Archive for the ‘Google Calendar’ tag
How-To: Syncronize your Pocket PC (Windows Mobile 5) with Google Calendar for Free
Advantages of this method:
- All the services and software are free.
- It can be done directly from a Wi-Fi enabled Pocket PC, and does not require Outlook or the use of ActiveSync for Synchronization (The Funambol client does use ActiveSync for its standard installation.)
- Support for Recurring Appointments and Two-Way Synchronization (Meaning changes on Google calendar will effect your Pocket PC as well as changes on your Pocket PC will effect Google calendar).
Required Software/Services
- Google Calendar (Beta Service)
- Schedule World (Beta Service)
- Funambol v6.0.19 (Software Installed on PocketPC)
This synchronization method uses ScheduleWorld as an intermediary, so it works like this: PocketPC (Funambol) <–> ScheduleWorld <–> Google Calendar. So if you want to sync your Pocket PC calendar with any online calendar, you wouldn’t need to use Google Calendar at all, and could just use ScheduleWorld’s Service. You can set up ScheduleWorld to sync with Google Calendar automatically every time you sync your Pocket PC with ScheduleWorld, so the intermediary process (ScheduleWorld) will essentially be transparent once everything is set up.
- Backup your calendar, contacts, and tasks for your Pocket PC and your Google calendar, This is the most important step, don’t skip it!
- To Back up your Google Calendar: Why Everyone Should Backup Google Calendar to Their Own Computer
- There are many options for backing up your Windows Mobile 5 device. You could just sync it to Outlook and backup your outlook data, or use a total backup solution such as the one provided by Sprite Software.
- Register an account with Google Calendar and ScheduleWorld, both services are provided for free.
- (Possible Step)* Go into the settings for your calendar in Google calendar. Click on the Calendar you want to sync with. Then make sure there is a “Private Address” for you calendar.
- Download and Install the Funambol Client (open-source freeware) for your Pocket PC from the above Funambol link**.
- Soft-Reset your Pocket PC.
- Log into ScheduleWorld, and go to your preferences. Note the information under: “Funambol SyncML Client Configuration.”
- Open Funambol on your Pocket PC, Click on Menu, Then Account. Enter the Server location as: “http://sync.scheduleworld.com/funambol/ds” (No Quotes). Also enter in your user name and password that was listed in the ScheduleWorld Preferences under “Funambol SyncML Client Configuration.” Note: The user name is different then the one you use to log into ScheduleWorld.
- In Funambol, you can chose what items you want to sync with ScheduleWorld under Menu : Sync Settings. For calendar synchronization, you only need to enable the calendar settings. You can also choose if you want the process to be one way or two way by clicking on Details within the Sync Settings Screen. It will need to be two way if you want changes you make on Google calendar to show up on your Pocket PC.
- Make sure your Pocket PC is connected to the internet, then click Sync All in Funabmol. Make sure that your calendar is syncing with ScheduleWorld before trying to sync ScheduleWorld with Google Calendar by looking at your calendar on ScheduleWorld. If it is working then proceed.
- We will now set up the synchronization between ScheduleWorld and Google Calendar. Go into the preferences for ScheduleWorld. Under the “Calendar Preferences” fill in: “Corresponding Google Calendar User name (email)” and then click the link to enable ScheduleWorld to Access Google Calendar. Then click Get Calendars, and select the calendar you want to sync with. Check “Automatically sync with this Google Calendar at the start of a SyncML sync” and then click save to save your preferences.
- Initialize a synchronization from your Pocket PC, wait a while, and then hopefully your appointments will be synced with Google Calendar.
*Because I set up my Google calendar so long ago, I can’t remember if this step is entirely necessary, someone please let me know.
**The version from the above link (6.0) did not work for me the first time I used it. However, I think it was because of a conflict with an installation of a previous version of the client. I don’t want to directly link the version 6.0.19 unless people have problems with the version linked from the funambol site.