Comparing Google Apps Sync with CompanionLink

One June 9, 2009, Google announced a tool that can sync Microsoft Outlook contacts, calendar, and emails with Google Apps Premier edition and Google Apps Education edition. (Source)

But how can people with free Google or Gmail accounts sync with Outlook?  And what about support?

Google says that the Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook is for Premier and Education edition customers.  So you can’t use that.

CompanionLink has a solution for everyone using a free Google account.  It’s called CompanionLink for Google.  It syncs Outlook contacts, calendar and tasks (no email) with any Google, Gmail, or Google Apps account.  CompanionLink works with all editions of Google Apps (Standard, Premier, Education, Government, Non-profits, etc.).  The one-time purchase also comes with free email and phone support for as long as you own the product.

Format for Street Address field in Google has changed

Google contacts

The “street address” field in Gmail/Google contacts used to be stored internally as 1 field.  It’s now stored as 5 fields.

All CompanionLink users who sync with Google have two options to ensure their sync solution works with this change by Google:

1. Click on the “Older version” link near the top-right corner of Gmail contacts. This will revert to the older Google storage format of 1 field.

2. Download CompanionLink build 3066 or higher and select reread PC data.  This will work with the new Google storage format of 5 fields.

New RunStart configuration service

Hands-free configuration can’t get easier than this.

CompanionLink recently released a new configuration service called RunStart.  The service enables CompanionLink technicians to log in to your PC and completely configure your sync for you.  It’s like hiring a professional tech to set everything up for you. You can just sit back and watch.

Currently, RunStart is available for customers using Palm Desktop, Microsoft Outlook, and ACT!.

Details and pricing available here.

Use Google Sync with ACT! and get free mobile sync

Welcome to the new world of free mobile sync, courtesy of Google.  Google has released a free over-the-air (OTA) sync service for phones.  This rivals existing Exchange/BlackBerry Enterprise configurations that are expensive for companies to buy and maintain.  Now, all you need to do is sync ACT! data with Google, and you’re done.  Google will handle the rest.  The great part is that this can work for one user or scale to an entire organization.
How it works:
CompanionLink can sync ACT! data to a user’s Google account.  Once this data is in the Google account, Google’s new sync service will automatically sync the data to the user’s phone, over-the-air.
Data is synchronized to the native address book and calendar application on the phone.  This guarantees that all the alarms, reminders, and basic features like Caller ID work great with your ACT! data.
Also, this sync process works two-ways.  So if the user were to change data on their phone, the data would sync back to their Google account and back to the ACT! database using CompanionLink.
Wait, what’s the catch?
There is none, unless you think setting up a free Google account is a catch.  But, it’s hard to argue with something that’s free.  And it’s hard to argue when you look at the other option: setting up Exchange and BlackBerry Enterprise Server (if your clients are syncing with BlackBerry devices).
What phones work with Google’s sync service?
Google covers over 75% of the phone market, including iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian devices.
What CompanionLink products do I need?
You’ll need CompanionLink Express or Professional if you’re configuring single users.  If you have a site with multiple users, DoubleLook Enterprise is the best solution.  It will run on one PC and sync data for all your users (this is known as a server-side solution).
How do I get started?
1. Make sure you have a Google account set up for the user.
2. Make sure you have a CompanionLink product that will sync with Google.  Configure it to sync the PIM (i.e., ACT!) with the user’s Google account.
3. Visit m.google.com/sync from the user’s phone to configure the free OTA mobile sync with the Google account.
I have questions.  Who can I ask?
Just reply to this email.  We’ll be in touch within 24 hours!

Welcome to the new world of free mobile sync, courtesy of Google.  Google has released a free over-the-air (OTA) sync service for phones. This rivals existing Exchange/BlackBerry Enterprise configurations that are expensive for companies to buy and maintain.  Now, all you need to do is sync ACT! data with Google, and you’re done.  Google will handle the rest.  The great part is that this can work for one user or scale to an entire organization.

How it works:

CompanionLink can sync ACT! data to a user’s Google account.  Once this data is in the Google account, Google’s new sync service will automatically sync the data to the user’s phone, over-the-air.

Data is synchronized to the native address book and calendar application on the phone.  This guarantees that all the alarms, reminders, and basic features like Caller ID work great with your ACT! data.

Also, this sync process works two-ways.  So if the user were to change data on their phone, the data would sync back to their Google account and back to the ACT! database using CompanionLink.

Wait, what’s the catch?

There is none, unless you think setting up a free Google account is a catch.  But, it’s hard to argue with something that’s free.  And it’s hard to argue when you look at the other option: setting up Exchange and BlackBerry Enterprise Server (if your clients are syncing with BlackBerry devices).

What phones work with Google’s sync service?

Google covers over 75% of the smartphone market, including iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Google Android, and Palm Pre devices.

What CompanionLink products do I need?

For a single-user license, you can use CompanionLink Express or Professional.  If you have a site with multiple users, DoubleLook Enterprise is the best solution.  It will run on one PC and sync data for all your users (also known as a server-side solution).

How do I get started?

1. Make sure you have a Google account set up.

2. Make sure you have a CompanionLink product that will sync with Google.  Configure it to sync the PIM (i.e., ACT!) with the user’s Google account.

3. Visit m.google.com/sync from the user’s phone to configure the free OTA mobile sync with the Google account.

Google taking aim at Exchange with Google Apps Connector for BES

Google just announced a connector product that will fight head-to-head with the traditional Exchange/BES corporate configurations that most mid- to large-size companies rely on for their email, contacts and calendar sync.

Google Apps Connector for BES is a solution that allows you to get “push sync” of your Google Apps contacts, calendar and email to the native fields on your BlackBerry.  This is big because it’s like getting the reliable push sync of BES without having to invest in Microsoft Exchange.

Here’s what you get with this new connector solution by Google:

# Messages sent to your Gmail inbox are pushed to your BlackBerry within 60 seconds.
# Emails read/deleted on your BlackBerry are marked as read/deleted in Gmail, and vice-versa.
# Synchronize BlackBerry folders with labels in Gmail.
# Search for email addresses and phone numbers of other users on your company domain.
# View your Google Calendar schedule on your native BlackBerry application, with one-way synchronization from Google Calendar to your BlackBerry device.
# Contacts in Gmail are automatically synchronized with your BlackBerry address book.
  • Contacts in Gmail are automatically synchronized with BlackBerry address book.
  • View your Google Calendar in your BlackBerry calendar, with one-way synchronization from Google Calendar to your BlackBerry. 
  • Messages sent to your Gmail inbox are pushed to your BlackBerry within 60 seconds.
  • Emails read/deleted on your BlackBerry are marked as read/deleted in Gmail, and vice-versa.
  • Synchronize BlackBerry folders with labels in Gmail.
  • Search for email addresses and phone numbers of other users on your company domain.

Users of CompanionLink software are in for a real treat.  With CompanionLink, you can plug into this fancy push sync system even if you use desktop software like ACT! by Sage, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, GroupWise, or Palm Desktop.  

CompanionLink will sync your desktop software with your Google Apps account.  Once data is in the Google Apps account, the Google Apps Connector for BES along with your BES will do the rest. 

Essentially, you can use your desktop software as part of your enterprise-level push sync solution for as low as $29.95.

Picture sync

In the coming days, we’ll be launching the ability to sync pictures with phones.

We’ll support picture sync for the following software:

ACT! by Sage
Outlook
Palm Desktop
Lotus Notes

We’ll support picture sync with the following phones and mobile platforms:

BlackBerry
Windows Mobile (via Outlook)
Palm
Google 

We’ll now be able to see who’s calling instead of trying to remember faces!

Palm Desktop to Palm Pre sync

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWwQhS1OhNw]

CompanionLink will be offering a way for Palm Desktop users to sync their data with the Palm Pre phone.  All you need is CompanionLink for Google ($29.95, one-time purchase) and a free Google account.

So how does it work?

1. CompanionLink will sync Palm Desktop with your Google account.

2. Your Palm Pre will sync with your Google account, over-the-air.

Two-way sync ensures that all your data is updated regardless of where you change it: in Palm Desktop, in Google, or on your Palm Pre.

Outlook to Palm Pre sync

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0NzQsyN2Jw]

CompanionLink will be offering a way for Outlook users to sync their data with the Palm Pre device.  All you need is CompanionLink for Google ($29.95, one-time purchase) and a free Google account.

So how does it work?

1. CompanionLink will sync Outlook with your Google account.

2. Your Palm Pre will sync with your Google account, over-the-air.

Two-way sync ensures that all your data is updated regardless of where you change it: in Outlook, in Google, or on your Palm Pre.

Read the full press release about this solution.

Sync Lotus Notes with Google

For less than $30, you can get a complete two-way wireless sync system between Lotus Notes, Google and your phones.

CompanionLink for Google works as a two-way sync connector between Lotus Notes and Google.  Users can then use Google Sync (Beta) to sync data over-the-air with their phones.

CompanionLink for Google allows Lotus Notes users to sync their contacts, phone numbers, email addresses, calendar events, calendar details, contact notes, and alarms and reminders with their Google or Google Apps account. Complete two-way sync ensures that any change to data in either Lotus Notes or in Google is automatically updated.

Once Lotus Notes data is in Google, users can use the free Google Sync (Beta) service to push data to their iPhone, BlackBerry or Windows Mobile device. CompanionLink for Google ensures that any changes made on the phones will sync back with the Lotus Notes database.

Sync services by Microsoft, Apple and Google

MyPhone: they host your data on the web and sync contacts, calendar and photos with Windows Mobile devices.  This is a free service offered by Microsoft.

MobileMe: they host your data on the web and sync mail, contacts, calendar and photos with iPhone devices.  This is a paid service, currently $99/year.

Google Sync (Beta): syncs Google contacts and calendar (hosted on the web) with iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices.  This is a free service offered by Google.

We’re excited at the introduction of these services!  It gives users a reliable and affordable way to sync to their phones, over-the-air.

So do you still need CompanionLink with the introduction of the services mentioned above?  The answer is Yes.

For example, if you’re using ACT!, Lotus Notes, Outlook BCM, Palm Desktop, GroupWise or any other PIM/CRM that’s not supported by the cloud services above, you’ll need CompanionLink to sync this data.  The cloud services can’t access your data.

While our software can sync directly to your phone and bypass the need for the cloud services above, we’re also looking for ways to work with Microsoft, Apple and Google’s sync services.  This will allow you to use CompanionLink to get data from your PIM/CRM to the services above, and then rely on their push-sync to get that data to your phones.

This is what we’re working on:
PIM/CRM <> CompanionLink <> Cloud services (above) <> your phone

Stay tuned to this blog for the lastest developments and a timetable for when we’ll support these mobile sync services.  In the mean time, if you need to sync your PIM/CRM data with your phones, just use CompanionLink’s direct sync.

CompanionLink to support the Acer Tempo smartphone series

Acer just announced a new line of smartphones called the Acer Tempo series.  All devices will be based on the Windows Mobile platform and will span the spectrum from low-end consumer devices to high-end business devices.

One device will even boast dual-SIM card capabilities so users can associate two different numbers (e.g., business and personal) with one phone.

Since CompanionLink supports all devices on the Windows Mobile platform, we will support these Acer devices from Day 1.

More info about Acer Tempo can be found here.

$129 for 12 months of Premium Support

UPDATE: As of June 1, 2011, Premium Support is now $129.

Free support is great when you have time. But what if you’re in a hurry to get answers?

CompanionLink’s Premium Support is like hiring a personal technician for your sync needs. Get in front of the support queue and speak with a single dedicated specialist. It is the fastest way to get your support issues resolved!

Here’s what you get:

# Front-of-the-line privileges for phone and email queues
# Single point of technical contact
# Senior customer-focused specialists on specific PIM/PDA setups
# Dedicated toll-free number
# Guaranteed next-day service on voice messages left during non-business hours

Read more here.

CompanionLink works with Google Sync (Beta)

This week, Google launched their free over-the-air sync service with iPhone and Windows Mobile devices.  They already offered this for BlackBerry devices.

Google Sync (Beta) allows you to wirelessly sync Google contacts and calendar events with iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices.

CompanionLink fits this puzzle by allowing Outlook, Lotus Notes and other PIM users to sync their desktop data with their Google accounts.  Once this data is in their Google accounts, it’s automatically pushed to their phones using Google Sync (Beta).

So essentially, with one license of CompanionLink for Google (runs you $29.95), you can have a complete two-way wireless sync solution between Outlook, Google, and your phones.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0NzQsyN2Jw]

iClink is now free

iClink, our application that runs on the iPhone and allows users to wirelessly sync with their PIM/CRM data, is now available for free from the iTunes Store.

This means that anyone who has a 14-day evaluation of CompanionLink Pro can download iClink for free and configure their PIM/CRM to sync with their iPhone.

For full details of how to wirelessly sync data with your iPhone using CompanionLink, visit: companionlink.com/iphone.

CompanionLink to support Palm webOS and Palm Pre

At CES 2009 in Las Vegas, Palm announced their new mobile operating system called Palm webOS.  They also unveiled the first smartphone based on that OS – Palm Pre.  You can read about it here.

CompanionLink will provide full two-way sync support for Palm webOS based devices, including the Palm Pre.  We’re committed to being the first to do so!