Is there a good App to SYNC directly with Microsoft Outlook (contacts and calendar)?

[LuN3yDaV3]

I'm assuming you are using a POP/SMTP account that goes into your Outlook inbox. You can do the same thing with Gmail. Just add your POP account info in the GMail settings. I have 2 hotmail accounts that forward to my inbox and I only have to deal with 1 client.

[jimmiem]

I use Companion Link and give it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! I am currently syncing Act! by Sage to Google via Companion Link but you can use it to sync to just about any PIM software.

[ttevogt]

I use Companion Link and give it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! I am currently syncing Act! by Sage to Google via Companion Link but you can use it to sync to just about any PIM software.

Can you use Companion Link to sync Outlook desktop directly to the Droid?

[jimmiem]

No, I don't believe so, but unless you're adverse to using Gmail this way is much better anyway. It's totally wireless and Companion Link can be set to sync at a preset interval. Any changes you make to your phone or Outlook sync invisibly without having to connect a cable like in the MS ActiveStink world.

[PalmEnvy]

I use Companion Link and give it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! I am currently syncing Act! by Sage to Google via Companion Link but you can use it to sync to just about any PIM software.

Can you use Companion Link to sync Outlook desktop directly to the Droid?

FYI - I am in your boat. I use stand alone outlook. Here is my experience with companion link. Remember contacts is the real issue. Google does offer a way for stand alone users to sync their outlook calender up to the cloud, but they don't offer this for contacts.

Companion link has two different products. Android for Google. This is an application that will take your tasks, calendar, contacts, and notes and sync it to the Google "Cloud". I don't use notes. But your tasks are put into your calendar.

Then the cloud will sync that same information to your phone.

My advice...before you use CL, make a back up of your outlook calendar and contacts in case the first sync goes awry.

This product work flawlessly for me since November. However recently, when I try to sync GOOGLE will think that Companion Link is a phishing software and block the sync. This does not happen every time, but enough where it is getting to be a pain. The tech support with CL is very good, but as of know they have no solution.

There is a second product which is the USB sync. This product is a bit cumbersome as you need both an app on your phone and the software on your pc. Here you can sync your outlook directly to your phone. Your phone will then sync up to the cloud. Or you can eliminate the cloud by not allowing your phone to sync with it.

From what I understand, you can test both..but DO NOT do both at the same time. both programs run differently and if you sync with both you will end up with tons of duplication.

From what I have read there are some cheaper alternatives out there, but many do not work as advertised.

[Chilazr]

I was having this problem as well. When I had a WinMo phone and I responded to an e-mail on my computer and it was added to my contacts, it got added to my phone the next time I sync'd. I won't be able to do that with my Droid, since I have all my Gmail going to my address for Outlook Express. So even if Gmail syncs new e-mail contacts into my contacts list, it won't matter since my e-mail goes elsewhere.
Since the address that I use isn't work related, maybe it's just time for me to switch over to Gmail and be done with it. That way all my contacts are in one place and I don't have to worry about where my Outlook Express mail is going.

[clcto]

Can you use Companion Link to sync Outlook desktop directly to the Droid?

CompanionLink USB will sync Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes directly from Outlook to the Droid.

Web page link: USB sync Android phones with Outlook, Lotus Notes, GroupWise, ACT!, and Palm Desktop

[jsh1120]

I was having this problem as well. When I had a WinMo phone and I responded to an e-mail on my computer and it was added to my contacts, it got added to my phone the next time I sync'd. I won't be able to do that with my Droid, since I have all my Gmail going to my address for Outlook Express. So even if Gmail syncs new e-mail contacts into my contacts list, it won't matter since my e-mail goes elsewhere.
Since the address that I use isn't work related, maybe it's just time for me to switch over to Gmail and be done with it. That way all my contacts are in one place and I don't have to worry about where my Outlook Express mail is going.

I think your instincts are correct. If you continue to use Outlook Express be prepared for ongoing integration problems. It's a dying if not dead product. (Not to be confused with Outlook.) And it's increasingly difficult to find products that interface with it well.

[ajGoes]

Can you use Companion Link to sync Outlook desktop directly to the Droid?

CompanionLink USB will sync Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes directly from Outlook to the Droid.

Web page link: USB sync Android phones with Outlook, Lotus Notes, GroupWise, ACT!, and Palm Desktop

They're working on increasingly seamless PC-to-phone syncs, too. The USB sync product has gotten much better in the last couple of months and I expect it to be a complete solution very soon.

[Chilazr]

I think your instincts are correct. If you continue to use Outlook Express be prepared for ongoing integration problems. It's a dying if not dead product. (Not to be confused with Outlook.) And it's increasingly difficult to find products that interface with it well.

I hope it's not dying. I don't really like clouds. Call me anti-establishment. I like the idea that I have my e-mails on my computer and that they won't get lost and they're not on some server. I don't need a fiasco like Sidekick users had to deal with.