Google Releases Google Sync App for Windows Mobile, Makes Google Contacts and Calendar Look Like Exchange
If you've been toiling at trying to find a way to sync up your Google Contacts and Calendars with your Windows Mobile phone -- switching between Nuevasync and Goosync and, well, whatever other kind of sync you've tried, take heart. Google just announced on their blog that WM finally gets some parity with BlackBerry on this front with the Beta release of Google Sync for Windows Mobile.
This is a good news / bad news sort of thing. If you're not already using Exchange to sync -- this is good news, because Google is basically mimicking an Exchange interface for you. If you *are* using Exchange to sync to your corporate email, well, see above for other options.
First they give us Latitude, now they give us Sync ...it's nice to see Google caring about platforms not named "Android." Now if they'd work with Microsoft on getting their email pushed out more easily, the Gmail users amongst us will finally feel complete.
Update: here's the direct link to instructions for setting up Google Calenar and Contacts via Activesync. Update 2: Be sure to check out the Known Limitations page (2 minor issues) and if you're on a Google Apps domain (i.e. you have Gmail but you have a custom domain), be sure to point your administrator to this link.
Ok, one last update. The real story here may be that Google licensed Exchange ActiveSync from Microsoft, which is to say that they may use it for email down the line. More importantly, it also helps to cement EAS as the industry standard in Microsoft's ongoing war for the hearts and minds of IT managers. RIM: this news isn't a body blow for your push email and PIM solution, but it's definitely a slap in its face.
Email this pageComments
There are 13 comments. Sign in to comment
I don't see any mention of multiple calendars. I currently use OggSync, and though it's a bit quirky, it allows me to keep a separate work and personal calendar (useful for sharing some appointments with others) and I also subscribe to my wifes' google calendar, which then syncs to my phone.
Not quite there yet, google, but thanks for thinking of us.
This is great. I just dumped OggSync for this new solution. Now if gmail would just fix the "xxx@gmail.com on behalf of 'my real e-mail address'" I might consider using gmail.
All this google goodness is just nifty but let's see what MS has instore for us with myphone.
Ahhh. I can feel the WM love.
I was using GooSync, but decided to give this a whirl and it has been less than perfect.
All of my (700+) contacts have been changed to display Last, First, whereas I had them set to First, Last. Wonderful. Also ended up with quite a few duplicates, AND (this is the most irritating part), since the Contacts fields are not exactly the same between Windows Mobile and Google, many of the contacts where I had numerous email addresses are all jacked up. I now have addresses like this address1@xxx.com :: address2@xyz.com :: address3@abc.com inside of ONE email field!
Calendar wouldn't sync right at all. Took hours, then errored out with Support Code 0x80004005 - "Synchronization cannot be completed successfully because of a mobile device software error. Contact your network administrator."
GooSync was working great for me - going back to that until I can try MyPhone...
Matt
Windows Mobile Louisville
zonierunner says:
I use Nuevasync (multiple calendars) + pop my gmail (multiple accounts) manually and it works as advertised. I don't have cell phone coverage where I work unless I'm out and about walking the corridors between meetings and such, so pushing mail to me every time a message comes in won't do me any good. Besides, won't the push option drain your battery faster?
zonierunner
Not quite there yet, google, but thanks for thinking of us.
cobro
