Syncing Mobile Phones
One of the great advantages of mobile phones is the ability to have all of your information at your fingertips. Keeping this information current on both your computer and your mobile device can be more difficult.
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to keeping this information up-to-date. The best solutions usually come from the phones manufacturer, but may be difficult to find or use. For example, Motorola offered free contact management software for your PC that would sync with its phones. Unfortunately, it would not sync with Windows address book.
Third party vendors also create software that will sync phones with popular windows software. The most widely available is the Sync Center included with Windows. If it is not already installed on your computer, it is a free download from the Microsoft download center. This utility, if it works for your device, makes syncing as easy as connecting your phone to your computer and choosing what you want to sync. Like all third party software, however, it doesn’t work with all phones.
The best time to get the syncing features you want is when you are purchasing the phone. I recommend a Windows Mobile Smartphone if you use Windows and the iPhone if you use a Mac. While these devices are more expensive than most phones, buying this combination ensures the device will work seamlessly with your computer. Depending on your usage, you may even be able to cancel your data plan which would more than offset the added price of the phone.