We have plans to implement LDAP (which is a way email clients can access contact records on remote directory services).

Very Cool, I just registered to request LDAP access, this is great news!

Related to that ...

We recently started work on implementing a synchronization service.  This will synchronize master contact data, events and tasks between Solve360 and the installed applications on Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Mobile devices and desktop application such as Outlook, OS X (iCal, Contacts), etc.  This will likely become the defacto method to standardize data and processes across multiple systems.

Do you still plan to offer LDAP? Eventually we will have thousands of contacts in Solve360 and I won’t want them all to sync directly with my Address Book / iPhone.

Yes, LDAP is something we will be investigating.  However, the Apple supplied iPhone applications currently do not support LDAP, actually none of the popular mobile devices do.  LDAP can provide useful utility for looking-up contacts from email clients but it is not a universal solution.

The current Solve360 iPhone interface allows you to quickly look-up contacts no matter how many you have loaded in your Solve360 database e.g. even with 10,000+ contacts you can filter down to the one you need by typing just a few characters (no sync required).  The benefit of this particular interface is you can access all your custom contact fields too.

Thanks! That’s exactly what I planned on, LDAP in Mail.app and using the website on the iPhone. I can open a second request, but I would also like it if the website could stay logged in for say, two weeks at a time…

Engineering Staff - Dec 14, 2008 02:20pm

Related to that ...

We recently started work on implementing a synchronization service.  This will synchronize master contact data, events and tasks between Solve360 and the installed applications on Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Mobile devices and desktop application such as Outlook, OS X (iCal, Contacts), etc.  This will likely become the defacto method to standardize data and processes across multiple systems.

Is this capability still on the development list? I am really trying to streamline our systems and processes as it relates to making Solve the hub of our business, but two things are standing in the way - tight e-mail integration (the webmail functionality coming soon should fix this one), and contact synchronization. The web access on an iphone is fine when you are looking for specific info, but I would MUCH rather see contacts (or group of contacts), events, and tasks synchronized with my mobile devices.  We currently use MS Exchange and ActiveSync for our mobile devices, and this has worked very well for the past couple of years.  After beginning to move toward a more customer-centric business model, we ran into many limitations of this setup.  Then, we found Solve 360, and it takes care of all of the “new” problems we had with CRM and PM. Now the problem remains on how to get things tightly integrated so we don’t have contact entries on Solve that aren’t in our phones or on our desktops.

I am looking into moving from Exchange to Google Apps, and the webmail client in Solve that integrates with Google will be a huge push in that direction.  My only issue is the contact sync.  I know that Google has some sort of new sync capabilities for mail and contacts that works like ActiveSync.  Can we expect further integration with Google’s services beyond just the mail?  If we could sync contacts with Google Apps, I think my problem would be solved.

How is everyone else handling this? Perhaps I am missing something obvious.

Greetings Chip, thanks for your note.  I really like the way you characterize how you are changing the focus of your business operation to become customer-centric and relate that to organizing the tools you use to support that focus.  I often need to make a point to the “Outlook power-users” looking in that “it’s not about them”, it’s about whatever enables the team to better capture opportunities and service the customer, which in one example means getting out from hiding behind their email and start engaging in interesting and personal interactions with their prospects and clients.  Anyway…sorry for the short rant; I get excited about that stuff :)

Yes sync is still a priority for our development team but is queued behind a number of features that are about to be introduced.  Webmail is one of the big ones we’re working to get out of the way. Coincidentally the Webmail beta testing starts tomorrow.

While we’re not able to provide specifics about when sync features will be enabled it is safe to say we see Google as a very useful and strategic service and will continue to work very closely integrating our various features and services.

Thanks for the reply Steve! I think we are on exactly the same page with the customer relationship - without the customer, the business wouldn’t get very far, would it?  Of course, I have had to check my pride at the door a few times on this issue to realize that doing things the “same old way” is not conducive to growth, especially in a tough economy. I have the same “problem” with the new social media outlets - rather than look at them as time wasters, I have reserved company identities on each of the four largest, and am actively working on the best ways to integrate them into our brand.

Anyway, I appreciate your reply (and rant), and am glad to know that the sync features are still on the development list.

By the way, I am REALLY excited about the webmail!

It has been three months since the last post.  Is it too soon to check back with you on the sync project status?

Also, I’m interested to know why the gmail integration is so significant.  From appearances, it is a recreation of the gmail interface that could easily be open in another browser window?  I am sincerely interested to understand better this feature.

Yes, it’s still early for that one but we’ve been busy on other fronts.  We’re the final test cycle of implementing an update which will introduce three, err no four new notable features and many refinements of existing ones.

The importance of integrating Gmail into Solve is that it will significantly streamline work processes related to CRM and PM for Gmail users For example, a simple one is when addressing email the contact database is seamlessly integrated, when reading a message you can jump directly to the Contact’s page, etc.  One of those new features mentioned above is integrating the Solve360 dropbox(es) with the Webmail client.  With this in place when sending an email message the message can be saved directly into the dropbox without needing to Bcc the message etc.

Hi Steve,

Is there an ETA for the outlook sync?

Steve Ireland - Aug 20, 2009 11:28am

Yes, it’s still early for that one but we’ve been busy on other fronts. 

Hi Bryan, Not yet, although many of the prerequisites to make it happen have been move into place over the previous months e.g. external API.

Thanks. I’m finding that it’s going to be key to my continued use of 360 as I’m spending so much time doing duplicate entry. It’s driving me crazy. And worse, much gets missed in the shuffle. I’m eager to hear anything about it as you know…

I did, btw, work pretty hard to figure out how to dump Outlook and just use solve, gmail, etc. I just can’t seem to come up with a satisfactory way. If you have more ideas on this, I’d be willing to try again <g>.

Bryan

Steve Ireland - Aug 28, 2009 12:44pm

Hi Bryan, Not yet, although many of the prerequisites to make it happen have been move into place over the previous months e.g. external API.

For many of our clients Solve is becoming the only system they need.  You can see that story coming together with the recent integration of our own Webmail client.  It does things only a truly integrated system can like automatically linking email messages to contact records, saving messages directly to the dropbox where they appear on contact pages and there are more surprises are on the way.

That said, a “Solve only” world will not be the best option for everyone.  There is tremendous value in stacking up the best of breed services and having them work well together.  API and sync are strategic long-term priorities.

I love Solve360. I like, yet live in, Outlook. I wish Outlook had a model like NetManage Ecco from the 90’s. I wish a lot of things for it. I’d be fine without it, perhaps.

OL integrates my rss feeds and email from all sources. Solve uses only gmail.
It integrates with my note taking tools onenote and evernote.
It lets me easily search across ALL data types. Solve only lets me search within one.
It nicely integrates linkedin, twitter, facebook and more using Xobni.
It lets me drag an email and create a task, meeting or cal item. This is really nice.
It lets me set reminders to emails and everything else.
It lets me color categorize everything easily so in my calendar it’s obvious what’s personal, business, etc.
It’s task management is a bit better than 360 and there are numerous addins that make it amazing.
On one screen I can see a dashboard of emails, tasks, calendar items and more of the stuff I need to deal with today.

This is obviously a quick, not well thought out list, but a reasonable sample. If solve/gmail/gcal/etc would replace it including as good a link to my iPhone, I’d be all over it. But as you might remember in our great conversations last spring we couldn’t come up with a way for even 80%, thus the importance of sync. I know you were hoping for summer. I’m hoping for soon!

I still say that if you have ideas to get me past my ‘need’ for Outlook, I have no problem leaving it.

I am new to Solve and am re-evaluating all my hardware and software needs for my work in light of I plan to use Solve for a new venture starting 2Q 2010.  I have two questions: 

As I understand, Norada is working on a service that would sync contacts to the native applications on iPhone, blackberry and WM devices.  Currently it is not in place, but I know you are working hard on it.  However, you have an iPhone and Blackberry interface that works very well (correct?).  I have neither of these phones now.  Question:  with the current interface, contacts are not in memory on the phone so do you lose caller ID functions on the phone unless you manually sync them to the phone memory?  i.e. syncing Solve to Google to Outlook to MyPhone

Second, I like the Solve web mail service.  Am I able to configure any phone with email and data capability to connect to Solve email servers to receive and reply to emails via my phone?  I am using a Nokia e71 and it is a great phone.  Sometimes you want just a phone with great call quality, but I am now considering Android OS.

with the current interface, contacts are not in memory on the phone

Correct.  With the mobile web-app you have access to click-to-call, click-to-email, click-to-map but not Caller ID etc.

A real sync copies data to the device’s native applications provides all native features plus off-net access etc.  This is possible now by using Google as a hub.

Am I able to configure any phone with email and data capability to connect to Solve email servers to receive and reply to emails via my phone?

If you are using Norada’s email service yes you can.  For instructions just reach out to our support folks.