Google announces over the air calendar sync for BlackBerry!

[BESadmin]

Google announces over the air calendar sync for BlackBerry!
13th December 2007
http://www.apcmag.com

Google today announced its latest innovation for mobiles -- Google Sync for BlackBerry. Google Sync is a BlackBerry client that downloads Google Calendar events onto your BlackBerry, and uploads Calendar events from your BlackBerry, providing two-way synchronization over the air.

Rather than being a standalone application, the Google Sync client is fully integrated with the built-in calendar and therefore provides seamless integration.

Google Sync is targeted at consumers using BIS (BlackBerry Internet Solutions) rather than those use BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Solution) as BES already provides two-way synchronisation over the air.

Getting Google Sync setup is relatively simple but requires you to download the client directly from Google on your BlackBerry. Users in the US can simply enter their mobile number on the Google website and receive a text message with a link to http://m.google.com/sync . Everyone else should just point their BlackBerry browsers to this address to download the client.

Once you've downloaded and installed the Google Sync client all you need to do is run the application from the home screen, press 'login' and wait for Google Sync to work its magic. Google warns that syncing might take several minutes depending on the number of items present in your calendar.

Google Sync can be set to automatically sync your calendar in the background every couple of hours or more often if required. Otherwise you can turn off auto-sync and just do it manually when required. The options also let you specify how far ahead you want to sync, between 4 and 24 weeks, and also which calendars you want added to your BlackBerry . These options are available through either the Google Sync application or via Calendar -> Google Sync -> Options on the handheld.

Google Sync transfers all the information for an event including date, time, location and notes, available/Busy time setting and reminder setting. Reminders will show up on your BlackBerry just as native BlackBerry events do.

If you're signed up on a BIS plan Google Sync might be a perfect solution for you. For instance, with over-the-air syncing you could give somebody else access to your calendar and have them add changes while you're out on the road.

Now all that's needed is for Google to improve their Gmail address book and integrate it with Google Sync, as well as rolling this service out for additional mobile platforms (you can bet it will be available on the new Google Android platform as well).

Link: http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/mobile/sync/

[harps]

Can you sync with Google Calendar and a work BES at the same time?

[Gregmyers]

I'm reviewing this application right now. I will let you know how it goes.

[harps]

Is their a desktop download version as I tried to download via the browser link but I got an error message.

[Gregmyers]

Has anybody got this to work yet?
I have tried quite a few times but with no success.

[harps]

I still can't download the sync program to my device.
I think this is due to limitations IT has placed on the BES. I'm talking to them re this today.
I've posted a question in the google helps forum to see if a desktop download version is available but yet to get a response.

[harps]

IT have now allowed me to download the file OTA and I've successfully installed it.
It does a sync but no data is being sent to the Googl Calendar!
Has anyone been able to get this to work?

[harps]

Well I be darned, it's finally working!!!!
It wouldn't sync any appointments already on the device, but for any newly created appointments its now working.
My setup is as follows:
BlackBerry is set up on BES for corporate e-mail, address book, calendar & tasks, and is syncing automatically to the BES.
I've also set up personal e-mail via BIS and am now syncing my calendar to Google Calendar (whilst continuing to sync automatically with BES - LotusNotes).