Dell Mobile Sync is Dell's solution to sync Outlook Contacts with their Android devices. This software is made by Nero (famous for the CD burning software) and only works with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and later. It requires the Dell Sync software to be installed on the Android, which comes with new Androids and is installed with updates to Android 2.2. It works with Outlook 2003 and later. At initial release it is a whopping 137M in size and, for my testing, required another equally large update. It comes on the new Dell Androids, but if you are upgrading a current Android to version 2.2 you will need to download it.
It is important to clearly state that this does not sync calendar, notes, and tasks. Previous Dell Streak users who were used to syncing all these items with the Dell PC Suite will no longer have the capability with this new Dell supported software. In fact, the Notes and Tasks apps are dropped completely as noted here. If the link fails, go to www.dell.com and enter "dell mobile sync notes tasks" in the search bar at the top right of the screen and in the results select the Help & Support tab. There will be an article named Dell™ Streak Upgraded Features in Android 2.2, which you may select for the heart-rending details. Dell's official reason for getting rid of their Tasks and Notes app is it "eliminates customer confusion regarding this app. (Dell PC Suite tool syncs more than just Outlook data)." Dell is removing their native Note and Task apps because they think their valued customers are being confused by them and rebuking them because they need to know that the old Dell PC Suite synced more than just Outlook data (that is my interpretation and they may not mean it that way, but it sure sounds like a punishing rebuke).
Here it is the pertinent information from the Dell article:
Application |
Donut (v1.6) |
Eclair (v2.1) |
Froyo (v.2.2) |
Customer Benefit |
| Notes | "Outlook Notes" | "Notes" | Not in Android 2.2/ Dell Mobile Sync does not support Notes sync | Eliminates customer confusion regarding this app. (Dell PC Suite tool syncs more than just Outlook data). |
| Tasks | "Outlook Tasks" | "Tasks" | Not in Android 2.2 Dell Mobile Sync does not support Tasks sync | Eliminates customer confusion regarding this app. (Dell PC Suite tool syncs more than just Outlook data). |
When I talked with Nero support, they said "It should work with all phones, but we do not sell this product to non-Dell customers". With that in mind, I installed the software and hooked my Motorola Droid USB cable to the PC. The Dell Mobile Sync found it was a Motorola Milestone. I could find no Sync option. Further research showed that I needed the Dell Sync software on my Droid to make it work, but it only comes with the Froyo update (Android 2.2) to the Streak or on new Dell Androids.
During my testing, I found that there was a help option, but the help was blank. I followed the Manuals link within the program to Nero's website, only to find no manual for Dell Mobile Sync. I took the time to press the chat button at the Nero site and their tech support told me "I am sorry to tell you that we are not able to give some manuals to you as Nero is not responsible for the support of this product." I searched Dell's website and could find no product manuals. At that point, I had the overwhelming urge to yell, "Dude, you got a Dell! There's no support!"
Looking through the Dell forums, users said there is also no support for Outlook 2010 64 bit edition, but all 32 bit editions from Outlook 2003 to 2010 are supported properly.
If you are interested in using Dell Mobile Sync, please follow the link below for information from Dell on the download and some imperative warnings to heed. Dell makes it difficult to keep direct links for their documents, so if this link fails, please perform a Google search for "Dell Mobile Sync" to find the link and contact me so I can update it.