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SyncML (Synchronization Markup Language) is the former name (currently referred to as: Open Mobile Alliance Data Synchronization and Device Management) for a platform-independent information synchronization standard. Existing synchronization solutions have mostly been somewhat vendor-, application- or operating system specific. The purpose of SyncML is to change this by offering an open standard as a replacement. Several major companies such as Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG, IBM and Siemens AG already support SyncML in their products, although LG do not support it in all their phone models, preferring to use their own proprietary syncing protocols such as LG Sync SPP. Philippe Kahn was instrumental in the founding vision for synchronization with Starfish Software, later acquired by Motorola. The founding vision as expressed by Kahn was: "Global synchronization and integration of wireless and wireline devices".
SyncML is most commonly thought of as a method to synchronize contact and calendar information (Personal Information Manager) between some type of handheld device and a computer (personal, or network-based service), such as between a mobile phone and a personal computer. The new version of the specification includes support for push email, providing a standard protocol alternative to proprietary solutions like BlackBerry.
Some products are now using SyncML for more general information synchronization purposes, such as to synchronize project task information across a distributed group of team members. SyncML can also be used as a base for backup solutions.
[edit] Problem areas
A fairly intricate and vague protocol specification has meant that there in general are major interworking problems with different servers against different clients. In addition to the server address, user name and password, SyncML requires a database name to be specified for opening a connection. This database name is not standardized, and different servers use different names for the same service. E.g. one server might use card while another ./contacts for the contact database. Only the over-the-air (OTA) interface has any degree of standardization, whereas synchronization over a local interface is not standardized, and requires specific solution for any device, if available at all.
[edit] Syncml client connectors and plugins
Name Platform Application Contacts Calendar Memos Tasks Bookmarks E-mail SMS Notes
SyncEvolution Mac OS X, iPhone system address book Yes No No No No No No free, command line
Funambol Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone Yes Yes Yes Yes No * No plus files in 'briefcase'
Funambol Windows Outlook Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Funambol Java Email Client Java ME, J2SE Yes No No No No Yes No GNU GPLv3
Funambol JVM Java ME, J2SE, C++ Yes Yes Yes Yes * * * Open Source SDK
Funambol Windows iPod Yes Yes No No No No No sync via cable
Funambol Yahoo!, Google Contacts, Calendar Yes Yes No No No Yes No [GNU GPLv3]
Nokia Symbian 9.x Nokia S60 3rd/5th Edition native Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes MMS, too!
Synchronica Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone Yes Yes No Yes Yes emails, attachments and folders
Synchronica Sun Java Systems Communication Suite Sun Comms 4, 5 and 6 Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Synchronica Java Content Repository Any JCR compatible server Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes JCR (JSR-170) back-end API
Synchronica Apple OS X iPhone No No No No Yes over the air (OTA) using IMAP/SMTP
TSync Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, * Thunderbird Yes No No No No No No free, GPL
MyTT Symbian S60 all version Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes free, support file upload/download, only Chinese version
MyTT Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes free, support file upload/download, only Chinese version
MyTT Windows Outlook Yes Yes Yes free, only Chinese version
MyTT MTK 25,26,28 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Synthesis PalmOS Palm Databases Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No commercial, multiple sync profiles, scheduling
Synthesis Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone Yes Yes Yes Yes commercial
Synthesis Windows Outlook, Outlook Express Yes No No No commercial
Synthesis Windows, Linux, Mac OS X SQL, ODBC, SQLite3, PlainText Yes Yes Yes Yes * * * Programming SDK w/API's in C, C++, Delphi, Java, & .Net
Synthesis Windows, Mac OS X Thunderbird/Lightning Yes Yes No No DEMO application included with SDK
Synthesis Windows, Linux, Mac OS X Client Desktop DEMO/ODBC/Plugin Yes Yes Yes Yes * * * Scriptable utility to connect with any other client side application or database.
TTSync Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone Yes Yes Yes Yes * * * commercial
TTSync Symbian S60, 1,2,3 version Yes Yes Yes Yes * * * commercial
Nexthaus Windows Mobile Windows Mobile Yes Yes No Yes commercial
Nexthaus MacOS X MacOS X Yes Yes No Yes commercial
Nexthaus Windows Outlook Yes Yes Yes Yes commercial
Nexthaus Windows Outlook Express Yes No No No commercial
Nexthaus Windows Lotus Notes Yes Yes Yes Yes commercial
Nexthaus Windows ACT Yes Yes No Yes commercial
Nexthaus PalmOS Palm Databases Yes Yes Yes Yes commercial
Nexthaus BlackBerry Yes Yes No Yes commercial
Nexthaus iPhoneOS iPhone Yes Yes Yes No commercial
Voxmobili Windows Outlook Yes Yes Yes Yes commercial
Voxmobili Windows Outlook Express Yes No No No commercial
[edit] Syncml servers
Name Platform Application Contacts Calendar Memos Tasks E-mail Notes
Group-Office PHP (Linux, Windows, Mac OS X) Data Synchronization but not Device Management Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes E-mail is synced with IMAP
Funambol Java (Linux, Windows, Mac OS X) Data Synchronization and Device Management Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Open Source, SDK, OEM & ISV Partners
Synthesis Windows, Mac OS X, Linux x86 SyncML Server Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes SDK - (Java, C/C++, .Net API's), OEM & ISV Partners
MyTT Linux, FreeBSD, HP-UX, SunOs SyncML Server Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Full-text search engine,built with CORBA/C++
Compelson ASP .Net, IIS, SQL Server SyncML Server Yes Yes Yes Yes
FonePIM SyncML Server Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes SDK, Mobile Operators
IceWarp Windows, Linux SyncML Server Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Enterprise Groupware
Synchronica Java (Solaris, Linux, Windows, Mac OS X) Mobile Gateway Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Service Providers, OEMS, Enterprise, supports OMA CP, OMA DS Push, OMA EMN and IMAP IDLE
ComEase SyncML Server Enterprise data management
Horde PHP Horde Yes Yes Yes Yes No Web Groupware, open source
OpenSync platform independent OpenSync Yes Yes Yes Yes No Synchronization Framework, open source
hotpim Windows SyncML Server Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Full-text search engine,built with CORBA/C++
Synkia Linux SyncML Server Yes Yes Yes Yes No
[edit] Syncml hosted services
Provider Name Target Market Price Contacts Calendar Memos Tasks Bookmarks E-mail E-mail to SMS SMS MMS WebDAV CalDAV Notes
Synchronica Service Providers, Device Manufacturers, Enterprises Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Live demo available with OTA configuration
myFunambol consumer free Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No No
myFunambol iPhone free Yes No No No No No No No No No Safari Optimized
eneia consumer free / paid Yes contact self-update feature
ScheduleWorld consumer free Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes calendar sharing, multiple calendars, Google calendars
MemoToo Consumer free / paid Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes* Yes No Yes Yes Free services limited to 40 items stored for any category - OTA configuration - Photo for contact - ...
FonePIM demo free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PhoneBackup Consumer paid Yes Yes No No No OTA configuration
O-Sync Consumer free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes contact self-update feature
Mobical free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No OMA CP: Open Mobile Alliance Client Provisioning
ZYB Online Community free Yes Yes No No No No Yes Partial support for uploading picture associated to contacts (vcard photo field).
MightyPhone Brew Cell Phone Owners Yes Yes No No limited client support
Synkia cell phone backup free / paid Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes SyncML based SMS synchronization, OMA/OTA configuration, server alerted sync.
GooSync Beta free / paid* Yes* Yes Yes* Google Calendar Synchronisation
MyTT Beta free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Support media file with self client,full-text search engine，only Chinese version
hotpim Service Providers, Device Manufacturers, Enterprises free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Support media file with self client,full-text search engine，only Chinese version
Mobilesynchro cell phone backup free / paid Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes SyncML based SMS synchronization, OMA/OTA configuration
Soocial Provides a one address book solution to contact management. Supports sync via mobile phones and several other services like GMail. free Yes No No No No No No No No No No SyncML based Contact synchronization
Voxmobili Provides a complete synchronisation solution. Supports sync via mobile phones and PC clients. commercial Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes SyncML based Personal Data synchronisation
[edit] See also
[edit] References
