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June 23, 2007

Sync Your Mobile Phone with Google Calendar

Google Calendar has recently launched a mobile version that lets you add events and see your agenda, but if you already use your phone's built-in calendar, you want a way to keep the offline and the online calendars in sync.

GooSync is a free option that works without installing any application (over-the-air). You just set up an account, give GooSync access to your Google Calendar and configure your phone to work with GooSync. GooSync works with mobile devices that support SyncML, and these include Blackberries, most Nokia phones, many Sony Ericsson phones and others. For Palm or Windows Mobile phones you'll have to install a Sync ML client, which is not free.

Besides synchronizing the events, GooSync tries to keep the reminders in sync. Because Google Calendar has some predefined intervals for reminders, this will not work if you define custom reminders for your phone's events. The service's main limitations are that "you are only able to synchronize your primary Google Calendar and you are limited to a sync window of 7 days past and 30 days future of the current date," but if you pay a subscription these limitations are removed.

If you don't mind installing a Java app and synchronizing your calendar manually, then GCalSync is for you. The software is open-source, doesn't have GooSync's limitations regarding the sync intervals and it works pretty well in a wider array of phones. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be developed anymore.

For Windows Mobile phones, you could try OggSync, which is compatible with Outlook, it lets you define an interval for synchronization and supports over-the-air and/or cradle sync. Like in GCalSync or the free version of GooSync, you can only synchronize the main calendar, unless you pay for a yearly subscription.

Another Windows Mobile solution is SyncMyCal, which lets you synchronize all your calendar, but the date range selection is limited to 3 days. The paid version of SyncMyCal is much more affordable than OggSync as there's no yearly subscription.


GooSync
GCalSync
OggSync
SyncMyCal
Price
Free / $39.79 per year
Free
Free / $29.95 per year Free / $25
Supported phones
Phones that support Sync ML
Phones that run Java apps
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Software
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Configurable sync window Paid version
Yes
Yes
Paid version
Scheduled synchronization Yes
No
Paid version
Paid version
Multi calendar Paid version
No
Paid version
Yes
Reminders Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Recurring events Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Google Hosted Domains Yes
?

Yes
Yes

Here's also a comparison of the number of blog posts that mention the sync tools, according to BlogPulse (April-June 2007):

38 comments:

  1. SGH Z-500 has support for Sync ML, so it should work just fine.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for posting this; I've been agonising over syncing my Google Calendar with my mobile, leaving my Google Calendar pretty useless if I can't carry it around.

    In my opinion, Google should offer this service themselves; via syncing with mobile calendar or creating a specific app similar to the Google Mail app.

    Edit: is it secure to hand my Google Account details over to these guys, considering it holds all of my Google Checkout details as well?

    ReplyDelete
  3. http://code.google.com/p/gadjet/
    this is way better, and works over WAP flatrates

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yeah, i have to agree with "gon". GCalSync is currently the best google calendar syncher for mobile devices.

    if goosync's paid for features were free, it'd probably retake the crown, but until then i'm sticking with gcalsync.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Not only is GooSync not free, it makes you register, collects all your information and then tells you you're actually downloading an app from somebody else and you have to pay for it.

    Basically this just seems like a scam for GooSync to get my information.

    I'm really disappointed to see something like this actually suggested on a Google blog.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think you'd better look at Oggsync which a really great program.
    Supports multiple calendars, real full way sync, publish only Free/Busy Info , always Free Option , No Reminders Option. All these options can be choosen individualy for each calendar ! I tried all the other so I can tell this one rocks.
    I use it every day !

    ReplyDelete
  7. @james & sharifi14
    you never give your google account details to goosync - you allow goosync to access your calendar data on your behalf. no login data is stored by goosync and the access can be revoked at anytime from your google accounts page. and as mentioned, it's free and works really great - so just chill out, ok..?

    ReplyDelete
  8. @james
    the service can be used for free and if you sync your calendar often you don't need the paid version. you don't need to download an app if your phone has support for sync ml. the service uses google's authentication
    api so your credentials are safe. and another thing: this is not an official google blog.

    ReplyDelete
  9. For the Blackberry Pearl, you'll have to download a trialware from nexthaus . I didn't bother... TMW

    ReplyDelete
  10. I updated the post with info about the other two apps mentioned in the comments and a comparison table.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You should also add that the free version of GooSync only lets you synchronize 7 days prior and 30 days after the current date :-(

    ReplyDelete
  12. I did. I did.

    << The service's main limitations are that "you are only able to synchronize your primary Google Calendar and you are limited to a sync window of 7 days past and 30 days future of the current date," but if you pay a subscription these limitations are removed. >>

    ReplyDelete
  13. Try ActiveGCSync from http://milow.net/site/projects/activegcsync/main.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. GCalSync
    Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be developed anymore.

    Its still in developement here:
    http://code.google.com/p/gadjet/

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi folks,

    Chief GooSyncer here, if anyone has a issue with the service provided by GooSync I will personally take it on board and resolve.

    We can't please all the people all the time, but we will try

    Happy GooSyncing
    Chris at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Opps; that email address won't find me


    chris.jukes@gmail.com

    or

    chris@goosync.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Worth mentioning..
    GMobileSync
    http://rareedge.com/gmobilesync/

    Open source (free) Google Calendar Sync app for Windows Mobile 5 phones. It is still in early development compared to some of the other options, but it has potential.

    ReplyDelete
  18. GCalSync - http://code.google.com/p/gadjet/

    "Please note that development is postponed until further notice. Thank you for your patience."

    ReplyDelete
  19. I use Missing Sync (for Apple users) so you can syn your Google Calendar with your Ical and windows mobile!.

    ReplyDelete
  20. ScheduleWorld.com, is the best synchronizer I've used, allthough it's another beta.. with the ordinary glitches...

    ReplyDelete
  21. this should go well with my treo o_O thanx

    ReplyDelete
  22. WCalLive also syncs Google Calendar with WM5/WM6 devices

    http://www.quartzdevelopment.com/product.php?ProductID=61

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow, GooSync is just so great! Thanks for the tip !

    ReplyDelete
  24. Can anybody recommend a solution for syncing Google calendar with Samsung Samsung SPH-M520.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I was able to make SPH-M520 sync with Google Calendar using the GCALMOBILE software.

    http://gcalmobile.googlepages.com/

    I tested sync and addition of events from Phone -> Google Cal-> Microsoft Outlook (using Google Calendar Sync

    http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=89955)
    and the other way round

    Microsoft Outlook-> Google Calendar -> Mobile.

    YIPEE

    ReplyDelete
  26. Great review! Thanks. Helps a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Heh its not well publicized but the Asus P320 mini GPS PDA phone has a built in app named cryptically as Remote Calendar.
    its got .dll files named like google.gdata.dll and basically it syncs with ur main GCal. Pleasant surprise for me!
    if u have qns about the app which runs on Win mobile 6.1 just drop a comment here http://asusp320.blogspot.com/2008/10/remote-calender-connects-to-google-cal.html

    ReplyDelete
  28. Okay, so I dont have browser enabled on my Blackberry but I want still to have the Blackberry 8130 sync with my phone, can I not get a plugin for the Desktop Manager V4.7 to allow me to Sync, there is one in there for Yahoo, surely Google is not going to let Yahoo get away with that!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I just found http://www.nuevasync.com
    Able to sync Google Calendar and Contacts with Windows Mobile!
    You just have to configure a new ActiveSync server on your device - no software to install. I was able to sync 250+ contacts and 450+ calendar items in about 5-6 minutes over my phones data connection.

    ReplyDelete
  30. vufone just launched a sync service which, amongst others, allows fully automated and seamless sync to Google contacts and calendar as well as to MS outlook and much more. is supports most j2me phones from Nokia, SonyEricsson and Moto, Symbian and Windows mobile. Worth checking out at http://www.vufone.com.

    ReplyDelete
  31. SE P1i works with gcalsync, however the regulary asked midlet permission is a little problem since it is an unsigned version. Goosync stopped or disabled the free accounts by end of Jan 2009.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Is there a way to make Google Calendar sync with Office 2000?
    I have Office 2000, and whenever I try to sync with Google Calendar, it tells me that it only supports 2003 and 2007; which is lame, in my opinion, since those are the versions I purposely avoided since the interfaces are new and flashy (and probably more system-hogging) and different than I'm used to.

    ReplyDelete
  33. goosync about to charge for their free service :(

    ReplyDelete
  34. When you have a phone running Windows Mobile, it makes sense to connect it to your PC to sync contacts or appointments, to enjoy the music or add software. Read more from the whole guide on "How to connect Windows Mobile Phone to PC ?" at: http://forums.techarena.in/guides-tutorials/1114756.htm

    ReplyDelete
  35. Since GooSync isn't free anymore, this might be a good replacement to try out: http://syncme.lorenc.se/

    ReplyDelete
  36. Is there any else than syncme?
    Nokia N70 won't work with that. Phone says that there was database error.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Another possibility is to use the RSS reader of your phone to show the Google Calendar events (using gcal2rss.plandich.de).

    See for example:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGGaqDmIcDU

    ReplyDelete

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