SyncML

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 protocals 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.

Contents

[edit] SyncML Client Connectors and Plugins

Name Platform Application Contacts Calendar Memos Tasks Bookmarks E-mail SMS Notes
SyncEvolution Linux Evolution Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No free, command line
Funambol Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone Yes Yes Yes Yes * plus files in 'briefcase'
GoogleCode Funambol Android Android Yes No No No No No No free, GPL
Funambol Windows Outlook Yes Yes Yes Yes
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 BlackBerry BB Databases Yes Yes No No Yes Community Project
Funambol PalmOS Palm Databases Yes No No No No No free, Community Project
Funambol JVM Various * * * * There is a wide range of Community Projects: Exchange, Domino, SOGo, etc.
Funambol Windows iPod Yes Yes No No sync via cable
Funambol Windows, Linux Thunderbird, Sunbird Yes Yes No No [GNU GPLv2] Community Project
Funambol Yahoo!, Google Contacts, Calendar Yes Yes No No No Yes No [GNU GPLv3]
Synchronica Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone Yes Yes No No Yes emails, attachments and folders
Synchronica Sun Java Systems Communication Suite Sun Comms 4, 5 and 6 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Synchronica Java Content Repository Any JCR compatible server Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes JCR (JSR-170) back-end API
Synchronica Palm OS mobile devices Yes Yes No No Yes
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
SyncML2iPhone iPhone iCal No Yes No No free
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
MyTT Brew 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
CompanionLink Windows Various commercial
SyncJe Windows Outlook Yes Yes Yes Yes commercial
SyncJe Windows Outlook Express Yes No No No commercial
SyncJe Windows Lotus Notes Yes Yes Yes Yes commercial
SyncJe Windows ACT Yes Yes No Yes commercial
SyncJe PalmOS Palm Databases Yes Yes Yes Yes commercial
SyncJe BlackBerry Yes Yes No Yes commercial
SyncJe OS X iPhone Yes Yes Yes No commercial

[edit] SyncML Servers

Name Platform Application Contacts Calendar Memos Tasks E-mail Notes
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) SyncML Server Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Service Providers, OEMS, Enterprise
Toffa SyncML Server
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

[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 Yes Yes
myFunambol consumer free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
myFunambol iPhone free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Safari Optimized
eneia consumer free / paid Yes contact self-update feature
ScheduleWorld consumer free Yes Yes Yes Yes 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.
FonePIM demo free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PhoneBackup Consumer paid Yes Yes OTA configuration
O-Sync Consumer free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes contact self-update feature
Mobical free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes OMA CP: Open Mobile Alliance Client Provisioning
ZYB Online Community free Yes Yes No No No No Yes
MightyPhone Brew Cell Phone Owners Yes Yes No No limited client support
GSMSync Yes Yes Yes Yes
Synkia cell phone backup
ComEase cell phone backup
CompanionLink data synching of disconnected applications
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
Compelson demo free Yes Yes Yes Yes

[edit] See also

  • The SyncML Initiative
  • Funambol - Free and open source SyncML server software.
  • OpenSync - Free and open source synchronization software written with C-language.
  • Yahoo! Mobile - A Yahoo service offered in some countries that uses SyncML technology.
  • Zyb - A free service offered world-wide that uses SyncML technology.
  • LapBack - A free web service offered world-wide that uses SyncML technology.

[edit] References