TechCrunch published a useful report from Funambol on the usage of mobile sync with different services/devices. Funambol deals with mobile sync, and they come out rather well in the report – but if you put that aside, the comparisons are interesting because of what isn’t said.
Microsoft, Nokia Ovi, Palm, Apple and Funambol come out as places where people sync “four plus” data types. Vodafone’s Zyb comes out strong on “contacts sync plus social networks”. Google Sync is an “only contacts and calendar” story. But is that the whole story regarding mobile data usage? Of course not.
I have been using Android as my work phone for a few weeks now, finding I gain a lot and lack little. Gmail is online via the client, corporate mail is online via the browser – so “email sync” isn’t relevant as getting my mail. Android is built with an “always online” philosophy. iPhone is of the same stable but more of a ’sync’ device (the iPod hertitage no doubt). Windows mobile devices have always given me a feeling that they are happy when they get a connection, but will make the best of life without one, ie strong ‘offline’ capabilities.
Please peruse the report, I just want to underline that mobile sync can be part of having a great online experience but it’s definitely not the whole story.
