Two Companies Rolling Out PC-to-Cell Sync Software

Lugging around a laptop is old news. The future is all about using any old computer, or any device at all for that matter, as a conduit for all your business and pleasure needs. Web-based email and the like will get you part of the way, but they aren't always convenient. And what about taking personal files, like music and photos, on the road? The web won't help you at 30,000 feet.

At CTIA I met with two companies exploring the use of your cell phone as a way to sync data files, media, and even email, both among various computers and for access on the phone itself.

First up is DMailer. This French company is best known overseas for its PC-and-thumbdrive-based syncing software, but it's jumping into the cell phone world feet first. With the upcoming DMailer Mobile installed on your phone, you can easily sync any file on your PC with your phone as well as, and this is the killer feature, your Outlook/Outlook Express/Vista Mail email. Plug your phone into another PC and up pop all your email, contacts, and calendar items, in an Outlook-like interface. Send and receive email all you like, then sync to your phone again. When you sync back with your original PC, all the changes will be up to date as if you'd been using it all along.

Cooler still, Dmailer's application lets you send and receive email directly via the phone and still sync it up back at your desk. This could be a great solution for those whose phones don't otherwise support email, though it isn't robust enough for heavy use. Pricing and availability are forthcoming.

In other news, Migo, well known for its thumbdrive sync software, is rolling out a PC-to-cell sync system called MigoPlay designed exclusively for music, movies, and photographs. The roughly $69 app (when released) can sync just about any kind of media to any phone with the software installed, from your iTunes playlist (which you can edit on your phone and sync back to your PC) to your movies (which are resized and reformatted automatically to work on your particular handset). The price seems steep, but the functionality could really free people from the tyranny of proprietary apps to manage their media. With MigoPlay you can use whatever software you'd like on your computer. Nice, especially if you can get it preinstalled on your device when you buy it.