On Feb 16, 2005 I wrote SyncML synchronisation

If you’ve bought a mobile phone in the last couple of years, and it was, like, not totally crap (or a Pay As You Go one or something) then it will do SyncML synchronisation.
What’s that? I hear you ask.
Well, the idea here is that if a phone supports SyncML then you are able to synchronise the contacts and the calendar in your phone with a SyncML server, somewhere out there on the internet. This means, in short, that you won’t lose any of your data. Buy a new phone? Just sync it with your SyncML server and you get all your contacts back off your old phone. Wipe the SIM card by accident? Just sync your phone with your SyncML server and you’ll get all the contacts and calendar info back.

You’ll need your phone to be able to access the internet for this. That probably means GPRS. SyncML is clever enough to only transmit the changed stuff, so it doesn’t use a lot of data traffic, which means that if your phone does GPRS at all then you should be OK; you don’t need to pony up a lot of money for extra data transfer. You will need to be able to use that GPRS stuff as part of your talk plan, but you probably already can, and your mobile phone operator will be able to help you with that anyway.

You can run your own SyncML server if you’re desperate to, but don’t bother. Instead, wing your way over to mobical.net and sign up for an account. They’re bloody great. Once you’ve synced, they display all your contacts and a nicely formatted calendar containing your appointments. They’re free, and have sworn blind they’ll remain so. Better still, they know about lots of phones; if you go there and sign up for an account, and tell them your phone type and phone number, they’ll send your phone some connection details, which means you don’t have to bother typing in any configuration into your phone with the stupid phone keypad. Just wait for the SMS to arrive, say “yes, I accept these connection details“, and then off you go into the menus to find “Synchronisation“. (It’s in “Connectivity” on the K700i.) Hit that and, pow, all your contacts and calendar are now saved on the web. Very very handy indeed. Tell ‘em I sent you.

Ian Tindale

Alternatively, if you’re on Orange, you could use Orange’s own synchronisation facility (also SyncML). Except that it doesn’t ever work. Numerous are the times I’ve set my T610 off to do the first sync (the ‘slow’ sync) and it just conks out part way with a noise alerting you to the ongoing patheticness of the situation, and Orange in general.

Francois

Sounds great ! I have created and account and it all seems pretty easy ! thanks for the tip, cuas eit was hard to find info about a SyncML server, Vodafone doesn’t seem to provide one, nor does YahooMail ….

finally! this looks fantastic. any search for syncml services either brings many MS exchange acount ads or the suncml specification and development sites. very glad to finally find a clean, working service!

Jens

...so much for Mobical’s promises, can’t use them in Sweden anylonger since an (small) operator bought their service.
Any other free SyncML servers out there?

Mobical by The EndlessTrail

[...] Now, I can officially give up trying to find a suitable SyncML server software to install onto my blog server. After trawling the net while waiting to complete uploading some stuff, I stumbled upon as days pass by blog pointing to Mobical and their free service. I’ve tried it, and it works, or seems to be. I managed to sync my data to their server, but have not tried clearing my device and re-syncing it all back. Well, I’ll know when the time comes. [...]

zljk

They ask for my phone number - and they seem to care very much about it - can't access their service if I don't give it to them. Smells like a lot of spam would be on it's way to my sms inbox if I gave them what they wanted. They can go f*** themselfs.

gik

Another freeware syncml server - http://gsmsync.net

Jarret

http://zyb.com

hell its easy, simple and free...they have introduced an exciting feature to share calendar and contacts.

Pedro

mobical is just very sloooooooow and the webinterface takes ages to load....

gsmsync is the best so far....

Roger

Just cheked out both ZYB and gmsync - no doubt that ZYB is my choice - i'm affrad gsmsync might start to charge me soon.

Sally

Thanks for the information guys. I use to use PC sync for backup but i think these three companies are providing a hell of service. im so primitive :(

Malcolm

ZYB was nice, but it never sent the full amount of my contacts to my phone (+-230)

Malcolm

ZYB was nice, but it never sent the full amount of my contacts to my phone (+-230). and it doesn't have a free-outlook sync client... :-(

Sally

Hey Malcolm! I have tried them all and you know what I have uploaded my whole phonebook (475) on all of them. They all look fine but i personally think zyb is more friendly.

Malcolm

oh,, if I use Mobical, the free funambol outlook client seems to work with contacts (not calendar though).

So far:

1. mobical most functional, but slow. Can do Outlook sync with Funambol (free client). Nice backup/restore points for mistakes

2. gsmsync very nice look and feel. their support is friendly and responsive. they say they have not tested Funambol. Perhaps Outlook sync may be free in the future. Nexthaus Outlook client required for now. Nice backup/restore points for mistakes

3. zyb also has a nice interface, but Nexthaus Outlook client required for now. VERY SLOW for me.

4. www.ScheduleWorld.com - haven't seen this option on this blogspace. The first one I tried. Very basic interface, but supports FREE fumambol client (Outlook sync). This one also has a java client that can run on the PC (makes it faster than web access). This option is the WORST for doing bulk deletions! They recommend deleting and recreating the account!

My biggest bugbears right now with all:

1. Managing multiple entries (not easy to bulk-delete)

2. Knowing what settings to use in Outlook depending on the client and the server.

For now I will try to stick with scheduleworld because I am not interested in web access, just syncing my mobile and Outlook.

Malcolm

oops, just saw that scheduleworld does support 'wipe all contacts'.

This solution is nice because it is pretty open-source oriented and perhaps useful for developers to integrate with

Amit K

scheduleworld is goog to test for v1.2 vcalendar

Anton Antropov

Thanks for your attentions for http://www.gsmsync.net

We will always stay free of charge, because it's not a commercial service for our company.

We also have few propositions from our customers:

1. Provide interface with Google Calendar

2. Make API (web-service) for contacts retriveing and updating

What you think about this?

Carpalia

Hi Anton

Just a couple of hours ago I changed from zyb.com to your gsmsync.net because zyb added my contacts instead of synchronizing them (when doing repeated slow syncs). That isn't acceptable with 200+ contacts. In addition there where no bulk delete option.

That would be sweet. I currently use goosync.com and are awaiting their upcoming (expected this month) support for multiple Google calendars, which is close to a must-have to me.

If you can compete with them I'd like to have "all" my services at one single service provider.

ulrich

zyb has backup for sms now and i am loving it all along. Its just too good to share around contacts with my office and stay updated all the time. I wish they have two way update of google cal supported, it would just be the perfect offer.

petew

Another vote for ZYB, very easy and fast, nice web interface too.