The first thing I want to say is that I simply love my new Droid phone. In fact, it probably is the coolest electronic device I have ever owned. Verizon Wireless has the best service and now they have the best phone! I really think this phone is going to help boost their ratings and customers.
This is assuming you are already using Microsoft Outlook 2007 for everything.
The first thing I tried with the Droid was syncing my personal IMAP account with the device. Then I realized that wasn’t going to sync my contacts, calendar, etc.
So I removed the IMAP account and then tried syncing my Microsoft Exchange account. This worked great and pulled contacts down, calendar items (buggy), and emails. But then I realized there were still nice little features missing. Because it is Google OS obviously they are wanting you to use Gmail (their product).
So I decided to give the GOOGLE APPS a test trial run, accompanied by Google App Sync. And let me just say, it is amazing!!!!
Functions working:
- Microsoft Outlook 2007 is syncing flawlessly with my DROID
(Email, Email folders, Contacts, Calendar Items) - Using my own business email account (brian@innovativepixels.com) for all gmail functions (requires changing MX records over to GMAIL). Not using @gmail.com for anything. This means that all masking of email is fixed.
- A plus with using GMAIL as app on the DROID over standard email client is that I can now use an email signature from the phone, such as (Sent from my DROID).
- The Google App Sync will export and import automatically all of your current Outlook information into your newly hosted GMAIL email account. Basically it asks you for Outlook Profile to use for your new account and then it takes a couple minutes and migrates all your data over. No manual migration necessary.
- Another plus with using GMAIL app on DROID is that my emails are now stacked in conversations, like they are in GMAIL web client. Saves space on DROID for viewing.
- Everything just seems to work faster and better when going through Google Apps. Also calendar is not buggy anymore.
- Ability to see all my folders/cabinet and then be able to move emails to them when I receive them on my DROID. Your Outlook folders are converted into “LABELS” on your DROID. They still work the same as folders, but are just called something different. All changes sync to my Microsoft Outlook 2007 and to online Gmail.
The Google APPs costs $50 per user per year but it is worth every penny for me. My entire Microsoft Outlook 2007 is now syncing flawlessly with my DROID, very fast, with all the functions and features of GMAIL but without the GMAIL branding. You definitely want to give it a try. 30 day trial is free and they don’t bill you for first 30 days.
VERIZON WIRELESS DROID
Tags: DROID, Google Apps, Google Sync, Microsoft
[...] Verizon Wireless Droid – Microsoft Outlook Sync with GMAIL – Blog … [...]
Thanks for the info!! I’ve been looking for a solution to the whole outlook sync thing. While I believe there should be a free app included with the Droid $50.00 isn’t a bad price to pay to have it all in sync.
Ya it’s great, you get the power of GMAIL features and yet you can still use Microsoft Outlook client for email, calendar, and contacts. I’m not a big fan of the online GMAIL web access for email.
What if I am the only Droid user in the company and I also have a personal gmail account? My company email is POP3.
What about using Outlook on my PC? Will I have to use the Google Apps on the PC, too?
Will I maintain all my Outlook Contact Catagories.
@ Darrel J : Are you sure that your company doesn’t support IMAP?? Because if not they are way behind the times; or they are simply trying to save space. Yes, Google Apps has a little sync application you install and it syncs with outlook and Gmail. I have all my contacts in “My Contacts” folder so I just tested creating a new category in Outlook and dropping a contact in there. I then went to my DROID and unfortunately it doesn’t retain folders for contacts, it just drops them all in one place. However, with lots of contacts you will want to search anyways. It is very easy to search for contact. Hope that helps!
Thanks a lot for this well written article. But I had difficult time navigating through your website as I kept getting 502 bad gateway error. Just thought to let you know.
Thank you for letting me know. This issue should now be fixed.
I added my Exchange info (without adding any App) and the phone started syncing my Exchange information just fine. I don’t know what you’re talking about but I’m not paying $50.00 to sync my Exchange information and I don’t think anyone else should be either. Also, one of my Contact folders shows up in my Droid contacts, and the other does not. I’d really rather not merge the two folders in Exchange if I can avoid it. It seemed like you were saying your folders were merged on the phone and not in Exchange…is this correct?
~ Cliff
Network Administrator
I have tried adding my exchange info. It synced my calender (to the corporate one), but no contacts, I can send emails but can’t receive them… any thoughts?
Thanks
@ Cliff Terry: I was not talking about syncing exchange email account, I was discussing syncing a third party email account with Outlook 2007 through GMAIL’s mail server. The exchange sync does work fine, I have tested that, however there are certain features which just doing the Exchange sync you are not getting. First of all, using the Business APP I am able to mask my email address. I currently have my exchange account for work and then I run a small business. I simply have my exchange email being forwarded to my business email.
Things you lose with only exchange sync:
- Droid Signature option
- emails are now stacked in conversations
- Ability to see all my folders/cabinet and then be able to move emails to them when I receive them on my DROID
- I don’t think there is a way with either Outlook or Exchange to get the DROID to sync multiple contact folders. I ended up dumping all my contacts into my main contacts folder so I could search them on my DROID.
@ Lisa : Under the options menu in your contacts app on the DROID, is your exchange account selected?? It sounds like you might have something wrong with your setup. Like SSL, server configuration on your DROID. I would go back through and make sure you entered everything correctly. I had to play with it for 5-10 minutes to setup my exchange info before it was all working correctly.
I had a couple thoughts on that….it seem that the Droid grabs the default contacts folder, but it allows you to display contacts based on category. One option would be to dump all the contacts into your default folder and then categorize them. But another option would be to move your default contacts folder into a sub-folder (thereby maintaining a seperate folder) and then copy the contents of all you sub-folders (or the contacts you want on your phone) into the primary folder so that the droid can see what it needs to. It would mean you have duplicate contacts in Exchange but it’s an option.
^sorry…..I meant to say move the contacts from the default folder to a new sub-folder.
Yes but all your personal information is on the internet for eternity
I always read blogs in similar topic, but I never visited your blog. bookmarked and i’ll be your constant reader. Thanks
[...] The Google APPs costs $50 per user per year but it is worth every penny for me. My entire Microsoft Outlook 2007 is now syncing flawlessly with my DROID , very fast, with all the functions and features of GMAIL but without the GMAIL …Read More… [...]
I am using Microsoft Outlook for contacts and calendar and would like to sync them with my new Droid. I’ve not been successfully because the sync screen asks for corporate server ID’s and I’m an independent contractor. Is there a way to do this?
@Dave : I’m assuming you are working for Western Michigan University as independent contractor? The contractors we have at my workplace even get emails provided to them. I guess the question is, does WMU provide you with an exchange email account? If so, then all you need to do is ask them what their exchange server name is for mobile phones, like sync.domain.com, etc. And then of course your credentials. If you don’t get an exchange account through the school you could use everything through gmail or use any email account you want with Outlook using the Google Apps : https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gappssync, the google apps does cost $50 per year, but for me it is worth it. I use my personal email account with the Google Apps Sync and love it!
Hi. That is a remarkable info. Thanks. Looks good to me. In my business, I am intercommunicating only with email. I preferably work with Outlook as my email client and with the help of Email Sorter Wizard, an Outlook add-on, I sort all my e-mail with ease. I’m sure people will benefit from your blog.
I have read all the lastest comments about synking the Verizon Droid. I would like soome clarification please. I have Outlook 2007 on my Vista powered laptop. I would like to dump my PDA and seperate cell phone. Will I be able to synk with my lap top baesed Outlook 2007 back and forthe to the Droid? If it has to pass through my google account to make it happen that is fine. I would like to be able to do most of my changes to Calendar, Tasks and contact on my laptop then be able to access it on my Droid back anf forth, is this possible?
Thanks,
Michael
Does anyone know whether there is a way to sync using a cable and ActiveSync? My company email is secure and does not allow a wireless sync with anything but Blackberry. I bought the Droid but had to return it due to lack of tech support from Verizon about this matter. I’d love to re-acquire the Droid but need to be sure I can sync email, contacts and calendar at least daily if not wirelessly. Thank you.
@Colleen : I’m glad I could be of some help.
@Michael : Yes that is very possible. That is how I have mine working right now. I have my Outlook client on my desktop (for you it would be your laptop) and I input calendar dates, check my email, add contacts, etc. It all syncs via Google Apps plugin and then immediately updates to the DROID. And it works vice versa. Update content on DROID and it will appear in your OUTLOOK. It is surprisingly fast too, Google has a good infrastructure. If you have any other questions I would be happy to help. Good luck!
@Michael D: I don’t think there is a way to currently do this. There might be in the future after more apps and software is written for the DROID, but I’m about 90% sure that this is not currently possible. If I here anything about this I will definitely be posting it on my blog.
Hey Brian,
I like the thread you’ve created-Thanks! I have concerns with syncing contact subfolders. I run Exchange in my company so my staff and I can share a subfolder contact list and my calendar. I HAVE to keep the subfolder contact list separate from my personal list to keep my staff out of my personal contacts. With the various options you’ve run and seen, do you know of any workaround? It’s been frustrating to say the least as Motorola told me on a pre-sales call I made that it was possible… NOT! Any 3rd party apps you know of maybe? anyone else???
Nice post & nice blog. I love both.
@Forex Robot : Thank you for your compliment.
Hi–
Thanks so much for this great information. i am a big user of MS Outlook rules so synching is REALLY important to me.
So…two questions:
1) Can I do a Droid / Outlook synch through Google Apps….even if I want to keep my plain old xxxxx.xxxxx@gmail.com address? I’m happy to drop the $50 / year on Google Apps but would prefer to keep my old gmail address.
2) Separately, do I have to pay anything if I want to synch multiple gmail addresses through Google Apps?
Thanks!! I feel like I’m so close to solving a problem I didn’t think I could solve!! Thank you!!
Paxton
@Jeff J: At this point, it isn’t possible with current setup of the DROID. One possibility is just to categorize your contacts with “Home” and “Work” and have all your contacts within the contacts folder within Outlook. That way they would all sync to your DROID and be searchable on your DROID, and then within Outlook client you can simply organize your list of contacts by Category, “Home” and “Work.” That is one solution. Another solution would be to try TouchDown’s exchange app for the DROID. It is a very powerful exchange app and they have a free trial. I would check it out. http://www.nitrodesk.com/index.aspx Also, remember, there is a major update coming out soon, 2.01 that hopefully will fix some of these issues.
@Paxton : 1) Yes, I happened to use my custom address, but it will work just fine with a gmail address and be a lot easier to setup. The Google Apps was definitely worth $50 to me because I have everything syncing perfectly now.
2) Unfortunately right now they only allow one email account per account. I have three email addresses I use and what I did was setup a forwarding rule for my other two email accounts so that they point to my main email account.
Hope that helps! Good luck.
Great! I’ll give it a try today and see if I can get it working.
And, just so I’m clear, will my e-mails get slotted into my Outlook folders on the Droid?
I’ll let you know how it goes!
Paxton
Great! I’ll give it a try today and see if I can get it working.
And, just so I’m clear, will my e-mails get slotted into my Outlook folders on the Droid?
I’ll let you know how it goes!
Paxton
Example, you have folders in your Outlook. What happens is that they get converted to “A LABEL” when sent to the DROID. So on your DROID if you want to open up a folder from your Outlook, you go to the menu and select LABELS, and then you can see your Outlook folders, or rather labels. You can move stuff between labels and then that will update with your folders in Outlook. I hope that answers your question.
Brian–
Google Apps Premiere (which is what I think I want) only lets you sign up if you have your own domain name.
I guess this means that I just have to register a domain name and then just sync my Droid and gmail w/ my plain-jane xxxxx@gmail.com account.
Does that sound right?
Okay…just downloaded Google Apps Sync
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gappssync
but it asks me to talk to my domain name administrator. Am I missing something?
At this point, I don’t think I can download and sync an @gmail.com account with the droid using this app.
Am I missing something?
Paxton
Have checked around and don’t see a work-around. Am willing to buy a domain name and just use forwarding but it is certainly not my first choice!
Cheers–
Paxton
@ Paxton : Ya I was looking into this more, that is kind of weird how Google doesn’t let you use your own GMAIL address with their Google Apps Premiere. Have you purchased a domain? I recommend using http://www.hostway.com for domain purchases. GoDaddy is alright but I prefer Hostway.
Just want to say your article is brilliant. The clearness in your post is simply impressive and i can take for granted you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your rss feed to keep up to date with succeeding post. Thanks a million and please keep up the admirable work.
First off, thank you for this article. I think it will help immensly once I receive my DRIOD on January 8th. Our company is doing a wholesale cell phone shift to Verizon and some of us have opted to get the DROID. However, i was disappointed when the first 2 people receiv ved theirs and syncing with Outlook was not nearly as simple as it was with our current BB’s. I use the “Notes” and “Tasks” functions of Outlook quite a bit. Do you know if there is a way to sync these as well? If this is possible with Googel Apps Sync, then it will be well worth the $50 a year….it very well may be without this function.
Hey Brian
Awesome work info. I am considering getting the droid. I am a blackberry user who uses it for work and personal. I am one step away from buying the droid, because of the lack of the email push technology. Droid markets the idea of not disrupting you, but I actually need the emails to interrupt because of the intercommunication that follows from work.
Ive been following the previous responses, and I just need to know, how fast can I get emails since its not push technology, and is the dilemma of the email bug solved yet, regarding persons syncing the outlook and the next day finding that their entire email account is gone?
Lastly, I do use gmail for personal, but I want to keep my outlook (work) separate but and be able to sync and manage all accounts of my desktop, is this possible for the phone? (otherwise is there a blackberry desktop equivalent feature)?
Brian, can you sync contacts, email and calendar if you are using MS Outlook 2003 and POP3 by purchasing google apps?
@crhgtr : If you rely on your tasks a lot then you might want to check out http://nitrodesk.com/. I have tried their software and it also works very good. The UI is a little ugly but it does sync what it is suppose to. I don’t use tasks or notes so I went with google’s app sync which is very fast and I have listed the other benefits above in the article. Definitely give NitroDesk’s app a try, they have a free trial, no CC required.
@Michael H: It isn’t push technology but it is almost instant. My droid will go off the same time my computer receives the email. Seems to be no delay. It is going to be a little tricky if you have two email accounts each with different calenders and you want to keep them separate. One way would beto use gmail for your personal stuff (manage it via gmail.com on your desktop) and then use the Outlook client for your work using the corporate sync on your DROID. That you would could maintain two separate email accounts with calenders and they both would be separate.
@Lou : If you look on Google’s app sync plugin site you will see that it does support Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 SP3 (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gappssync) However, this is not the same as POP3, it is more similar to that of an IMAP connection, where all your data is still stored on the Gmail side. It is nice if you ever reformat your computer or your hard drive crashes, you don’t have to worry about your email, contacts, and calendar appointments since they are stored with Google.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Brian, awesome thread! I am an outlook 2007 user and NOT using an exchange server. Outlook is my primary contact manager/email system. I have my own domain email. Looking to do the following:
1) Need email to be received on my DROID. Is there a way to make sure that I receive email on my DROID (through gmail) without having my laptop connected to the internet (Outlook).
2) If there is, I would like to make sure that Outlook is receiving at least a copy of all emails sent/received from the DROID as well. Would I need to bcc myself on sent email in order to do that or would it automatically happen on sync up?
Thanks Brian, my Droid is in the mail, I will be sure to contact you before customer support! lol Thanks agian and Happy New Year!
Hmm. I think that I need a knowledgeable human that I can speak to LIVE on the phone (in real time) to work through some detailed issues:
My situation:
- I am upgrading from a Palm Treo.
- I have Microsoft Outlook 2003 on my laptop, which interacts with my own network-solutions-hosted e-mail with my own branded e-mail domain.
- I am trying to get synchronization of my data to work appropriately with the Motorola droid, while continuing to use Microsoft Outlook 2003 (or similar) as a mail client. (I am fine with upgrading to Outlook 2007 at some point. Although, I have also considered migrating to the Mac. However, first things first, I wanted to get the droid up and running and synchronized, and then address the other future pieces — i.e. Mac and/or Outlook 2007 — later.)
I got the access to my e-mail account working via Pop3 fairly straightforwardly, right at the Verizon store. I did create a Google e-mail account, since it is required, but I am not really using it for e-mail, since I want to retain my own branded e-mail domain, and keep my e-mail on network solutions. (Although, it would probably be fine to have DUPLICATE copies of e-mails on Google e-mail as backup.)
In regards to synchronization of other datatypes, I elected NOT to have the Verizon folks migrate the contacts information over, so that I would avoid any DUPLICATE RECORD scenarios once I moved to a synchronization solution.
After a significant amount of search on the web for information in regards to how best to synchronize data with my new droid, I would have to say that your posting here is, hands down, the most comprehensive and clear.
I had looked at a variety of other synchronization methodologies via third-party vendors. However, the feedback on the web regarding several of them is rather mixed. For example, Verizon indicates that Motorola endorses Companion Link as the approved sync tool. However, several folks in various web forums indicate significant problems they experienced with companion link.
Your post (here) seems to indicate that using Google app services is the best way to go in regards to synchronization.
So-o-o,
In beginning to look at the Google app services, I found the google calendar sync tool, and downloaded it. It is working quite well (so far) in regards to uploading calendar entries to my Google calendar. The Google calendar entries are then automatically downloaded and synchronized with the Motorola droid. Cool…
However, this only covers the calendar entries, and not the contact data
So (as you already know) turns out I need Google APP synch, NOT Google CALENDAR sync.
(…and notes and tasks, are for whatever reason, not supported by Google; sigh) .
So, I purchased (for $50 per year with a 30 day free trial perios) Google apps premium, which appears to be the only way to get Google apps sync.
However, as I began to step through the Installation and configuration process for Google apps sync, it appears to be setting up a NEW Google account, and not tying into the Google account which I set up previously.
I had also expected a message to be displayed by Google apps sync which indicated that it had detected the pre-existing version of Google calendar sync, and was uninstalling it as part of the installation process for Google apps sync. Given that I did not get such a message, and given that Google calendar sync appears to be still running, I am concerned that the two plug-ins will be conflicting with each other and causing all types of mayhem.
So-o-o-o-o, I have paused my activity in regards to installing this stuff.
I think I need to speak to a KNOWLEDGEABLE human to make sure I am doing this right and that I am not going to create additional headaches for myself. Any thoughts or recommendations? there does not seem to be a way to contact a google person via phone.
Note: It is QUITE ODD to me that this process is not TURNKEY. The Verizon support folks indicate, “Sorry that synchronization is provided by a third party vendor (companion link) so we can’t help you with that.”
I guess that the design center for this product is for people who will
- not have their own domain names,
- not have their own pre-existing e-mail solutions,
not use an Outlook (or similar) client;
but rather a target user would only use a web-based version of Gmail, Google contacts, Google calendar, since that is the only thing which Verizon seems to actually support. (That is the configuration which the Verizon technician said HE uses for himself.)
In any case, any thoughts re: how can I SPEAK to a KNOWLEDGEABLE human to make sure I am doing this right and that I am not going to create additional headaches for myself?
(Aplogies for the long post…)
Thanks!
@ Tony,
You and I are in almost paddling the same boat. I run with Outlook 2007 & a new Moto A855 Droid. Previous PDA was a Palm Treo 750. It’s not so odd that the solution is not turnkey. Google wants the world to send all communications / data through their hands. Period. Something that MS could only dream of. So, yes, we are left searching for a third party vendor. I’ve tried CompanionLink and MyLink. Lousy to no results. I have a gmail account and three domain names with e-mail accounts hosted by a business e-mail service. The g-mail is for junk and the business e-mail is IMAPed to the DROID & laptop. Works great.
I use Outlook 2007 extensively for e-mail, contacts, and notes. All projects are in one of 8 note categories. They are extensive (over 1,600) and contain info that is confidential. Big businesses have their own secure servers and nets. I don’t and can’t imagine floating highly sensitive info, contact lists, and other data around on Google servers (or cloud 9????) for infinity where I have no control or recourse if it is lost, stolen, scraped, scanned, hacked, etc. I’m searching for a USB or very secure wireless service that will transfer Outlook contacts, calendar (to the Google calendar or corp calendar), and notes – with folders structure intact – to the Droid.
Anybody got a solution?
@Bill
I am actually trying to get everything sync’d up through gmail, outlook 2007, and droid. I am not on an exchange server. I was just wondering how you did it Bill. I have my me@mydomain.com going to gmail through pop right now. I wanted to setup an IMAP for gmail and outlook as outlook is my main contact manager/email account. Am I doing this right? What setup did you do for each? I have to start with this before I even think about syncing contacts, calendar, folders, tasks, ect. Any help here would be appreciated!
Thanks,