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Sync Outlook Calendar on Android Phone !!!!

I am back again this time with something interesting and useful ( hopefully ) .... As you know i switched my loyalties to Android OS ( I am forced :( .... sorry Windows Mobile ), i strted using Android Phone as my hip phone and in no time i fell in love with this OS.

I started using NexusOne with intention not to like it and find execuses to hate it ( Sorry i am still Windwos Mobile hangover so i wanted to prove that Android is just hype .... what ??? Am i crazy ???).

Well .... I love Linux / Embedded Linux ( I spent little amount of time writing serial port for Linux back in 2001 but that was long ago and beginning of 2004 when i started testing Win Mo devices and it was one of the leading Platform for Smartphones ) but i middle layer is crappy and disorganized from various vendirs and give little scope for developer so NONE of the Embedded Linux kernal based phones made BIG impact on the market.

But that is history, eversince Google acquired Android ( Company behind making Android OS, A eLinux kernal based OS ) it grabbed attention of many developers. People know that, its going to much controlled environement with Google behind this product.

I started using NexusOne and really liked this phone in almost all aspects ( I amnot going to write NexusOne review here .. there are plenty of reviews available online by experts ). I am power user who needs to sync corporate email and calender with Exchange server. Exchange mail part works like gem and no issues with it so far but biggest disppointment came in the form of Exchange Calender Sync.

I can't believe that Latest Android OS does not support Outlook Calender Sync by default. There are some commercial App available in Android Market place but i don't think it is worth to buy them just to sync calender. My solution works fine and FREE :)


I found an alternative way of doing it ( Ugly though but works :) ) and find below step by step procedure.

Pre-requisite:

1. Android Phone - PreferblyNexusOne :)
2. gmail account ( COnfigure gmail account in your Android phone ).
3. Outlook on Desktop & Google calendar sync app on desktop - Windwows XP / Vista / etc

Procedure:

1. Setup gmail account on Android ( I assume user knows how to do it .. it is pretty straight forward).

2. COnfigure exchange account on Android Phone ( I assume user knows how to do it .. it is pretty straight forward).3. On desktop ( WinXP / Any Windows OS )download the Google Calendar Sync software




http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=89955 ( FOr step by step details )

OR

http://dl.google.com/googlecalendarsync/GoogleCalendarSync_Installer.exe ( direct link )

4. Enter your Gmail account information



5. Select 2-Way sync as this will sync your Outlook with Gmail


6. Set sync interval in minutes ( default 120 mins but i used 60 mins )


7. On Android phone ... goto settings -> "Accounts & Sync"

8. Enable "Auto Sync" OR just Sync manually.

9. You are done .. just go and launch Calender app on phone and you should be able to see all outlook Calender events on your phone:) !!!!!!!!!!!



Let me know if you have any issues following this procedure.
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Comments

Flavien said…
THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A WRONG SERVER NAME!!!

OUTLOOK LIVE - Android sync: Android sync calendar and contact WITHOUT any 3rd party software, and WITHOUT using a PC sync.

I've spend days to find how to do it,and here is why: Android built in code REQUIRES you to use an ALTERNATE SERVER NAME.
To find that server name, sign in to your account at the following address: https://pod51000.outlook.com/owa/.
After you sign in successfully, the address you entered will resolve to an address that contains the SERVER NAME YOU NEED TO USE.
For example, if the address resolves to https://pod50102.outlook.com/owa, enter pod50102.outlook.com for your server name.

Hope it helps, me I'm using Droid with android 2.1 and the build in corporate account connection WITH NO PROBLEM.
I've experience the same problem as you when i used m.outlook.com as server name (or outlook.com even tried pod51000.outlook.com)
April 6, 2010 at 4:45 PM
Aham Brahmasmi said…
Hi Flavien,

Thanks for the explanation however Droid Corporate calender does not ship with Vanilla Android it is more like added app from Motorola.

Anyways .. i have upgraded to Froyo which is better integrated with Outlook contacts, calender and mails.
August 1, 2010 at 6:07 PM
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