For a long time, I've wanted to be able to have my calendar up to date, no matter what device I'm currently using - my laptop, someone else's computer, my Pocket PC, or my phone. That's been hard to do - but I think I am almost there!

I would be there, but I'm a sucker for beta software - I'll explain in a minute.

I have to use Outlook and Exchange to manage my main calendar, because that's what NuSoft uses. Now I say "have to" but I would do it that way anyway because I like Outlook. Despite everyone's push for everything to be online, I still like having my email and calendar available in an offline application.

But I also want the ability to roam. Whether that's a Pocket PC, or phone or just Internet access, I don't want to have to (and can't) have my laptop with me at all times. So, I sought to figure it out. The Pocket PC - well, that was easy. It synchs nicely with Exchange. The Phone - that was easy too. I have a Motorola E815, which has bluetooth built into it, so I used the Motorola phoneTools software to synch Outlook with my phone - contacts and calendar.

And for Internet, there's OWA. Which is great, except for letting others view it. So I'm actually using Yahoo's calendar, and the free Intellisync software they offer that synchs with Outlook. It's working out quite nicely, actually.

Of course, I broke one of the links when I upgraded to Office 2007. The mobile phoneTools doesn't work with the new file format - well, it might, but it's not even offered as an option anymore! So now my phone is out of date, but that's not a huge deal - I'd like the contacts to be synched, but I guess I can't have everything, can I?

Oh - and in case you're wondering, the Intellisync from Yahoo works with Tasks and Calendar - it doesn't work with Contacts - the file format must have changed. Yahoo will tell you it only works with Outlook 2003, but that's probably so they don't have to support beta software, but my experience says the calendar works in 2007 too!

Now, if just there was an easy (non-proprietary) way to get my calendar onto my phone...without downgrading my software!

Technorati Tags: Outlook | Calendar | Yahoo