AOL introduces AOL Sync, wireless syncing for Outlook and mobile phones
AOL introduced on Thursday a new sync application, AOL Sync, that will sync your AOL address book and calendar with Outlook and mobile phones. AOL has partnered with Funambol to deliver this bidirectional, over-the-air sync client. Funambol, for those who don’t know, is a popular open source synchronization solution that uses SyncML to push PIM data to mobile devices and desktop applications. Basically, it’s the poor man’s Exchange / BES. The AOL sync client supports Outlook, Outlook Express and both Windows Mobile phones and BlackBerry handsets. You will need to install the sync client on your phone or desktop, configure it to sync with the AOL servers and voila, automatic OTA bidirectional syncing. Though it is not listed as being a supported device, there is a Funambol sync client for the iPhone and for Thunderbird / Sunbird (experimental) as well. If you can get the AOL settings, it may be worth a try to see if those other platforms work, too. If you are an AOL user, give it a try and let us know if the new client lives up to AOL’s claims.
[Via Cnet]
AOL: Copying everyone’s ideas in a futile attempt to stay in business.
Wait, AOL is still in business? The way they’ve been discontinuing services and not fixing bugs, I just assumed the offices were empty and as soon as the power bill wasn’t paid, the servers would simply go offline…
lol @ AOL trying to stay relevant
AIM is probably the only thing AOL has right now that’s worth anything haha.
It’s unfortunate to see an internet pioneer slip to such a degree. Hopefully AOL will get it together…
I use AIM – although not as much now as I used to in College. It would suck if AIM died or became paid. I use Adium to get around the advertising.
the aol sync software does not work. aol tried to figure it out but finally said it was a funambol problem
Per John’s post on August 5 about AOL Sync not working: I’ve spent hours and hours recently trying to figure this out, AFTER I spent hours and hours adding information to my AOL contacts. Using Blackberry Bold but no BES/Outlook server now, and wanted to sync contacts to a laptop database.
I think John is right and the AOL Sync does not work, although AOL still puts out some (but not all) information about it, indicating it DOES work.
Aaaaagggghhhh!!!!!