Google : Exchange for the rest of us ?
This week Google announced Google Sync (beta) for the Google Apps services. The service allows two-way push sync of Google Calendar and Gmail contacts data to iPhone and Windows Mobile devices through ActiveSync. Two-way contacts sync is also available for devices that support SyncML.
The service is available on :
Standard, Premier, Education, Team and Partner Editions
Setting up Google Sync is very easy but you must be an administrator for your domain :
To enable Google Sync login to your GoogleApps account. In the control panel, click ‘Services settings’ and choose ‘Mobile’.
Check the box for ‘Enable Google Sync’ and click ‘Save changes’.
You can configure GoogleSync(beta) with a range of devices. You can find specific instructions for iPhone (and other devices) here.
It is interesting that we move from setting the service up as an IMAP service but instead set it as a Microsoft Exchange server. 
It looks to be a very reliable service despite the Beta tag. A number of known limitations are currently documented (and listed here).
Important Note: Google Sync will replace all existing contacts and calendar information on your phone, so make sure to back up any important data before you get started.
The ability to sync email, contacts and calendar directly with Google Apps could surely be an issue for Mobile Me users coming up for renewal ? So far only Calendar and Contacts are a push service but we are sure Google won’t stop here.
Google have already integrated with the iCal application, offers server sided mail rules and second to none spam filtering.
Does the Mobile Me iDisk and photo sharing services offer enough if Google is going allow push sync ?
2 Comments
Brilliant although I do think I will keep my MobileMe for another year. The interface and universal idisk are essential to me.
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I use Google for email and MobileMe for the rest of my syncing needs. Apple and MobileMe have a single failing and that is no server sided mail rules. If Apple added this feature I would use MobileMe for everything. Although the ability to use my own domain would also be very appealing
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