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Good (WiFi/3G) Outlook Sync APP, does it exist?

I don't use Outlook but my dad does. As his android tech advisor I am at a loss trying to find a good solution for syncing his Outlook to his phone.
It seems like there would be a good solution for this but everything I've found is either a half-baked email-and-contacts-only job and requires paying for Exchange service (paying for apps or Exchange service is not a problem if it works well, but the reviews are not favorable)
If a good reliable Outlook sync option does not currently exist what would be involved in making one?

I don't understand the need to sync with outlook when one can sync with Google automatically.

The htc sync software syncs with outlook. It comes with new phones on the sd card or can be downloaded from the htc site.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

[email protected] said:
I don't understand the need to sync with outlook when one can sync with Google automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand your point. It sounds like you're suggesting he stop using outlook and switch to google for email, contacts, calendar, notes, tasks, etc.
He uses Outlook (as many people do) and does not see google as a comparable alternative.
While it works fine as the account he uses to manage the phone he has no intention of migrating away from Outlook, at least not to Google, not for such business critical purposes.
johncjenc said:
The htc sync software syncs with outlook. It comes with new phones on the sd card or can be downloaded from the htc site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I edited the thread title..

nebenezer said:
I don't understand your point. It sounds like you're suggesting he stop using outlook and switch to google for email, contacts, calendar, notes, tasks, etc.
He uses Outlook (as many people do) and does not see google as a comparable alternative.
While it works fine as the account he uses to manage the phone he has no intention of migrating away from Outlook, at least not to Google, not for such business critical purposes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what he was trying to say is that you can use Google Sync to sync between Outlook & your android phone via Google's cloud. Something that I do as well. But it may not be as in depth as you're seeking.
Here is an article from PC World. http://www.pcworld.com/article/200654/sync_outlook_with_your_google_calendar.html
For a paid app that does it all, here's a review of an app in the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/15/AR2010071504701.html

Hey Nebenezer,
I realize this may be a bit late for you but maybe better late than never.
I'm in the same boat as you (advisor to my brother).
I found and tested Deja Office by Companionlink (Companionlink USB @ $39.99 - did not see need for pro @$99.99.)
After testing it a bit it looked like it fit the bill. I put my brother on it and he's used it thru the trial well enough and so bought it. I think it's about 3 weeks now. He's happy with it.
I didn't have the same need to stay with outlook but since I tested these are the main points I noted:
Requires using their own suite of apps on the phone
Does not use the stock phone's DBs
DOES sync contacts [optionally] with the phones contacts
NOT SURE if it syncs CALENDAR to phone's calendar (I suspect it does but I didn't test and my brother does not need/want it)
It's up to the user to make sure contacts/calendar dont get sucked into the google cloud (if you don't wan't that as in my brother's case) as a result of syncing with the phone's contacts/calendar
USB cable sync (not wifi as you asked for)
The using of their own apps (which are really a suite in one app so has it's own "launcher" screen) turns out to be less of a pain in the ass than I thought it would be (I found shortcuts to each individual 'app' so no need to deal w/ their 'launcher' screen). My brother does not find it bothersome at all.
The apps also hove a bit more of an Outlook-centric feel and fields mapping so he liked it (you can see the android apps, btw, for free from the Market - search Deja Office - you only pay for the PC Sync side)
I should note that my brother spends most of his time in Outlook on the the desktop rather than on the phone (my usage pattern is the inverse) so let your dad use it and decide if he likes it. As always, ymmv.
Hope that helps you and your dad. It's at least worth giving a look.
Btw, I forgot to mention, it does NOT deal w/ email. Only Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes. I liked that model because email can be easily handled using IMAP or Gmail (which my brother uses) and so no requirement for Exchange.
Conversely, it does not support Exchange iirc, so Exchange users my need a different solution.
hth someone,
J.

Microsoft My Phone Question

Question for those who use Microsoft My Phone.
I currently use My Phone to sync Contacts and Text Messages on my WM 6.5 phone. When I get my WP7 device will I be able to sync those Contacts and Text Messages over? Or will I need to import contacts from my SIM card?

No - Apparently MyPhone is not supported in WP7 and can't be accessed by the phone. They want everything to be done via Windows Live or Exchange
I use MyPhone too for my 6.5 more as just online backup but it's nice to have txts etc saved out, plus I use SPB backup too for which at the moment there is no WP7 alternative.

kin studio like feature will be added later on to the web portal.

powersquad said:
kin studio like feature will be added later on to the web portal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what should a user do?
When we have all the contacts and calendar synced with MyPhone,
how can we port it to WP7??

doministry said:
So what should a user do?
When we have all the contacts and calendar synced with MyPhone,
how can we port it to WP7??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sync phone with an exchange server if one has access to it otherwise install outlook with hotmail connector, sync contacts and calender from phone into hotmail on outlook which will sync the same info with hotmail on the web...
connect wp7 with hotmail via EOAS or pop and that will sync the contacts and calenders...

powersquad said:
sync phone with an exchange server if one has access to it otherwise install outlook with hotmail connector, sync contacts and calender from phone into hotmail on outlook which will sync the same info with hotmail on the web...
connect wp7 with hotmail via EOAS or pop and that will sync the contacts and calenders...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a disaster. Instead of easy solution like MyPhone
one has to **** around with so many steps!!!!
And this is user friendly??!! This is so freaking complicated.
WP7 is NOT USER FRIENDLY.

doministry said:
What a disaster. Instead of easy solution like MyPhone
one has to **** around with so many steps!!!!
And this is user friendly??!! This is so freaking complicated.
WP7 is NOT USER FRIENDLY.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that was an alternative. like I said earlier, kin studio like features which store contacts, text messages etc on the cloud will be added later to devices.live.com website.
not everyone stores their contacts and text messages on myphone.
ps - you can always import your contacts to your sim card and then export it to wp7's internal memory too...

I'm using MyPhone too as I don't have an exchange account, it's a shame that feature isn't available on day one but hopefully it will come with the January update.

powersquad said:
that was an alternative. like I said earlier, kin studio like features which store contacts, text messages etc on the cloud will be added later to devices.live.com website.
not everyone stores their contacts and text messages on myphone.
ps - you can always import your contacts to your sim card and then export it to wp7's internal memory too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not alternative. It's the only choice.
I'm talking about transferring data from one MS device to another,
and it's simply screwed, opposed to the solution which was just available.
And don't be silly.
You know that transferring 1500 contacts with multiple data is impossible to transfer
through SIM.
Hello Microsoft, it's 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

doministry said:
It's not alternative. It's the only choice.
I'm talking about transferring data from one MS device to another,
and it's simply screwed, opposed to the solution which was just available.
And don't be silly.
You know that transferring 1500 contacts with multiple data is impossible to transfer
through SIM.
Hello Microsoft, it's 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the same boat fella. I have a possible solution to this problem but to be honest it's not something that many people will be able to do. Plus I haven't implemented it yet and won't get a chance till next week now.
For the moment, what I have done is use the Outlook connector and got the contacts and calender into my live account. I've lost some data (some pretty important) and it doesn't sync categories which I make extensive use of, but it's there for the moment. It will do for a short time when I get my phone from Wed.
Sorry but that is all I can suggest for the moment. IMO they screwed this up royally

I have an exchange account, but I purposely don't sync my personal contacts with my business contacts. This sucks because MyPhone is in the "cloud" and is a M$ product, but it doesn't work with their newest phone? What crap.

Just found this link on Microsoft website about the same issue. Straight from a MS employee, not compatible with WP7

what?
i asked that question a few weeks ago and someone mentioned myphone
now it's not compatible?
how am i going to transfer 500+ contacts and almost 10000 sms messages to the new phone???

WP7 might have My Phone connectivity after all.
Now that T-Mobile USA has posted more details about the device on their site, see this under "Features":
Microsoft My Phone Service
Connect your phone to the Web and simplify your life. With Microsoft My Phone service you can back up and access your contacts and text messages, share photos on your favorite social networking sites, and even locate your phone if it gets lost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So for you who plan to move to WP7 (I'll stick with 6.5.x personally) there may be hope .

You are all making assumptions based on mis-reported facts. Windows Phone 7 does have "My Phone," however it is now integrated into the OS. You can easily transfer your contacts, calendar, and e-mail by connecting your old Windows Mobile device to sync with Gmail or Hotmail, then connect your new Windows Phone 7 device to sync and it will download everything from one of those services. After that, you're free to disconnect Windows Phone 7 from the service if you don't want it anymore and your contacts and calendar will stay. (For obvious reasons, e-mail requires maintaining an account with somebody.)
As far as text messages, there is no migration path from 6.x to 7, as is the same when upgrading iPhone devices or just about any other platform. However, I think you will all find that Microsoft's implementation of MyPhone on Windows Phone 7 is still better than MobileMe. Not only is it free, but its feature-set (like integrating SkyDrive photos with the locally-stored photos together into the Pictures hub) is much better than the separate app silos Apple has created. Windows Phone 7 isn't perfect, but IMO it's a pretty good version 1 product considering that they've started over from scratch and the competition has had a 2-3 year head start.

steve10 said:
You are all making assumptions based on mis-reported facts. Windows Phone 7 does have "My Phone," however it is now integrated into the OS. You can easily transfer your contacts, calendar, and e-mail by connecting your old Windows Mobile device to sync with Gmail or Hotmail, then connect your new Windows Phone 7 device to sync and it will download everything from one of those services. After that, you're free to disconnect Windows Phone 7 from the service if you don't want it anymore and your contacts and calendar will stay. (For obvious reasons, e-mail requires maintaining an account with somebody.)
As far as text messages, there is no migration path from 6.x to 7, as is the same when upgrading iPhone devices or just about any other platform. However, I think you will all find that Microsoft's implementation of MyPhone on Windows Phone 7 is still better than MobileMe. Not only is it free, but its feature-set (like integrating SkyDrive photos with the locally-stored photos together into the Pictures hub) is much better than the separate app silos Apple has created. Windows Phone 7 isn't perfect, but IMO it's a pretty good version 1 product considering that they've started over from scratch and the competition has had a 2-3 year head start.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, wake up.
So WP7 HAS NO MYPHONE.
MyPhone was just launched year ago to TO HELP EASILY BACKUP AND RESTORE
in the cloud all of the data you need. So I could switch my device every week and still have all I need with me with one ****ing click. It was meant to be this way.
And now MS launches new platform and instead of enjoying great solutions,
opposite to all advertised easyness and "it just works"
you have to sync everything through the crappy few steps process!!!!
Plus all the smses are gone, all tasks and notes are gone!!!
That's a DUMBASS implementation. Stupid and completely brainless.
So WP7 looks like a lie?
With this attitude I hope they will not succeed.
Or wake up soon.
No there's no excuse for such things anymore.
It's 2010. They've had 10 years for that.
And I don't care for a second how much time they've spent on it.
Crap is crap.

MyPhone was great and worked well. One of the great ideas MS had recently.
So why this great solution has not been implemented into WP7 ??????
I don't understand.

arturobandini said:
MyPhone was great and worked well. One of the great ideas MS had recently.
So why this great solution has not been implemented into WP7 ??????
I don't understand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because of their stupid policies.

steve10 said:
You are all making assumptions based on mis-reported facts. Windows Phone 7 does have "My Phone," however it is now integrated into the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not the same "my phone" as we are talking about here. I won't be able to transfer my text messages from the my phone service. I have no issues with transferring contacts, etc as that is easy.

righto.....so from my understanding exchange 2010 supports SMS's.
Is there a way to import the SMS from Microsoft my Phone?
Or is it a case of needing to get the SMS's sync'd from my 6.5 device to my Exchange and then sync them back to the WP7 device?

[Q] Syncing Outlook contacts and calendar to WP7

Hi, I'm new around here as a new WP7 user, I'm trying to get some advice. I have all of my contacts and calendar entries synced to Outlook. I have Zune software installed. I may just be missing something simple, but how do I get the phone to sync with Outlook and grab these contacts and calendar entries?
Many thanks
Michael.

Bad news. It does not sync with Outlook (only Exchange version) with a pst file.
11 page thread below re this.

What? Windows phone do not sync with outlook? Are they killing each other...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Hi
It is possible - just get the Outlok connector to sync Outlook to Windows Live, and then Windows Live will sync to the WP7 (over the air).
Paul

I'm shocked that it can't just sync directly with Outlook
Anyway, I did put my Windows Live ID onto the phone, but that then synced all of my MSN contacts to the phone book, which I don't want. I couldn't find a way to stop it syncing my MSN contacts, and as you cannot delete the account once entered, I had to format the phone and start over.
So it looks like I'm going to need a whole new Windows Live account just to sync my Outlook contacts and calendar. Looking at the Outlook connector it seems to be saying that it'll transfer your Live contacts and calendar to Outlook, but what I'm wanting is the other way around, my Outlook calendar and contact to transfer to Live. How do you do this?
Many thanks
Michael.

Ok - firstly Windows Live isn't the only way to sync contacts/calendar on to your phone OTA. There is Exchange, gmail etc to do this. You might want to look at the other methods.
I for one didn't want to use Live at all and went for an hosted Exchange option till I can get my own server sorted (overkill I know). However, hosted Exchange costs about £4 pm.If you have your own domain, even sweeter.
So I still use Outlook (I'm lucky I have 2010 so can have 2 excahnge accounts on 1 profile) to keep all my work and home calendar and contacts in sync with my phone and this also translates to home desktops and laptops automatically too. This is as easy as drgging and dropping between accounts.

chubnut said:
Ok - firstly Windows Live isn't the only way to sync contacts/calendar on to your phone OTA. There is Exchange, gmail etc to do this. You might want to look at the other methods.
I for one didn't want to use Live at all and went for an hosted Exchange option till I can get my own server sorted (overkill I know). However, hosted Exchange costs about £4 pm.If you have your own domain, even sweeter.
So I still use Outlook (I'm lucky I have 2010 so can have 2 excahnge accounts on 1 profile) to keep all my work and home calendar and contacts in sync with my phone and this also translates to home desktops and laptops automatically too. This is as easy as drgging and dropping between accounts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I have to sync with Outlook OTA, what I really want is a solution that works the same as MobileMe, i.e., it automatically keeps all the data between the phone and Outlook in sync without the need to perform manual syncs. Is this possible?

the usual send/recieve in outlook will connect to your live account also and onto your phone why pay £4pm when this kinda thing should be included, I'm sure MS will get off their arse soon and do some updates and tweaking.

jedix said:
the usual send/recieve in outlook will connect to your live account also and onto your phone why pay £4pm when this kinda thing should be included, I'm sure MS will get off their arse soon and do some updates and tweaking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right MS need to sort this out but I doubt it's a priority. They consider the whole Outlook thing to be a business solution and by their very own words are a secondary concern for this OS at the moment. They want the simple masses not the business/power users. They want that massive chunk of iPhone and Android drones to come over to WP.
There is no way I want my business and personal contacts and calendar on Live. That **** gets hacked all the time. The hosted exchange solution was the safest and easiest solution for me at present. It's quick and easy to set up, secure as it's a business solution and employs security protocols way above those on Live. In addition the OTA synchronisation between the device and all other machines that use that exchange account (so those at home and my PC at work) is instantaneous, and yes a bit of a pain to do the drag and drop between the exchange accounts but it's EXACTLY the same as you will have to do if you use Live and the Outlook connector. £4pm is in my opinion not a high price to pay for to satisfy my concerns.

Hmmm, so what r the options ?
Desktop synching is critical to me.
I've got a small business, we don't run Exchange server but have invested serious time to standardise on Outlook/Office: contacts, tasks, notes, onenote, email client, word/excel.
Contacts and detailed contact info is our IP; Word/Excel data is client confidential. Placing this on someone else's drive in the cloud isn't an option.
From what I understand so far...
1. Phone 7: data on the cloud; doesn't sync (manual updates)
2. Android: data on the cloud; synchs email and contacts only (?)
3. Apple: data on the desktop, synchs email and contacts only
4. Symbian: ugh !
5. WM6.x: currently trying to get away from the endless problems and snail-like performance
Is this right ?
Does anyone have an alternative (other than implementing Exchange)?
(Waiting doesn’t seem an option either. I'm sceptical MS will introduce desktop synching anytime soon, or at all: social users won't care and Exchange synch takes care of corporates - hence 80% of potential market is catered for. Also, the prospect of selling cloud storage has put a light in way too many eyes. )

mrochester said:
If I have to sync with Outlook OTA, what I really want is a solution that works the same as MobileMe, i.e., it automatically keeps all the data between the phone and Outlook in sync without the need to perform manual syncs. Is this possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Windows Live uses Exchange ActiveSync. That is far superior to MobileMe. Do people still use MobileMe?
Anyways...
Exchange also uses ActiveSync.
Exchange is supported Natively in Outlook. Windows Live is supported via the Connector (Mail, Contacts, Calendar).
Everything stays in Sync.

jedix said:
the usual send/recieve in outlook will connect to your live account also and onto your phone why pay £4pm when this kinda thing should be included, I'm sure MS will get off their arse soon and do some updates and tweaking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Outlook Connector and Hotmail ActiveSync is completely free.
Don't spread lies.

I'm not totally of-fay with Android or iPhone so can't really comment except I think that iPhones also do calendar from Outlook desktop via iTunes (and correct me if I'm wrong OTA with exchange).
Also with Android, some guys at work do use desktop sync to Outlook but I don't know what and how but they do use it.
I just came off the WinMo 6.5 bandwagon so I know what it was capable of not mater how bad.
WP7, my company won't open up the ports to allow Exchange to sync (they like SlackBerries) and with the absence desktop sync I had to implement my own methods for OTA syncing without using Live. None of this is ideal but it seems from other forums that a lot of people are complaining about this and M$ I believe are listening, though when it will be sorted is another matter.
Sorry

dfh said:
what I understand so far...
1. Phone 7: data on the cloud; doesn't sync (manual updates)
2. Android: data on the cloud; synchs email and contacts only (?)
3. Apple: data on the desktop, synchs email and contacts only
4. Symbian: ugh !
5. WM6.x: currently trying to get away from the endless problems and snail-like performance
Is this right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't understand... No, it is not correct.
1. Data on the cloud. Synchs automatically:
Of course your email, calendar, and contact list shows up from Hotmail, powered by Exchange ActiveSync. And because the phone supports multiple ActiveSync connections, you can connect to your Exchange server at work and view all of your mail, both calendars, and your entire contact list on your phone. And similar to Hotmail on the web, it’s really easy to make quick edits to Office documents you receive as email attachments and reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reference: http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_...0/10/11/windows-live-and-windows-phone-7.aspx
2. Android Synchs Calendars from Google Servers. Google on Android has weaker (i.e. less tight) integration than Windows Live on Windows Phone 7, though.
3. MobileMe is inferior to both the WP7/Live and Android/Google integration. It supports ActiveSync, however.
4. Symbian supports ActiveSync. Symbian may not look that great but feature for feature it can match or rival most other smartphone OSes. The UI is what has held Symbian back, not the core platform - which is great.
5. WM6.x Supports ActiveSync and there is Windows Live for Windows Mobile to Sync Winodws Live Mail and Contacts to the phone. It can also merge Live Contacts with already-existing Phone contacts and show Presence information. There is Microsoft Office 2010 Mobile for Windows Mobile 6.5. The only WinMo phone I'd bother using is an HD2 these days, but that device has its own problems (if you get a "good one", then you're good to go, though).
On WinMo 6.5 You can sync your Hotmail Contacts/Mail via Windows Live for Windows Mobile, chat with Windows Live Messenger Mobile, and get your Google Mail, Contacts, and Calendar via ActiveSync by way of Google Sync.
Does anyone have an alternative (other than implementing Exchange)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can get a Blackberry and use BIS/BES.
(Waiting doesn’t seem an option either. I'm sceptical MS will introduce desktop synching anytime soon, or at all: social users won't care and Exchange synch takes care of corporates - hence 80% of potential market is catered for. Also, the prospect of selling cloud storage has put a light in way too many eyes. )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Desktop Syncing is a feature being fantastically overstated in these forums, just like stuff like a File manager. If you're a Lemming then just get an Android phone and use Google Services. If you can make your own decisions I think I've cleared up enough of your misconceptions in this reply (or at least given you the capabilities of each platform IRT what info syncs that may pretain to you specific use case).
EDIT: If you're running a business you can do yourself a favor and oursource your Exchange hosting. For example: http://www.apps4rent.com/ has 6-7GB mailboxes for something like $7.99/mo and you can get just 1 mailbox if you want, with no contract or anything. I used them for a couple of years, so I can vouch for them. You get Outlook for free with you Plan (or Entourage/Outlook for Mac) and ActiveSync is a free Add-On. You can access from web browsers using OWA, and use either a sub-domain or your own domain.

See this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=797472

I'm pretty sure anyone reading this thread has seen that trainwreck of a thread. You don't need to crosspost the link here. You're free to bump your thread.

Pretty sure
I'm very sure that you do not use Outlook on a stand alone PC with a pst file and sync every day with a Win Phone or you would understand what we are all talking about. No I qualify, sync every day with Calender, Tasks, & Contacts.[/I]

Just for those who have read this thread and are confused; I have an outlook calendar, contacts, and hotmail all synced up with my WP7 device.
Calendar - I chose to install Google Calendar Sync onto my Outlook PC. It automatically syncs my local outlook calendar with the cloud every 10 mins. Google calendar then pushes any changes to my phone instantly, no wires.
Contacts - I chose to install the hotmail connector for outlook, and dragged all my contacts out of their folder and into the hotmail account. this pushed them onto the phone automatically, no wires. Any changes to contacts are now made either on the phone directly, or in the new contacts folder created by the hotmail connector.
Hotmail - I used to use the POP3 account settings, but decided to change to using the outlook connector instead. Works a treat. Push Email is far superior to clunky old send/receive schedules.
The above may not suit everone, but it works for me and I`m very happy with the results.

@N8ter
No, desktop sync and file manager is not oversized.
It's basics which should be provided

Funny how people were moaning about WM6.5's lack of wireless sync with Outlook. Now that WP7 syncs wirelessly with Outlook, people are moaning that it doesn't sync over wired USB.
Some people will never be happy. *shrug*

Outlook Syncing On Your Infuse...

Anyone out there use Companionlink/DejaOffice to sync their Outlook contact, calendar, notes and task to the Infuse?
Coming from years on Windows Mobile, I felt like I couldn't live without it as I like to do my planning on Outlook 2010 but now and then, I need to do it on my phone.
While far from perfect, Companionlink/DejaOffice does a good job...the latest update to DejaOffice seems a little quirky though...the sync progress goes away after 10 seconds and you can only see the progress on the PC.

I'm sorry I can' help you with Outlook. I'm just surprised anybody does this anymore. There are so many web-based / network-based solutions to choose from:
Google (the one built right into your phone)
Windows Live
Yahoo
Sync with your work Exchange server
Etc.
Now that you aren't on Windows Mobile anymore, you might want to consider this as being a great time to move to one of the aforementioned options.

My company blocked all non-company owned devices from using web synch since it was too easy to bypass the remote wipe and password requirements.
The only way to synch is by using Outlook on my home PC that connects into my Work account. Of course I have not tried that with an Android device yet, just used to be able to do it with WM devices.
tankmorph said:
I'm sorry I can' help you with Outlook. I'm just surprised anybody does this anymore. There are so many web-based / network-based solutions to choose from:
Google (the one built right into your phone)
Windows Live
Yahoo
Sync with your work Exchange server
Etc.
Now that you aren't on Windows Mobile anymore, you might want to consider this as being a great time to move to one of the aforementioned options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

the_nite_owl said:
My company blocked all non-company owned devices from using web synch since it was too easy to bypass the remote wipe and password requirements.
The only way to synch is by using Outlook on my home PC that connects into my Work account. Of course I have not tried that with an Android device yet, just used to be able to do it with WM devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, CompanionLink/DejaOffice works pretty good...a little quirky and needs some adjustment but it works quite well...you still have to pay $40.00 for CompanionLink but it was worth it...not ready yet to NOT sync with Outlook...

I hear ya, the contacts are one thing but not having my calendar is a PITA.
garak0410 said:
Well, CompanionLink/DejaOffice works pretty good...a little quirky and needs some adjustment but it works quite well...you still have to pay $40.00 for CompanionLink but it was worth it...not ready yet to NOT sync with Outlook...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

That's unfortunate your company blocks the use of non-company devices to sync. I guess it depends on how strict the IT dept policies are. I'm lucky. I have my work exchange email, contacts and calendar with me all the time. I just use the built in email app.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

I am using android sync. It is just usb sync though. You have to connect to sync.
http://www.android-sync.com/

I just got the InFuse and I downloaded the trial version of Touchdown app for Exchange. You should give it a try it is free to try and I really like this app. It syncs everything over the air and downloaded every single folder I have plus all the emails in them. I think for the corporate user this is THE app for email syncing.

Touchdown is very good...I don't do exchange at home so CompanionLink is the way to go for me to sync my Outlook contacts, tasks and notes.

I have been using Touchdown for a year it so, but yesterday I gave Moxier Email a try, and though it misses a few tricks Touchdown has, the UI and overall feeling is newer and more polished.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App

So before I buy an infuse.
I currently use a tilt2 with windows mobile, and active sync software.
For my work, I cannot live without exchange server access to my:
email (use outlook on the laptop but it all comes from the exchange server)
calender: exchange server
contacts: exchange server
tasks: exchange server
I'm able to access emails, attachments, forward, reply, etc. I'm able to modify conference meeting times, and send updates from exchange to all participants. I'm able to schedule new meetings and invite attendees on the work exchange/network from my work/exchange contacts, etc, etc, etc.
I'm basically able to do everything I would do from my laptop on my phone, but with a smaller screen and keyboard.
Again I need to have all the same options that I have within outlook on my PC with email/calender/contact functions and exchange access.
Before I dive into an infuse, is this possible via the included software? or touchdown?
or do you have experiences that would lead you do suggest a different software, or a different phone all together?
I may have to wait to see if ATT will carry the HTC Titan since that will have a windows OS, but if the infuse will work well I may take the plunge sooner and wait for LTE devices to take hold for another couple years.
Thanks for any insight!!!

[Q] Syncing HTC 7 with Outlook or Own Files

I received my HTC 7 Pro over the weekend. It looks nice, runs fine. I upgraded to Mango Beta. That made it even better. I ordered a 32GB microSD to get the storage the phone deserves. So, I'm excited about my new toy. And then I tried to sync to Outlook.
It seems incredibly strange that on this website chock full of staunch individualists that no one is ranting about being forced to use MS Hotmail and the MS cloud invironment as the only method of allowing a 'Pro' phone to be synchronized with Outlook contacts and calendar. And what about all of the music and files I have on my PC? It isn't rational that I should have to pass 10-20GB of stuff through the MS cloud just because MS have decided that is how they want to manage phone synchronization. I do not want another public e-mail address and I certainly do not want to push my business correspondence through one.
[I have just deleted a lengthy rant about MS from here. Suffice it to say I am really dissatisfied with MS and their apparent business intent.]
I like the HTC 7 Pro but I really need to be able to connect a USB cable and transfer my own stuff like I can on any other phone.
So I am looking to all of you for help/advice. If there is no way to synchronize Phone 7 with my laptop then I am perfectly willing to downgrade back to WM6.5 or switch to Android. I just need to know what my options are.
I kept all my packing material. If there is no solution then I will return the phone and get the nearest Android equivalent.
Thanks in advance for your help.
--Steve

Your media can all be transferred using Zune, direct from your computer, wired or over WiFi (after a wired sync you can set the phone to automatically sync when it's plugged in and doing nothing)
Regarding Outlook, I don't know of a single person that doesn't use Exchange or Google, both of which can be used to synchronise mail, calendar, contacts and i believe tasks between computer and mobile device. This is so much more advantageous than 'direct by wire' syncing that I'm surprised you are that concerned. If anything it's good practice to have a backup of these things...
shrines said:
I received my HTC 7 Pro over the weekend. It looks nice, runs fine. I upgraded to Mango Beta. That made it even better. I ordered a 32GB microSD to get the storage the phone deserves. So, I'm excited about my new toy. And then I tried to sync to Outlook.
It seems incredibly strange that on this website chock full of staunch individualists that no one is ranting about being forced to use MS Hotmail and the MS cloud invironment as the only method of allowing a 'Pro' phone to be synchronized with Outlook contacts and calendar. And what about all of the music and files I have on my PC? It isn't rational that I should have to pass 10-20GB of stuff through the MS cloud just because MS have decided that is how they want to manage phone synchronization. I do not want another public e-mail address and I certainly do not want to push my business correspondence through one.
[I have just deleted a lengthy rant about MS from here. Suffice it to say I am really dissatisfied with MS and their apparent business intent.]
I like the HTC 7 Pro but I really need to be able to connect a USB cable and transfer my own stuff like I can on any other phone.
So I am looking to all of you for help/advice. If there is no way to synchronize Phone 7 with my laptop then I am perfectly willing to downgrade back to WM6.5 or switch to Android. I just need to know what my options are.
I kept all my packing material. If there is no solution then I will return the phone and get the nearest Android equivalent.
Thanks in advance for your help.
--Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

yea nothing wrong with using the cloud at all. there's also even a hotmail-outlook connector, you are not being "forced" to use hotmail at all ur more than welcome to use ur exchange email to sync ur contacts but u do need a live ID to use the marketplace and Zune. android has this similar practice where u need a Gmail account to even be able to use it period. MS is not going to spy on ur emails or call ur contacts and ur information isn't any less safe on the cloud than it is on ur PC.

Thanks for the replies, folks, but it appears that I have not made myself clear. I have over 2000 contacts due to industry committee activities and customers. I have four email accounts within Outlook, only one of which is an Exchange account. I travel extensively. The MS instructions for moving my contacts to my phone 7 include having to import all of those not on the Exchange server to HotMail using CSV formats. There is no automatic update thereafter. Zune will only update the phone calendar from one 'primary' calendar.
I am in Ireland today and I was unable to sync with Zune because it expected me to change my location/region settings to match my current location (I live in Germany). When I changed my location to Ireland I was informed that my Zune would not work due to restrictions (content licensing, I assume). The same is true if I select Worldwide English. If I switch back my location back to Germany there are no English pages available but I still can't sync.
Many places I visit have no wired or wireless Internet and roaming charges are outrageous. So how do I keep my phone contacts, calendar and files up-to-date with my Outlook through all this?
All I did with WM 6.5 was plug my phone in to my laptop and ActiveSync took care of the update. No more.
And I still haven't been able to sync my phone.
It really looks like Phone 7 is focused on social sites and trying to sell me stuff rather than addressing my needs as a business user.

shrines said:
Thanks for the replies, folks, but it appears that I have not made myself clear. I have over 2000 contacts due to industry committee activities and customers. I have four email accounts within Outlook, only one of which is an Exchange account. I travel extensively. The MS instructions for moving my contacts to my phone 7 include having to import all of those not on the Exchange server to HotMail using CSV formats. There is no automatic update thereafter. Zune will only update the phone calendar from one 'primary' calendar.
I am in Ireland today and I was unable to sync with Zune because it expected me to change my location/region settings to match my current location (I live in Germany). When I changed my location to Ireland I was informed that my Zune would not work due to restrictions (content licensing, I assume). The same is true if I select Worldwide English. If I switch back my location back to Germany there are no English pages available but I still can't sync.
Many places I visit have no wired or wireless Internet and roaming charges are outrageous. So how do I keep my phone contacts, calendar and files up-to-date with my Outlook through all this?
All I did with WM 6.5 was plug my phone in to my laptop and ActiveSync took care of the update. No more.
And I still haven't been able to sync my phone.
It really looks like Phone 7 is focused on social sites and trying to sell me stuff rather than addressing my needs as a business user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is totally incorrect! on wp7 u can add as many exchange accounts as u want and it will sync them and keep them updated vs on wm6.5 and android u can have one, and those contacts that aren't on exchange u can easily add them or import them it is no big deal at all. all the calendars are also updated, on my arrive with the mango beta I have 2 live accounts setup and my Facebook account and it syncs ALL my appointments accordingly to which account they originated from. Zune does not sync any of this, Zune only syncs pictures,videos and music.

Forgive me, but reading that sounds like you haven't actually used the software.
Zune only deals with multimedia and updates - nothing to do with calendars, contacts, or mail.
You can have as many accounts as you like on the phone, they ALL synchronise everything, and in the calendar app every accounts' calendar appears and has a different colour attached to it (mine, for example, highlights Exchange in red, Google in Blue, and Facebook in green, and they all appear together so I know when I'm actually available)
I don't understand how having a thousand contacts is a problem? You can sync contacts from Google, Exchange, or Windows Live into Outlook, then it's a case of using that most amazing of things as Copy and Paste, then the cloud takes care of your syncing.
Travelling a lot, it makes sense to me to just let the phone deal with the sync - when something changes, it gets pushed to the phone automatically, and if you change something on the phone it's pushed to the cloud, where your computer picks it up automatically.
You sound like the perfect example of somebody who could benefit hugely from a push-sync service but doesn't want to...sorry to be frank, but that's just the way it seems to me...
shrines said:
Thanks for the replies, folks, but it appears that I have not made myself clear. I have over 2000 contacts due to industry committee activities and customers. I have four email accounts within Outlook, only one of which is an Exchange account. I travel extensively. The MS instructions for moving my contacts to my phone 7 include having to import all of those not on the Exchange server to HotMail using CSV formats. There is no automatic update thereafter. Zune will only update the phone calendar from one 'primary' calendar.
I am in Ireland today and I was unable to sync with Zune because it expected me to change my location/region settings to match my current location (I live in Germany). When I changed my location to Ireland I was informed that my Zune would not work due to restrictions (content licensing, I assume). The same is true if I select Worldwide English. If I switch back my location back to Germany there are no English pages available but I still can't sync.
Many places I visit have no wired or wireless Internet and roaming charges are outrageous. So how do I keep my phone contacts, calendar and files up-to-date with my Outlook through all this?
All I did with WM 6.5 was plug my phone in to my laptop and ActiveSync took care of the update. No more.
And I still haven't been able to sync my phone.
It really looks like Phone 7 is focused on social sites and trying to sell me stuff rather than addressing my needs as a business user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I'm in the same boat sort of. I don't use Exchange, just MS Office an Outlook for my schedule and contacts. I only just got my first WP7 phone and previously I was a recent WM user migrating from my Axim x51v. Been using a PDA since WM2003. I really find it hard to fathom why MS would make it so that their products can't talk to each other. I've installed the connecter and still couldn't get it to sync up to Hotmail very easily. I've got my contacts in teh phone but still can't get my calender to move over.

My suggestion to you John would be to get yourself a Google account, which you can sync using the Exchange protocol into Outlook, and which the phone can sync automatically. That's probably the easiest way of doing things.

Hi all
Currently using an HTC Touch Pro 2 and was considering upgrading to HTC 7 Pro. Came across this post and am very concerned. Due to work data restrictions phone must be able to connect using ordinary USB cable. Is there no way that this can happen on WM7?
Thanks
Barney
P.S Was cosiderng WM7 v. Android and decided to stick with Windows (seeing as that is all I have ever had) This could be a deal breaker though, assuming Android phones can easily sync using USB.

My god where do you work!?
Unfortunately it would appear the draconian restrictions in your workplace are letting you down - neither WP7 or Android are designed to synchronise PIM data over USB. HTC have bodged together a not-fantastic workaround for Android which is probably your only choice...
Edit: By connect, what do you mean? Obviously any phone can connect, just not necessarily sync.

I do mean syncing of data (calendar, tasks, contacts, notes) over a USB cable. I gather there are apps that work on Android that allow this even though native android doesn't.
Looks like its going to have to be Android then. Looking at Samsung Galaxy S2 just now. Got another couple of months so Microsoft may sort this but somehow I don't think they will - must admit not sure why not, their mobile phone sales have dropped a lot over the past few years and with this sort of design I now know why. Been using them for around 7 years now but looks like I will be forced to move away.
Cheers
Barney
Edit: I gather that the iPhone natively supports direct sync to Microsoft Outlook - shudder, now having to include that in my shortlist! How did Microsoft get it soooo wrong!!!

Barneyabz said:
I do mean syncing of data (calendar, tasks, contacts, notes) over a USB cable. I gather there are apps that work on Android that allow this even though native android doesn't.
Looks like its going to have to be Android then. Looking at Samsung Galaxy S2 just now. Got another couple of months so Microsoft may sort this but somehow I don't think they will - must admit not sure why not, their mobile phone sales have dropped a lot over the past few years and with this sort of design I now know why. Been using them for around 7 years now but looks like I will be forced to move away.
Cheers
Barney
Edit: I gather that the iPhone natively supports direct sync to Microsoft Outlook - shudder, now having to include that in my shortlist! How did Microsoft get it soooo wrong!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all over USB sync? u gotta be kidding. I ain't even going to bother with proving how dumb this post sounds.

eric12341 said:
all over USB sync? u gotta be kidding. I ain't even going to bother with proving how dumb this post sounds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 - couldn't agree more. These phones are made almost entirely for the internet.

eric12341 said:
all over USB sync? u gotta be kidding. I ain't even going to bother with proving how dumb this post sounds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think you missed my earlier post - feel free to look for it. Point is that work restrictions mean I will not be allowed to sync via the cloud. As I said in my earlier post, not going to argue or debate whether this is good or bad, no point.
Therefore I am now left with Android or iphone unless Microsoft get this sorted.
By the way Google it and you will see that it is proving to be a major sticking point with business users and is turning users away from windows phone 7 with more windows mobile 6.5 phones still being sold then windows 7 with this being one of the reasons.
cheers
Barney

Barneyabz said:
Think you missed my earlier post - feel free to look for it. Point is that work restrictions mean I will not be allowed to sync via the cloud. As I said in my earlier post, not going to argue or debate whether this is good or bad, no point.
Therefore I am now left with Android or iphone unless Microsoft get this sorted.
By the way Google it and you will see that it is proving to be a major sticking point with business users and is turning users away from windows phone 7 with more windows mobile 6.5 phones still being sold then windows 7 with this being one of the reasons.
cheers
Barney
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
alot of workplaces support exchange server synching of contacts and the like, there's also a hotmail-outlook connector that will sync content back n forth accordingly,so I didn't miss anything.

really not picking an arguement - not sure if you are.
However for information sake only, for others that might read this thread, using hotmail connector means uploading and downloading all the info via Microsoft servers, and the other option of microsoft exchange, well not all firms use exchange.
Therefore if a company does not agree to one of these methods it means Windows Phone 7 is not an option
Barney

Here's my set-up:
Hotmail account (had for "ever") that I use to access MS services such as XBox Live, Skydrive, etc. --- this has become my centralized sync point just because it was empty and is well integrated
Personal domain accounts hosted with Google Apps --- these all sync to my WP7 phone
Various Gmail accounts --- again, all synced to my WP7 phone
Yahoo account --- again, synced to my WP7
Work calendar (not interested in getting e-mails) --- using Google Sync, my work calendar is pushed to one of my Gmail accounts.....so all of my appointments appear on my phone (http://www.google.com/mobile/sync/)
Facebook --- synced as well.
All total, I have 10 accounts listed in the settings. All of them sync flawlessly. All of my information is stored where I want it and blended on my phone. Contacts from my personal domain that are related to side business are available on my phone but aren't stored on my hotmail account. Contacts in Yahoo don't show up in my side-business e-mail accounts. Etc. The phone is the central hub, but information is still segmented just how I want it. When a contact spans accounts, I've linked them with that feature and all of the information shows up under one entry. I can pick home or mobile or work related info even though each piece is from a different account.
And when Mango is released and I have a single inbox, the phone will become even more of a central hub to everything.

Barneyabz said:
Think you missed my earlier post - feel free to look for it. Point is that work restrictions mean I will not be allowed to sync via the cloud. As I said in my earlier post, not going to argue or debate whether this is good or bad, no point.
Therefore I am now left with Android or iphone unless Microsoft get this sorted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm unsure of exactly why you're saying Android and iOS don't sync over the cloud. Neither of them have a method of syncing ONLY over USB.
For whatever reasons, you are unhappy with WP7, and it's likely just not the right solution for you. With that being said, why bother coming back to this thread unless you have a specific need to argue?
We get it. You feel that WP7 doesn't work for you. If there is a problem with the functionality or design, take that up with MS, and not with a fan board.
If you're going to argue semantics like amount of WM6.5 devices sold over WP7, at least have the courtesy to link your information. I'm going to continue to not take you or your concerns seriously until you actually understand how all of the major mobile OS devices actually sync.
Tell your IT department to get out of a cave and update their software solutions. Any new-ish version of Exchange Server will properly support OTA sync'ing of contacts.
Other than that, have fun in Apple land.

Actually I didn't say that iphone and Adnroid don't sync over the cloud, but you can do both therefore chosing to sync directly with outlook if you wish. Considering the first post on this thread, i.e. the point of the thread, is about this issue, I believe my posts have been on topic. Sorry if that has bothered you but believe it or not this is a major issue affecting many users out there.
Here are a couple of links to an article regarding windows mobile 6.5 outselling windows phone 7 during the winter
http://www.mobot.net/windows-mobile-outselling-windows-phone-7-23633
http://wmpoweruser.com/gartner-1-6-million-windows-phone-7-handsets-sold-to-customers-in-q1-2011/
By the way I didn't participate in this thread to argue, my original post is below
Barneyabz said:
Hi all
Currently using an HTC Touch Pro 2 and was considering upgrading to HTC 7 Pro. Came across this post and am very concerned. Due to work data restrictions phone must be able to connect using ordinary USB cable. Is there no way that this can happen on WM7?
Thanks
Barney
P.S Was cosiderng WM7 v. Android and decided to stick with Windows (seeing as that is all I have ever had) This could be a deal breaker though, assuming Android phones can easily sync using USB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I participated precisely because I like windows operating systems and was looking for help in getting it do what I want it to do, like a number of other posters on this thread. Instead I got a bunch of emails justifying what Microsoft have done rather then answering the post - why?
Now have carefully read this post and do believe that there is nothing wrong in it, its in the spirit of the board, which by the way I have been a member of for a long time, and will continue to be.
This will be my last post on this thread unless there is something posted relevant to my (and the starter of the thread) original question.

Folks,
Thanks for all your opinions.
It seems that I am not alone. Please refer to the 53 pages of complaint to MS regarding Win 7's inability to sync with Outlook in the way that some of us need to work:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...4c-87cc-54d8c5c012d2?page=50&tm=1312012136534
There is a 1000 contact limit to the number of contacts on HotMail. Tasks and notes are not sync'ed. I have no interest in exposing my data to the MS cloud when they have not published a security risk assessment and take no responsibility for data in their care.
I travel internationally; all the time. Having my phone sync automatically to get e-mail and updates costs me hundreds of dollars a month. Previously I could turn off data roaming and update my phone at night in my hotel with a cable.
I bought the HTC 7 Pro as the successor to my MDA Vario 5 (Touch Pro 2). After a frustrating week I have gone back to the Touch Pro 2 because WM6.5 works the way that I do.
My post was not meant to be an MS-bashing session. I was trying to understand and solve some major shortcomings with my new phone that affect the way I work.
So. I've got this new phone. The HTC 7 Pro hardware is quite nice now that I've upgraded the microSD card. Anybody know how to switch over to Android or back to WM6.5?
--Steve