Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook Announced
"I think of this as a love story," began Chris Vander Mey, Senior Product Manager at Google, as he announced Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook, a plug-in that syncs Outlook with Apps, much like Outlook syncs with Exchange.
But love? Not so much. Google, intent on building its enterprise channel, has recognized that many Outlook users - particularly enterprise users - aren't ready to make the leap to the cloud and to Google Apps. But maybe, just maybe, Google Apps Sync is what it will take to woo them.
According to a press release, Google Apps Sync works on Outlook 2003 and 2007 and will synchronize email, calendar and contacts data with Google Apps. "It provides access to Global Address List data and enables users to schedule meetings by looking up when attendees are free or busy. It also includes a simple, two-click migration utility which enables users to easily copy their data from a previous Outlook data source, such as Microsoft Exchange servers.
Not Quite Gears
"Although we use the same protocol as gears, we don't use gears per se," explained Vander Mey. "It's all saved in outlook PST files. From a technical level [there] is a MAPI provider; when you connect to Exchange we have built our own MAPI provider - we just change what's going out on the wire - as opposed to licensing from Microsoft."
Key Features:
E-mail, calendar and contact sync
Synchronize all Outlook fields in both directions, keeping them up-to-date; Uses a Google native e-mail protocol.
Free/Busy and Global Address look up
The Global Address List feature lets you search for and access e-mail addresses of users and resources in your domain.
Simple, user-driven data migration
Letting users move data to Google instead of having to wait for IT admins.
Google Apps Sync will be launched this afternoon.
You'll need Outlook 2003 SP3 or 2007 SP2 (or SP1 with a hotfix), running on Windows XP SP2 (with selected hotfixes) or Vista SP1 (with a hotfix).
If you want to see how Google Apps for Microsoft Outlook works, watch this three minute video.
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Seems like there some sort of legal argument here.
@ Darren
Actually it was announced in February that Google had licensed Microsoft's ActiveSync protocol that is the heart of this synchronization process.
Rest easy!
Anyone know of, or have any thoughts about connection between Microsoft CRM and Google Apps?
While this is convenient for individuals and Google it opens up some serious questions about data security. It seems like the ultimate way for a salesman to walk away from a company with all of their ongoing leads from your Exchange network.
Wow, this is a profound move against Microsoft's enterprise business base. Bold move and one that I am sure will not make MS happy. From the customer perspective this is a big win and a big win for those who do not have an Exchange server in there smaller organization.
Now from the Linux side of the house, I wonder if there will be like work to have a like apt to work in Thunderbird, Evolution, or KMail?
We will see, or maybe I have just missed these plug-ins.
Great move Google!
Great Move !
Google now needs to hire a lot of high tech sales guys, marketing like apple to woo business CIOs. Give them a stake. Lets make all outbook gmail powered.
All the best Google!
@Matt - And what's stopping them now from printing (or exporting) their leads out and walking away from the company?
FWIW, I've been using Google Calendar Sync for ages, works a treat!
First up, this tool by Google is by no means a novel concept or offering. HyperOffice have been offering their Outlook synch tool called HyperShare, as a free inclusion to their collaboration suite since July, 2006.. Secondly, the functionality offered by Google's tool is also by no means the most robust, as the aforementioned HyperShare also allows synching with tasks, in addition to mail, calendars and contacts, as offered by Google App Sync.
It's annoying when something good is only noticed when a mega name does it.
oops, the correct link to HyperShare is http://www.hyperoffice.com/hypershare-for-outlook-product/
Love it! Have been waiting for a sometime for this Sync. I too would like to know any possibility to Sync from Microsoft CRM to Google Apps.
Over the last year, we've had a razor sharp focus on making it as easy as possible for businesses to deploy Google Apps. In the last few months you've seen some of the results, from offline Gmail to user directory synchronization.
Love it! Have been waiting for a sometime for this Sync
Thank you so much for your
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I use the sync feature of Apps with Outlook 2007. I also tend to use my iPhone with imap most of the times as it is easier to process e-mails at my kids soccer practice ;-) Google is definitely putting a lot of effort into making Google Apps Microsoft friendly.