Looks like talk of the day is really the Google Sync, released today.  Google Sync lets you sync your Gmail Contacts and Calendar with mobile devices like Blackberry, Windows Mobile and iPhone.
As mentioned on Google Mobile Blog,
Google Sync allows you to get your Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar events to your phone. Once you set up Sync on your phone, it will automatically begin synchronizing your address book and calendar in the background, over-the-air.  Sync uses push technology so any changes or additions to your calendar or contacts are reflected on your device in minutes. The connection is always on so you don’t have to manually sync your phone after Sync has been set up.
The sync is a two way process so no matter where you made the changes, all synced devices will reflect the latest information.  To undestand more about this process, check out the embedded video:
(e-Newsletter readers, please follow the link to video on Youtube)

How to sync multiple calendars with iPhone?

  1. If you are a pure Gmail user, then just follow the steps mentioned here.  Once setup, go to http://m.google.com/sync on safari your iphone device to select which all calendars you want to sync to your device.  At present you can sync upto 5 calendars.
  2. If you are an Google App user having your own domain, then its a little tricky.  As the above mentioned link works only for Gmail users.  If you enter your domain user name and password details, it will simple not accept it.  So how to do that?  Do the following:
    • Instead of going to http://m.google.com/sync, go to http://m.google.com in safari.
    • Tap on “Google Apps user? Tap to configure for your domain.”
    • Login using your domain username and password, if you are already logged in then you will see the below page.
    • You see, here is a new icon ‘Sync’.  Click on Sync.  You will see the below page.
    • Tap on ‘Sign in with your Google Apps Account’ and sign-in.
    • You will see the device linked to your account.  Tap on it and from there you will be able to select the calendars you want to sync with your iphone.
    • Nothing fancy, just a little tricky and lengthy process which is not quite that obvious.
Make sure you take proper backup of your existing calendar and contacts.
Personally, I am really very happy with this new feature from Google.  Google Sync made my life really simple.  Thanks to Google Mobile team.
Couple of things which I am looking forward from Google Gmail team is a full fledged support for contacts with photos, categories, social profiles and many other fields like birthdays, anniversaries etc.  At least look at the contact manager in Microsoft Outlook for some ideas Currently, Google contacts is the worst contacts manager I have ever seen and that is why I never used Google contacts till date.

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