Shared electronic calendars got a boost today with the announced
release of ClearSync 1.0. This service enables groups of users to
share and sync multiple calendars and contact lists between any
combination of PCs and Palm handhelds. Like Outlook, ClearSync allows
access to calendars and contacts even when Internet access is not
available. And like Google(TM) or Yahoo(TM) Calendars, ClearSync
allows people to share calendars and contact lists with others with
whom they do not share a common server. Thus ClearSync combines the
strengths and eliminates the weaknesses of several competing
offerings.
And ClearSync supports full bi-directional synchronization with
Palm handhelds, so calendar and contact information can be created and
edited on either PCs or Palm handhelds and these changes propagated to
the other platforms. ClearSync also supports a browser-based viewer so
calendars and contacts can be viewed on any platform with a web
browser including Macintoshes and Linux PCs.
ClearSync users can share their work calendar with their
coworkers, a separate calendar with their families, and yet other
calendars with other groups they belong to such as sports teams,
schools, clubs, scouts, etc. ClearSync uses the Internet to
synchronize calendar and contact data, however, a local copy is
maintained on each user's PC so that full access, including viewing
and editing, is maintained even during times when Internet access is
not available (e.g. laptop PC in an airplane). The PC application
allows each of the multiple calendars to be viewed separately, or they
can be viewed side by side or merged with color coding to identify the
calendar for each event.
Unique among shared calendar providers, ClearSync's Palm
application allows multiple calendars to be stored, viewed, and edited
on the Palm handheld. Similar to the ClearSync PC application, the
Palm application can display calendars one at a time, side by side, or
merged with color coding. While the calendar events can be displayed
together to show the user their complete agenda, the calendar data
remains on separate calendars, each of which is shared with its own
distinct group of users. Contact lists and one calendar can be
synchronized with Outlook. And wireless PalmOS devices such as the
Treo 600, 650, and 700p allow updating of the calendar and contact
data wirelessly through the cell phone network.
"We recognize that most people belong to many separate groups,"
says John Tanner, President and CEO of ClearSync. "We've designed
ClearSync to allow people to maintain a separate calendar and contact
list for each group, and to fully synchronize them between PCs and
Palm handheld devices. That way, people can capture their crucial data
whether they are at their desk, in a meeting, or at their kid's soccer
practice, and all this data will be available to them and their
sharing groups whenever and wherever they need it."
The technology for ClearSync was acquired from PalmSource.
Thousands of businesses and families have relied upon this service for
years. The ClearSync team has completely reengineered the system, top
to bottom, in order to increase the speed, capacity, and reliability
of the service. Further information and software downloads can be
obtained from www.clearsync.com/v1.
About Tanner Research, Inc.
ClearSync is a division of Tanner Research, Inc. which was founded
in 1988 and develops complex electronic engineering software.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information please contact Adell
Young at 626-471-9788.
