Google launches Calendar & Contacts sync for iPhone & Windows Mobile

We've only just published our own guide to syncing an iPhone with Google Calendar using a free third-party Exchange Sync service, but now Google has made it all but redundant by launching its own free mobile sync option.

Google Sync for Mobile works with Google Calendar and Contacts, and supports for iPhone, iPod Touch, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices. Owners of Symbian, Motorola and SonyEricsson handsets have to make do with just Contacts sync for now. Full details after the cut.

The set-up is essentially the same as that for the NeuvaSync service we wrote about last week, although this time there are no privacy concerns as your data stays doesn't get passed to a third-party server. If you fancy a quick dabble, simply configure your device's Exchange Server settings to use m.google.com, or follow the step-by-step iPhone instructions. Owners of other devices will find instructions on the Google Sync for Mobile overview page.

Once Google Sync for Mobile is configured, you can view your Google Calendar and Contacts applications using the iPhone's (or other device's) native applications rather than the less-than-ideal web-based Google Mobile versions - as Google's video explains.

iPhone users can sync up to five Calendars (an iPhone, rather than a Google, limitation) and Push sync is supported for both Calendar and Contacts. Since push sync updates your iPhone data whenever there's a change on the server, it's worth sticking with manual sync (iPhone apps sync as soon as they're opened) to prolong battery life.

Mail synchronisation isn't supported at the moment, but Google's IMAP email server works well enough for this.

[ Google Sync for Mobile]