Category Archives: CompanionLink Products

Salesforce Android App

Posted on by Gary
Reply

The future of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) lies in the Cloud. Google, Microsoft and many other prolific tech companies offer Cloud storage as well as related web-based business solutions. Salesforce is clearly the leader in purely Cloud based CRM solutions. They offer a professional, communication oriented solution tailored for the information age, free from bloatware and lengthy software install procedures. A quick glance through their website will reveal the prominently displayed slogan “No Software!” It should come as no surprise, then, that Salesforce’s entire business model is web based. The drawback of this is obvious: the Salesforce Android app is not particularly robust or as functional as the Salesforce website. DejaOffice, the free mobile CRM app from CompanionLink, is a great alternative for Salesforce users seeking a solution custom tailored for the Android experience.

How Does DejaOffice Compare to the Salesforce Android app?

The DejaOffice advantage is clear. The first thing presented to you upon launching DejaOffice for the first time is a user-friendly Setup Wizard. Compare this with the ominous license agreement you see as soon as your open the Salesforce Android app, and you’ll see that DejaOffice is designed to be easy to use and intuitive from the very beginning. Additionally, the Salesforce Android app demands that you enter your passcode every time you launch it, which quickly becomes a tedious ritual. Finally, the Salesforce Android app is only free for 30 days!

DejaOffice for Android Syncs with Salesforce

The DejaOffice Advantage

  • DejaOffice synchronizes and integrates with the native Android address book
  • No required fields during the creation of contacts and events
  • Multiple calendar views are available
  • No mandatory passcode that you must enter, upon app launch
  • DejaOffice has free technical support via phone and web, even without a license

If you want a mobile CRM which seamlessly syncs with Salesforce and takes advantage of all that the Android platform has to offer, look no further than DejaOffice.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Sync with Outlook

Posted on by Gary
Reply

Are you thinking about buying a new Android smartphone? And do you, like the multitudes of business-savvy professionals today, use Microsoft Outlook®? Your calendar is an essential resource for establishing, maintaining, and optimizing your daily schedule. It is critical for your productivity that your top of the line smartphone, phablet or tablet seamlessly synchronize with Outlook. Samsung’s Galaxy product line has proven to be hugely successful, and has a strong track record of reliability and mass appeal. In fact, according to Ars Technica, “the name ‘Galaxy’ could conceivably become synonymous with the word ‘Android.’  In some cases, it already has.” If you are wondering how to make your Samsung Galaxy S4 Sync with Outlook, the solution is CompanionLink.

Sync Outlook to your Samsung Galaxy S4 using CompanionLink

Samsung Galaxy S4 Sync with Outlook

As we noted last month, CompanionLink is ready, willing and able to sync Outlook with the entire Galaxy line, including the new Samsung Galaxy S4. The S4 has some very impressive specs, and a handful of very innovative new features – but at the end of the day, what matters is that you have an easy to use, functional tool which helps you to organize your life. If you want to have your Samsung Galaxy S4 Sync with Outlook, CompanionLink’s app DejaOffice for Android makes this a reality.

About DejaOffice and CompanionLink

  • DejaOffice is a free app available in the Google Play store that enables CompanionLink to sync with your Samsung Galaxy device.
  • Sync Outlook calendar, contacts, tasks, notes and journal entries to your device over WIFI, DejaCloud, via Google, or USB.
  • DejaOffice offers a fully featured calendar for your Samsung Galaxy device which supports all functional elements of the Microsoft Outlook® calendar.
  • Online setup guides are available here, in addition to free phone support.

Start your 14 day free trial today, and find your missing sync!

Sync Gmail with Outlook

Posted on by Gary
Reply

Email accounts (and related services) are all about communication. Companies both large and small depend on contact lists, calendar entries, and tasks within programs such as Microsoft Outlook for effective communication and time management. It is essential for this communication to extend beyond one application – and even beyond computers as a platform. In this day and age, smartphones, tablets, PDAs, and phablets have become essential tools of communication with customers and co-workers, thanks to companies such as Google. So, how do you sync Gmail with Outlook?

All Syncs are Not Created Equal

For users who prefer a free, albeit very limited Google to Outlook synchronization process, there are a few solutions. It is possible to set up a new IMAP account within Microsoft Outlook, which can be connected with a Gmail account. However, this does not support full synchronization of existing Outlook data. Instructions for this process can be found here. A free program named Contacts Sync also exists, but “it appears to ignore Gmail entries without data in the last-name or e-mail fields,” according to Dennis O’Reilly of CNET. Neither of these free work-arounds appear to be a viable solution for business-oriented environments, in which data integrity is of critical importance.

Additionally, Google recently discontinued its free offering of its App Sync, which has left many people wondering what the best way is to sync Gmail with Outlook.  Though this option is still available for paid users of Google Apps for Business, this may be cost prohibitive at $50 per year for every user.

CompanionLink Syncs Gmail with Outlook

Sync Gmail with Outlook via CompanionLink

  • CompanionLink was designed for professionals who require functionality, reliability and performance.
  • No changes to your existing Outlook account are needed.
  • CompanionLink for Google offers a fully featured method to sync Gmail with Outlook data (PST files) — Contacts, Calendars, and Tasks are supported.
  • Your license is a one time fee; there is no expensive recurring cost.
  • Sync Gmail with Outlook free for two weeks, when you start your trial.
  • Free, detailed setup guides are also available for this process.

These facts and more make CompanionLink for Google the clear choice for your sync!

BlackBerry 10 wants you to manage Tasks with Priorities

Posted on by Rushang
Reply

Q: What’s a task list without priorities?
A: Just a list.

Let’s just say the late Dr. Stephen Covey might not approve of this.

BlackBerry 10 ships with an app called Remember that nicely organizes notes and tasks in one slick app. Think “Evernote meets [plug in any of the millions of Tasks apps available]“.

But the Remember app misses the mark on one key principle of any task management philosophy – prioritizing tasks!

The Remember app groups things into notebook icons. Each “notebook” can hold items like photos, lists, tasks, and web links. But the treatment for Tasks is like a plain text note – there are no task-focused features like priorities, recurring tasks, or task alerts.

Microsoft Outlook users will especially find this confusing because Outlook ships with task-focused features out-of-the-box. In fact, these features are what makes “task management” philosophies work because they require you to take a large set of things to do and organize them by priority.  Task management = prioritization.

If you want a Task Manager that works lock-step with your Outlook Tasks – including Task Priorities, Categories, and Alarms – download the free DejaOffice app for BlackBerry 10.

Outlook Hotmail Connector Alternative

Posted on by Gary
Reply

Do you know how to sync your Hotmail or Outlook.com account with Microsoft Outlook? Many people who use Outlook on a regular basis are not aware that this is possible. Microsoft has developed a free add-in to address this need, which is known as Outlook Connector. Information on how to set up Outlook with Hotmail or Outlook.com accounts with Outlook Connector can be found here.

Hotmail Connector is a free add-in for Microsoft Outlook. I performed a test run of this add-in with my copy of Outlook here at the office during the course of my research yesterday, and was unable to get it to work. I was unable to find a contact phone number for support for this issue, and was directed by their website to self-help forums and a very expensive after-hours support package.

Regardless, this free tool is great at integrating the basic contact and calendar data from Hotmail accounts with Outlook for PC. An advanced user or business person will likely demand more functionality, however, as they depend on categories, task management, calendars and alarms to manage their work day. In addition, Outlook Hotmail Connector does not directly interface with a user’s existing PST file (a new PST must be created for the data to be imported). This is not desirable in a business setting, as the Hotmail contacts will not be automatically consolidated with the existing Outlook data.

Why is CompanionLink the Best Outlook Hotmail Connector Alternative for Business Professionals?

  • CompanionLink allows you to sync Hotmail (Outlook.com) with your existing Outlook PST data file.
  • Synchronization of tasks, categories, notes, and contact pictures are supported, unlike with Outlook Connector.
  • CompanionLink for Outlook comes with free technical support over the phone.
  • Outlook Connector was not designed specifically for business-oriented synchronization; it is primarily a way to view your Hotmail inbox within Microsoft Outlook.
  • CompanionLink supports Outlook 2000 – 2013, in both 32 and 64 bit configurations.
  • Outlook Connector does not allow support greater than 1,000 contacts, and recurring appointments may not be supported either.
Connect Hotmail with Microsoft Outlook

Sync Microsoft Outlook with Outlook.com using CompanionLink as your Outlook Hotmail connector alternative, today! Click here for more information, including our fourteen day free trial offer.

*Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Sync Outlook Calendar with Android

Posted on by Gary
Reply

For the business-savvy professional with an Android smartphone, phablet or tablet who uses Microsoft Outlook every day, the question of the month is “How do I sync Outlook calendar with Android?” This valuable synchronization option was previously made possible using a free service from Google. However, this option has since been discontinued, and there isn’t a lot of information available about what the best option is, going forward. CompanionLink for Outlook is just what the doctor ordered.

Synchronize Caledar with Outlook and Android

Two-Way Sync Between Outlook and Your Android

It is possible to import your Google calendar into Outlook using the ICAL protocol. However, performing two-way synchronization between your non-exchange Outlook calendar and an Android device can seem very difficult, as there is no fully featured proprietary solution from either Google or Microsoft at present. In addition, carrier or device specific solutions often fall short of expectations and do not offer free technical support over the phone.

Unlike the solutions our competitors offer, CompanionLink for Outlook supports seamless sync between Android and Outlook calendars with no add-ins or plug-ins required. Plus, free technical support via phone and email is available! Device specific calendar management apps, which are not supported on all Android smartphones, typically do not offer high integrity synchronization of additional conduits. These include Contacts, Tasks, Notes and Journal. CompanionLink’s free Android app, DejaOffice, supports all of these with a consistent user experience no matter what device it is installed on.

How to Sync Outlook Calendar with Android

CompanionLink for Outlook makes bi-directional sync with Android devices easy! Just perform the following steps (and be sure to view our Setup Guides for additional information):

  1. Download and install the free two week free trial of CompanionLink for Outlook onto your PC, and download the DejaOffice CRM app onto your Android (available from the Play Store)
  2. In CompanionLink for Outlook, set the “Device you want to sync with” to Android
  3. Next, choose from seven possible sync methods (USB, WIFI, Cloud and Bluetooth options are available!)
  4. From CompanionLink’s “Select your PC or web database” dropdown menu, choose Microsoft Outlook 2000 – 2013
  5. Complete the DejaOffice Setup Wizard on your Android
  6. Press “Sync”

For all of your Outlook and Android calendar sync needs, CompanionLink has you covered.

S4 Outlook Sync

Posted on by Rushang
1

CompanionLink will support Galaxy S4 Outlook sync from day one. Because most Galaxy devices do not ship with reliable Outlook sync software, CompanionLink’s products are used by thousands to synchronize Outlook contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, journal, categories, and contact photos with Galaxy devices like SIII and SIV.

CompanionLink already supports all Galaxy phones and tablets, including the popular S III. With the Galaxy S IV, CompanionLink extends their support of Samsung’s most popular line of smartphones for people using standalone Microsoft Outlook or other CRM tools like Salesforce CRM, ACT!, Lotus Notes, and Palm Desktop.

Multiple options for S4 Outlook sync

  • USB sync
  • DejaCloud push sync
  • Wi-Fi sync
  • Sync to Gmail or Google Apps

CompanionLink multiple protocols for S4 Outlook sync. Traditional USB sync is for those who prefer to connect their S4 with their PC. DejaCloud push sync is for those who desire a hands-free and over-the-air experience. DejaCloud is a new service offered by CompanionLink with emphasis on a private business cloud that does not sell or advertise users data like other large organizations. This service is for people focused on data security between Outlook and S4 devices.

Requirements

  • CompanionLink for Outlook
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000 or higher
  • Windows 2000 or higher, or Mac OS X 10.7 or higher

More information can be found at www.companionlink.com/s4.

How to sync Gmail contacts with Outlook

Posted on by Rushang
Reply

The most reliable way to sync Gmail contacts with Outlook is to set up a system that automatically keeps both sides synchronized. If you add, delete, or edit a contact recording in Outlook or Gmail, the changes are synchronized automatically.

Software options to sync Gmail contacts with Outlook

CompanionLink for Google is a low-cost product designed to sync Gmail contacts with Outlook. It goes beyond just contacts though. CompanionLink will also sync:

  • Outlook Categories with Google Contact Groups
  • Contact photos
  • Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar
  • Outlook Tasks with Google Tasks

An “Auto Sync” setting lets you set CompanionLink to automatically interface with Google every 5 minutes. You can also set the time intervals to longer periods.

sync-gmail-contacts-with-outlook

You may find other free options available. Pay close attention to which versions of Outlook they work with, whether or not they collect or advertise your data, and if the software requires special Outlook set up so Outlook doesn’t consider access to Outlook Contacts a malicious attempt.

Also key in your decision is to see if software is backed by phone support. Business-class software to sync Gmail contacts with Outlook should come with free phone support.

How to sync Outlook Notes with Android

Posted on by Rushang
Reply

Sync Outlook Notes with Android

People who use Microsoft Outlook for business rely on the Outlook Notes feature.  Insurance agents, for example, will use Outlook Notes to document details about each claim. Outlook Notes can be attached to an Outlook Contact record, letting agents search for a contact and quickly see the notes they’ve made.  Agents can also sync Outlook Notes with Android phones and tablets using CompanionLink.

Steps to sync Outlook Notes with Android

  1. Download CompanionLink for Outlook. It’s free to try for 14 days.
  2. Configure it to sync Android with Microsoft Outlook. Make sure the Outlook Notes checkbox is checked.
  3. Click the Sync button.

CompanionLink for Outlook is a PC software product that synchronizes Outlook Notes with Android devices.  The sync is two-ways so changes made on the Android device or in Microsoft Outlook are always updated.  If you configure CompanionLink to use their DejaCloud service, all your data will synchronize over-the-air without the need to connect your Android device to your PC with cables.

DejaOffice app for Android stores Outlook Notes

CompanionLink works together with an Android app called DejaOffice.  The app stores Outlook Notes, Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks from your PC.  In the example above of our agent, links between Outlook Notes and Outlook Contacts are maintained on the Android, just like on PC Outlook.  Categories are also maintained, allowing you to map all of your Outlook Categories from your PC to your Android. DejaOffice is available from the Google Play Store.

Phablet sync

Posted on by Rushang
Reply

Phablet appears to be the latest literary phenomenon that will become a household name.  A phablet is a smartphone with a large enough screen to encroach on the definition of a tablet.  Huffington Post writes about the ire the term phablet is beginning to draw.  Samsung Galaxy Note can be credited as being the first mainstream device to challenge the sacred phone/tablet threshold.  (Dell made a valiant attempt to crack the phablet marketing with Dell Streak. However, they didn’t have the marketing cloud of Samsung.)

The first Galaxy Note device had a 5.3-inch screen.  Galaxy Note II stretched the limits even further with a 5.5-inch screen.  Galaxy Note III is rumored to have a gargantuan 6.3-inch display.

Phablet sync with phones and computers

The linchpin behind phablets is to achieve nirvana between desktop productivity and the mobile form factor.  People with mobile devices do not want to squint to read tiny, high-resolution font.  They hate being given a 10×10 pixel area button that accurately engages on only 60% of their tap attempts.  People who want a “large enough” screen for business productivity in a pocket-able form factor turn to phablets.

Phablet sync is a key factor in mobile productivity.  Business users of phablets need  a way to get their contact records and calendar agenda onto their phablet.  With phablets going mainstream, PC to phablet sync and smartphone to phablet sync will be in demand.

CompanionLink offers a simple solution for this called DejaCloud.  With one username and password, contacts and calendar information will be synchronized between PC, smartphone, and phablet.  This technology is available today for phablet early-adopters.