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The question is, which smartphone is best when you need to have it synchronize with Microsoft Outlook and notetaking software like OneNote or Evernote?

The smartphone options are the iPhone, Google’s G1, Blackberry, or a Microsoft Windows Mobile smartphone.

Here is the scenario. You have a PC, and you want the smartphone to share information with Outlook. It must also be able to share data with Microsoft OneNote or Evernote, which are both excellent for taking notes and storing random information. You might also want it to share information with Gmail.

Here are the results of my research in November 2008.

	iPhone	Google Phone (G1 Android)	Blackberry	Microsoft Windows Mobile-based smartphone or Pocket PC
Evernote note-taking software	Sync with Evernote for iPhone. More screenshots.	Online access and sync software coming soon	No. But there might be a work-around.	Sync with Evernote for Windows Mobile (5.x or 6.x)
Microsoft OneNote	No.	No.	No.	Sync with OneNote Mobile.See screenshots.
Outlook Tasks	Yes, but only with KeyTasks, a $10 3rd-party application.	Yes, with 3rd party software: CompanionLink.	Sync.	Sync.
Outlook Calendar	Yes, with iTunes. See the steps. Or sync with Google Calendar Sync and then access via Google Calendar.	Yes, with 3rd party software: CompanionLink. Or sync with Google Calendar Sync and then access via Google Calendar.	Sync.	Sync.
Outlook Notes	Yes, but only with 3rd party software, www.toodledo.com, and its companion Appigo ToDo application. It will sync your iPhone to the toodledo web site. Then load Chromatic Dragons Outlook Sync to sync Outlook to the toodledo web site.		Sync.	Sync.
Outlook Contacts	Yes, with iTunes. See the steps.	Yes, with 3rd party software: CompanionLink. Or access Google Contacts, which can sync to Outlook Contacts with beta 3rd party software.	Sync.	Sync.
Outlook Email	Yes, if email can be accessed by IMAP (if not, use 3rd party MrPostman software as a workaround)	Online access to Gmail, which can sync with Outlook. See Google’s, Microsoft’s, and another’s instructions.	Sync.	Sync.
Gmail	Online access.	Online access.	Online access.	Online access.
Google Calendar	Online access.	Online access.	Yes, with Google Calendar Sync for Blackberry.	Online access.
SUMMARY	Good. iPhone is great for Evernote and Gmail. But the iPhone’s interaction with Outlook is limited. The iPhone cannot access OneNote.	The newness of the Google G1 means it doesn’t have inter-connectivity needed yet.	The Blackberry doesn’t connect directly with OneNote or Evernote.	Winner:Best. It connects with everything.

Concerns with 3rd Party Tools. I did not want to use third-party applications to share information between the smartphone and PC-based software because that requires updating the software and possible compatibility problems. I am running a business, and can’t afford to waste time with technical problems.

Conclusion

OneNote’s inability to connect with anything but a Microsoft Windows Mobile-based smartphone or Pocket PC leaves few options for the OneNote user. Outlook doesn’t sync fully with the iPhone or G1 Google phone, and the Blackberry can’t access OneNote or Evernote.

The conclusion is this: a Microsoft Windows Mobile-based smartphone is the only smartphone that connects with all the software considered here.

I wasn’t very happy with this conclusion. The G1 or iPhone seem much cooler and more fun. However, it seems that we must either

1. wait for technology to improve,
2. buy a Microsoft Windows Mobile smartphone, or
3. give-up on accessing OneNote/Evernote information on the smartphone.

Please note, software for these devices is being improved, so this information may not be accurate for very long.

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