, sign in to your account, choose iPhone from the list of phones, then you will be able to choose up to 5 calendars to sync. Here is Google's page on the issue: http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=139206&cbid=qk4kktr1zba4&src=cb&lev=answer
I finally got this setup and it's awesome, I've been waiting for Google to get something like this working since I bought the 3G.
Good luck!
I am currently using Vopium Sync application for mobile data backup, and I am quite satisfied, Vopium also offers Free Minutes for International calls, I must try google Sync app because nowadays everything is on Google.