Slashdot Mirror

There are some SyncML servers, like https://www.mobical.net/ [mobical.net] . They seem to be able to provide the services for free

Free to you, but not because it doesn't cost them. Their business model allows them to offer you a free service because you're their Guinea Pig. What they learn from servicing you, they sell on to other people. It took me about 30 seconds to find this explanation on their web site:

"The purpose of Mobical.net is to introduce people all over the world to the benefits of using Tactel’s product Mobical for mobile synchronization. Tactel doesn't make any profit from this service; we only use it to develop, test and market new mobile synchronization technology that we sell to our customers: network operators, handset vendors, service providers, etc. That is how we can offer a free service and still make a business, and that is why we are committed to ensuring the privacy, integrity and security of your data."

Canonical's business model is different and so they need to charge for the infrastructure (servers, disks, network, etc) required to provide this service. As they said, they have no problem with free software, but free services are a different beast all together. Don't be a tight arse. If you want them to succeed, then support them !!

Supporting hundreds of different mobile phones is an incredibly expensive task

It is? Why? Aren't they supposed to use all SyncML? Even if they don't support it natively (for shame!), there are usually apps for it.

There are some SyncML servers, like https://www.mobical.net/ . They seem to be able to provide the services for free.

This isn't pitched as a heavy-duty corporate solution, but SyncML is supported my most phones today. It is an open protocol that lets you sync addressbook information, notes, bookmarks, etc. with a server (and open source servers like funambol already exist). There are also sites like Mobical which offer free SyncML hosting.

Basically, here's how it works: You set your phone up to sync automatically with the SyncML server every couple days. Then whenever you add, say, a contact, it gets uploaded to the server. If you lose your phone or just upgrade, you point your new phone at the server and sync to recover your contacts. The protocol only sends updates, so it is relatively quick and bandwidth friendly. The sync is bidirectional, so you can also add contacts to your phone from your web browser (if your syncml server has a web interface).

Backing up using SIM cards is pretty inconvenient by comparison. You have to manually swap out the SIM whenever you backup, and the SIM protocol is very basic (it can only hold one number per name I believe).

It would be good news if Google used a proper open synchronization protocol like SyncML. Then alternative servers using the same protocol could be used instead of Google. But that's not really in Google's interest, is it?

FYI there are lots of smartphones that support SyncML, in fact anything by Nokia or Sony Ericsson running Symbian OS will do. A good Open Source server and desktop client is needed. I use http://www.mobical.net/ for synchronizing (over the air) with my Nokia 9300 and that works great. But mobical is only free as in beer and the Nokia is not free at all... The standard is, though...

A widely supported open protocol is the way to beat the MS calendaring stuff, not just moving to another proprietary protocol.

X.

I think mobical migh have what you're looking for. I have been using it since 2002 on a wide range of devices and it has always been the best solution for me, and they are not afraid to listen to feedback and implement new cool features.

I use Mobical because it uses the SyncML protocol that my cellphone uses. I can sync all my PIM data (contacts, calendar, notes) easily. Still waiting for one of these web2.0 calendars to take advantage of SyncML.

I don't think many people are aware of it but a 'new' standard is finally emerging that allows mobile devices to synchronize over the internet. A great number of mobile phones and smartphones (like my Nokia 9300) support this. See the website below for a list of devices that support SyncML. So does the Mozilla Sunbird Calendar...

List of devices: https://www.mobical.net/mobical/phonesetup/

What use is an online calendar if it doesn't support online synchronisation?

I know that Gmail has ignored the wonderful imap standard, so I'm not entirely cnvinced they won't ignore this one.

So: Please Google, don't be evil, and use the open SyncML standard ;)

X.

...we mobile users have been able to synchronize PIM data for years using this great, free (as in beer) service

But so far, the ONLY thing I have found that can work with it is Mobical, which is a great site for saving your contacts.

I really want to be able to sync my contacts with Mozilla Address Book or Evolution. But so far, MS Outlook (running on my Windows laptop) is the only app I can sync with... and that's without using SyncML. The Nokia PC Suite Software (a Windows) app lets me sync with Outlook, and a few other legacy programs.

I look forward to the day that SyncML becomes the accepted standard, but right now very little seems to be compatible with it (or at least its implementation in the 3650).

I have already tried Sync4j and Multisync, and could neither get them to work, nor find anyone else who got one of them to work with a 3650 (or similar Symbian based phone). If you know of something that might work, I'm all ears.

For SyncML-devices, Mobical.net offers a good service. They let you synchronize contacts and calendar for free.

I use it primarily as a backup of my contact info, in case I'd lose my cell phone. However the web interface is quite neat.