Google has finally rolled out a product that many have been waiting for; Google Calendar Sync that allows you to synchronize your Google Calendar with Microsoft Outlook through a desktop program that sits in the taskbar.
This is the official word:
Google Calendar Sync allows you to sync events between Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook Calendar. You’ll be able to determine the direction of information flow, as well as the sync frequency.
I noticed this today at the top of my Gmail screen.
Why is this such a big deal?
Many people use a mix between Google Calendar and Outlook (myself included) and many “makeshift” sync. options such as Plaxo to get everything in order. This essentially cuts out the middle man and synchronizes services directly. Since Google is a platform that many use for a calendar and integrates with many programs and web services, Outlook integration is a great next step.
As you see the many additions to event sites that add events to your Google calendar, ical, or Outlook – this step eliminates the need to use all three (or more).
For mobile users this is also big news. You can now essentially access your Google calendar from any phone, including the iPhone, and you now get free synchronization back to your enterprise Outlook or home Outlook account.
This move essentially puts some of the freelance programs and single-point-programs out of business, but that is always the fear with making a bridge program for Google Account products.
