Author Archives: Rushang

CompanionLink supports mobile sync on Windows 8

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CompanionLink fully supports data synchronization on the new Windows 8 operating system and Metro UI.  CompanionLink will sync Android, iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, and Google web-based accounts to Windows 8.

All CompanionLink version 5 products have built-in support for Windows 8.  CompanionLink install as a Tile in Metro UI.  Customers with older versions CompanionLink can upgrade to version 5 at a discount in order for complete support for Windows 8 and future Microsoft service packs.

CompanionLink installs as a Tile in Windows 8 Metro UI

CompanionLink installs as Tile in Metro UI

The full line of desktop products that we support in previous Windows versions are also supported in Windows 8:

  • Microsoft Outlook, including the new Outlook 2013
  • Microsoft Outlook Business Contact Manager
  • Palm Desktop
  • ACT!
  • Lotus Notes
  • GroupWise
  • GoldMine
  • Time & Chaos

 

Salesforce CRM Accounts sync to mobile devices and Google

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CompanionLink has always synchronized Salesforce CRM Contacts and Accounts to mobile devices, Outlook, or any Google or Gmail account.  Accounts show up on the device as a Contact record with the organization/company field mapped to the Account name in Salesforce CRM.

In CompanionLink Professional 5 build 5044 and later, we have expanded field-mapping options when synchronizing Accounts. We introduced a new tab in CompanionLink called Account Field Mapping that allows you to map any/all of your Salesforce CRM Account fields with your choice contact fields on the mobile device.

Map Salesforce CRM Accounts to your mobile device

Must-know guide for moving from BlackBerry to Android

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Business professionals cannot afford to lose data during a move to Android.  This guide helps you reliably move email, business relationships, calendar agenda, to-do lists, notes, and text messages from BlackBerry to any Android phone or tablet.

Email

Android’s email app supports Exchange, IMAP, POP3, and Google/Gmail accounts.  This lets you to set up virtually any email service.  Here is a basic guide to set up email on Android.  If you need incoming/outgoing server details about your specific email service, do a Google search for your service’s name followed by “IMAP settings”.

Here are settings for some popular email services:
Yahoo! – https://mobile.yahoo.com/mail/android (click on the IMAP tab)
AOL – https://email.about.com/od/accessingaolmail/f/AOL_Mail_IMAP_Settings.htm
Hotmail – https://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/hotmail/mobile?t1=t4

Contacts, calendar, tasks, and notes

You can use one free app to move all of this data.  CompanionLink has software that will sync Outlook with Android.

Step 1: Use BlackBerry Desktop Software to backup your BlackBerry data to Microsoft Outlook.

Step 2: Download a free 14-day trial of CompanionLink for Outlook to your PC. Configure it to sync Outlook to Android using the DejaCloud service. Here is how your setup should look when configured correctly.  (If you want to continue synchronizing Android with Outlook after the 14-day trial is over, you can buy a license for $14.95.)

Step 3: Click the Sync button in CompanionLink and watch your Outlook data move to your Android.

Text messages

David Hope has developed a free tool that moves SMS text messages from BlackBerry to Android.  The tool is available at https://hope.mx/blackberry2droid.

Get it right the first time by hiring a professional to do it for you

CompanionLink offers a $49 service where a migration expert will log into your PC and move your data from BlackBerry to Android.  The service is called RunStart and has been used by hundreds of business professionals to safely move their data to Android without data corruption or data loss.

If you have any questions about moving to the Android platform, email us at sales@companionlink.com.

S3 Mini means business (and competition for iPhone 5)

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Samsung UK just announced the Galaxy S III Mini.  The specs pose the device as direct competition to iPhone 5.  Both devices have a 4″ display, and this is perhaps Samsung’s way of telling Apple and the world that if you want the “mini” experience, the choice you have is iPhone 5 and S3 Mini.  If you want an upgraded experience from “mini”, Samsung offers a slew of devices like the S3, Nexus, and others.

S3 Mini ships with Jelly Bean (Android 4.1), a dual-core CPU, and the TouchWiz interface.  It also includes all the great features people have come to enjoy with Samsung – S Voice, Smart Stay, Direct Call, and S Beam.

A lot of business users will be enticed by the smaller, more compact form factor of the S3 Mini.  It’s small enough to put in your shirt pocket or operate with one hand.  For big travelers, this could be key.

CompanionLink will support USB and Cloud sync to S3 Mini with Outlook, ACT!, Palm Desktop, Lotus Notes, GroupWise, Highrise, Salesforce CRM, Zoho CRM, and SugarCRM.

Update: Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple) in a recent interview said Apple became arrogant with the assumption that one size fits all.  Wozniak said people have different needs, and the iPhone 5 doesn’t offer people options by shipping with only one screen size.  This favorably positions Samsung’s Galaxy devices because they come in different sizes for different people.  The S3 Mini has the same 4″ screen size as the iPhone 5, allowing people to operate their device with one hand.  The Galaxy S3 device has a 4.8″ screen, which gives people more real estate on their screen.  The Galaxy Note 2 has a 5.5″ screen size for those wanting even more.

Samsung adds Galaxy Express and Rugby Pro to Android line-up

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AT&T announced they will carry the Samsung Galaxy Express and Samsung Rugby Pro devices this winter holiday season. The Galaxy Express is a mass-market device that will run Ice Cream Sandwich. The Rugby Pro is a military-grade Android device that is waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. It sports Push-to-talk, a 4-inch screen, and full device encryption.  (Anyone with more clarity on what “full device encryption” means, please send an email to us at social@companionlink.com.)

CompanionLink will offer sync for both the Galaxy Express and the Rubgy Pro.

Galaxy S4 coming February 2013. CompanionLink will sync with S4.

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Fresh on the heels of the iPhone 5 announcement, Samsung announces the Galaxy S IV device will debut February 2013 at the Mobile World Congress.

The Galaxy S2 and Galaxy S3 have been two of the most popular devices for business users buying CompanionLink.  We expect that trend to continue with the upcoming Galaxy S4.  The phone is the closest one-to-one competitor of iPhone 5 in terms of features and reputation.  The S4 is built for business and pleasure. CompanionLink and our companion DejaOffice app for Android adds to the “business” side of the equation by enabling features missing on S2 and S3 (and presumably S4), such as:

  • database encryption
  • logging business notes after incoming phone calls
  • business-focused view and sort options for Contacts
  • color-coded categories that match systems like Microsoft Outlook
  • one-click setting to keep business and personal data separate on device

Our website will have all the latest on Galaxy S4 support as the launch nears.

Forbes.com article includes CompanionLink in Top 9 Apps for Salespeople

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This is a big day for CompanionLink.  Gene Marks, contributor for Forbes.com, mentioned CompanionLink in the same article as some heavyweights such Amazon, Evernote, and Square.  The article is about Gene’s top 9 apps that he recommends salespeople must have on their smartphones.

This is not a new company or two dudes working out of a garage.  My clients and I have used CompanionLink’s products for a decade.  I also like the fact that they’re not in bed with any one software maker – they make synching products for them all.

CompanionLink has always felt there is strong value in offer mobile business professionals a reliable and platform-agnostic way to integrate their phones with their business contacts, agenda, and notes.  Our mantra has always been “Your data, your device.”  We’re proud to support the entire spectrum of major mobile platforms and let you choose which device to use and how you wish you keep your data integrated. We do it with integrity and without farming or selling your data to advertisers because we feel that’s what business professionals really want.

Today’s mention by Gene was a testimonial for our mission.  Thank you, Gene.

The killer feature Windows Phone 8 needs to make a dent in the smartphone wars

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Android is the brand of choices. They let you pick your carrier, color, and device maker.  Android offers options and flexibility.  Apple iPhone is the brand for a magical ecosystem that works in harmony if you use their phone, apps, and computers.  The user experience is unparalleled.

And Windows Phone plans to make a dent…?

They can indeed.  The answer lies in looking at the past and coming to terms with their core.  Once upon a time, people preferred the old Microsoft Windows Mobile devices over popular BlackBerry and Palm Treo options because of the tight integration Microsoft delivered with business software like Exchange, ActiveSync, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and other business apps.  Windows Mobile shipped with a fluent user experience (much like Apple today) if you lived within Microsoft’s software, back-end, and phones.

The key to Windows Phone 8 making a dent is to reintroduce tight integration to their own business software suite of Microsoft Office.  It’s surprising (and ridiculous) this even needs to be stated.  Here’s an 86-page(!) and growing thread of frustrated people who just want their old ActiveSync desktop client back for plain old USB sync between a Windows Phone and Microsoft Outlook.  This is yester-year’s technology folks!  No breakthrough needed — just bring it back!

In the push towards cloudifying everything, Microsoft has forgotten their past.  At their core, they are a company focused on the productivity audience.  MS Office is still their breadwinner and still the go-to app for people at work, home, school, fill in the blank…

Just a thought.

Add business CRM functions to Motorola’s new flagship RAZR line (DROID RAZR HD, RAZR Maxx HD and RAZR M)

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Motorola’s first major device announcement under new parent Google and a new CEO includes three major devices — DROID RAZR HD, DROID RAZR MAXX HD, and DROID RAZR M.  Their core competency still remains their dedication to Android, 4G LTE (courtesy of Verizon), and some of the longest lasting batteries that ship with Android devices.

All three competencies point squarely on the business audience — people who need fast internet access and batteries that can last the entire day on the road.

CompanionLink augments these business competencies by adding CRM functionality on Motorola’s new products.  With the DejaOffice CRM app for Android, business people can store over 50,000 records, encrypt and lock their entire client database and notes, sort a long list of contacts by company name or last name, or sort by zip code or city.

CompanionLink also synchronizes CRM databases like Sage ACT!, SugarCRM, Zoho, Salesforce, and many others directly to Motorola devices.  This allows businesses to use the CompanionLink ecosystem to keep CRM data updated, encrypted, and easily accessible.

Unlimited Outlook sync for people buying the Galaxy S2 on T-Mobile’s new unlimited internet access plans

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T-Mobile and Walmart are offering the Samsung Galaxy S2 off-contract for $299.  You sign up with T-Mobile’s new unlimited internet access (data) and texting for just $30 per month. No annual subscriptions.

That’s a great offer for people averse to contracts. Granted, the S2 is an older phone.  But it is one of the most popular Android devices ever!

Folks will need a way to load their contacts and calendar events on their S2.  CompanionLink offers software to load your S2 with data from popular PC apps like Microsoft Outlook.  The 14-day trial is free and offers unlimited data sync. If you wish to continue synchronizing, prices start as low as $14.95.

Sync Outlook Journal to Android, iPhone, and iPad

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CompanionLink can sync Microsoft Outlook Journal to Android, iPhone, and iPad devices.  While relatively few people use Journal entries compared to the other data types in Outlook, those who do are in dire need of a way to get Journal on their mobile devices.

Here’s how to sync Journal to mobile:

  1. Download CompanionLink for Outlook. This product installs on a PC and can be set up to sync Microsoft Outlook with smartphones and tablets.
  2. In CompanionLink Settings, make sure the Journal option is selected. CompanionLink has other options also, such as Outlook contacts, calendar, tasks, and notes.
  3. Select your device type, such as Android, Apple iPhone, etc.
  4. Select your sync method. We recommend choosing DejaCloud for wireless sync of data.
  5. Click the Sync button.

Will Nokia and Microsoft introduce first Windows Phone 8 device on September 5, 2012?

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Fresh off of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 announcement, Nokia and Microsoft have sent out invitations to a joint event to be held in New York on September 5.  Will this be the unveiling of the first Windows Phone 8 device?

Instead of fleeing to Android like every other device manufacturer has, Nokia has double-downed on the Windows Phone platform.  This presents a high-risk/high-reward situation for a company that is slowly climbing out of a financial slumber brought on by the onslaught of iPhone and Android.  Nokia is to the Windows Phone platform what Samsung is to Android.

Inconclusive is whether Windows Phone 8 really goes mainstream.  There exists a huge open niche in the business market.  BlackBerry is quickly losing their foothold in mobile business because of their antiquated operating system.  Android and iPhone have chosen to primarily focus on the consumer crowd by emphasizing audio, video, social media, and gaming.  Windows Phone 8 has an opportunity to take cater squarely to business people who have been forced to kludge together apps and solutions to get a business tool that works for them.  Wouldn’t a business mobile device be a great fit with Microsoft’s bread winner, Microsoft Office?

CompanionLink is watching Nokia and Microsoft closely.  As CompanionLink pivots to mobile business CRM, we’re hoping Windows Phone 8 aligns with business people also.  Yes, we’ll be there to support them.  Like Nokia, we may even double-down.