More and more people are switching to iPhone. They are moving from Palm and Windows Mobile for BlackBerry smartphones and iPhone. Carriers are going to get the iPhone. And now that the next generation iPhone 3G is all but upon us, and more and more regions have announced their plans and pricing, the change is only to get faster and more furious. 

To celebrate the switchers, those who dare to phone different, the iPhone Blog wants to help you reach your content from your old one, and perhaps restrictive outdates systems, and on your shiny new iPhone.

This article assumes you are from another smartphone like the Blackberry, Windows Mobile or Palm, and are new to iTunes + iPod (and iPhone!) Ecosystem. It also assumes you're a Windows user or someone who spent just switched from Windows to Mac and need to transfer the contents of a iPhone.

Since that time, the iPod (and Mac) aficionados will almost certainly already using iTunes, and the typical Mac, your iPhone to synchronize the content through iTunes the same as any other iPod. And, well, if you're a Linux user (or any other * nix) user, you gave me your content kept open from get-go, and already know 18 different ways to do it on your unlocked, jailbroken iPhone with Open Moko hax0red anyway ...

“Push” First: Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and Apple MobileMe

As with the previous firmware iPhone, it is linked (via iTunes) sync between Outlook and the iPhone, and between the applications default Apple and the iPhone, it was on a type by type of base (see screenshot in iTunes section), and only when you actually connect your iPhone and pulled down the data, and mobile and get local copies synchronized.

IPhone with firmware 2.0, everything changes. Why bring this? Because if you plan to use an exchange and / or your MobileMate iPhone, you can read this section and is very done. (Or at least you can move on to the photos at the end - even if it is safe to download i-tunes). With Exchange and MobileMate (billed as Exchange for the rest of us), the iTunes sync data is removed, the cables are eliminated, and synchronized intermittent become a thing of the past. With these "push" solutions, everything is automatically updated wirelessly (via Wi-Fi or EDGE / HSPA network cell). Change something in Outlook and a few seconds later, your iPhone displays the same changes. Tweak some data on your iPhone, and after a few seconds, the website shows the same MobileMate tweak.

(Not using ActiveSync or MobileMate? No worries. Skip to the next section and we'll start setting up iTunes to sync local!)

Thus, simply and easily create multiple sync with your iPhone 2.0: Tap Settings Tap Mail, Contacts and Calendars (Only post if you're doing on the iPhone Exchange 1.x), tap Add Account and then select the type of account that you want to add.

Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync

ActiveSync makes his debut with iPhone 2.0, and not on the basis of age, 1.x firmware, so if you intend to use it, make sure you have an iPhone 3G or have updated your original iPhone (2G) for the last firmware as of 11 July 2008. To configure Exchange ActiveSync for the ribbon logo. If you use Exchange 2007 on the back end, you may be able to automatically set up the account. If you can not, or are using an old version of Exchange - or, in general, due to the complex and fussy to set up a Exchange account in general - it is best practice to check with your Exchange administrator ( or hosted service provider).

Apple MobileMe (formerly .Mac)

MobileMate, and is "Exchange for the rest of us." It sync, wirelessly, over the air (OTA), contacts, calendars, e-mail, photos, and between the iPhone and your Mac (with the aforementioned Address Book, iCal, Mail.app, and iPhoto) and / or PC ( with Outlook). MobileMate debut July 11 in 2008, alongside the iPhone 3G and firmware 2.0, and "work" once you enter MobileMate Your user name and password (users of the previous year. Mac will keep the same powers and will be able to use either or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it interchangeable).

Local Sync: Getting iTunes

iTunes is a free download from Apple.com and necessary before you can sync your iPhone. The iPhone 3G requires iTunes 7.7, which will be released days-and-date with the next generation of the device, so if you're reading this before July 11, 2008, you must wait a while 'before downloading, or will need to upgrade to this version.

What Data Does iTunes Sync?

The media have covered in the previous article, Apple iPhone 3G will sync up the usual suspects of address book contacts, calendar events, email accounts, web browser bookmarks, and - why not included in the media - digital photos. 

If you already have your Outlook data, you're good to go for the iPhone. If you are in another application, or missing in some applications ... Well, there comes the fact that in a moment.

On the Mac, iTunes "works" with the default Apple applications, Address Book, iCal, Mail.app, Safari and iPhoto, or with Microsoft Entourage. Since the synchronization of services, contacts, calendar, etc, are all "CoreServices" run-level operating system, once you select the appropriate boxes in iTunes, the process is almost automatic transparent. You can also sync Entourage Microsoft Office (Outlook ugly step-brother, on the Mac) by synchronizing Entourage with the default applications via CoreServices. 

Similarly, if you do not have the data from these applications Mac yet, they dispersed or otherwise, it will be that of a moment.

Now let’s break it down…

Syncing Your Contacts

From Microsoft Windows Vista & XP: Outlook, Windows Contacts, and Yahoo! Address Book

These three protocols are supported directly from iTunes. If you have your contacts in one of them, simply select the appropriate program from the pulldown menu in iTunes and the information will be moved to the right to your iPhone.

From Apple OS X: Address Book, Yahoo! Address Book, and Google Contacts

On the Mac version of iTunes, you can control both the Apple Address Book and Yahoo! Address Book if they wish. (Keeping things simple - and fear duplicates - so I recommend picking one and stick to it.)

If you are running OS X Leopard 10.5.3 or later, you can also sync your Gmail contacts with your iPhone, using a more roundabout way: launch the Address Book, select Preferences from the menu, and select the box next to the synchronize with Google. Once created, this will sync Google Contacts to your Address Book and then sync with iTunes from your Address Book for your iPhone.

From Everywhere Else: Thunderbird, Windows Live, Google Contacts

If you have your contacts in anything other than the above-mentioned programs or services, you’ll have to move them over before you can sync them with the iPhone. Many programs/services allow you to export CSV files or vCards, including: Mozilla Thunderbird, Microsoft Windows Live, and Google Contacts.

Once you’ve got your export file, simply import the contacts back into Outlook, Address Book, Yahoo! Address Book and you’re golden.

Syncing Your Calendar

From Microsoft Windows Vista & XP: Outlook

For reasons known only to Apple and Microsoft, Outlook is your only calendar/event choice for syncing with the iPhone. (The drop down is so far only a merciless tease at options yet (maybe never?) to come).

From Apple OS X: iCal

Like Windows, OS X provides only one option for calendar sync: iCal (and not even a drop down to tease more.) Check it and go.

From Everywhere Else: Google Calendar, Windows Calendar, etc.

Many popular Calendar programs are compatible with the iCalendar format, which allows you to publish and/or subscribe from one program (and even platform) to another. Using this feature, you can try to move your data over your iPhone. Here’s an example using Google Calendar:

You can subscribe to Google Calendars through Outlook on Windows, or use the Google Calendar Sync utility. Unfortunately the iPhone thus far doesn’t reliably sync from anything besides the Outlook default Calendar, which means the subscribed Google Calendar doesn’t get moved over unless you use a commercial product like the Paul Thurrott referenced SyncMyCal.

For Mac users a one way (Google to iPhone) work-around involves subscribing to your Google Calendar. From Google Calendar: Click on the Calendar Settings drop down, click on Private Address, and click on iCal to generate a private address for your Google Calendar especially designed for iCal. Copy the URL and open iCal. Inside iCal: Select the Calendar menu and click on Subscribe, then paste in the Private Address you copied from Google Calendar. Next time you sync, iCal will feed your Google Calendar to your iPhone. For bi-directional sync (Google to iPhone and iPhone to Google), there’s the commercial Spanning Sync, and you can try the demo before you buy.

Theoretically, you could also try exporting and importing XML, CSV, or another cross-program file, although in my experience this often requires a vast amount of work (and Googling, and message board begging…)

Syncing Your Email

From Microsoft Windows Vista & XP: Outlook and Windows Mail

Two options for Windows users, the ubiquitous Outlook and Windows Mail (which I believe is an “upgrade” to the horrible Outlook Express rather a desktop version of the far superior WIndows Live Mail — tsk tsk to both Apple and Microsoft).

From Apple OS X: Mail.app

Still only one choice from Apple OS X users, however: Apple’s default mail client, the eponymous Mail.app. Again, just one checkbox, to keep with the ultra simple groove. (Usability over options is a mantra).

From Everywhere Else: Google Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, AOL, Microsoft Live/Hotmail, etc.

Yahoo! Mail can be setup as an IMAP email account on your iPhone, which means your Yahoo! Mail folders on your iPhone will exactly match your folders on Yahoo!’s website and vice versa. Also, Yahoo! provides “push” email for the iPhone, meaning changes to one will be reflected automatically and near-instantly in the other, just like Exchange ActiveSync and MobileMe (but without the calendar and contacts sync).

You can also set up your Gmail account, including the new Gmail IMAP service which works like Yahoo! Mail — but without the “push” — keeping your web, local client (i.e. Outlook, Mail, etc.), and web-based views synchronized at user-definable intervals (manually, every 10 minutes, etc.).

Unfortunately, since they don’t (to the best of my knowledge) surface any open, standard protocols like IMAP or POP, Microsoft Live/Hotmail accounts can’t easily be synced with the iPhone. Your options include signing up for a Yahoo! or Gmail account and manually moving the messages over to your new, IMAP-happy account, or you can try this free solution and see if it works for you.

For any ISP mail, you can simply set up the iPhone as a POP (or IMAP if they offer it — much better!) client.

Syncing Your Bookmarks

From Microsoft Windows Vista & XP: Internet Explorer and Safari

iTunes supports syncing over all your bookmarks from Internet Explorer (hopefully the much more secure and standards friendly IE 7, right?) and Windows Safari (Apple’s own browser). Hierarchies will be preserved, so think about how you’ll use your booksmarks both on the desktop and the iPhone, and organize a good middle ground.

From Apple Mac OS X: Safari

No choices here. Check Safari and move along.

From Everywhere Else: Firefox, Opera, etc.

If you’re using Firefox, Opera, or another Firefox-like (Mozilla Gecko powered), or Safari-like (Apple WebKit powered) browser, is to try and import your bookmarks into Internet Explorer or Safari (export first via HTML if you have to).

If you want to keep using Firefox (or another browser) for desktop use, there’s no way to keep your bookmarks synced, unfortunately, but you can delete the IE or Safari bookmarks (since you’re not using them) and re-import a fresh, updated set whenever you like.

Syncing Your Photos

From Windows Vista & XP: Folder Sync

For Windows users, the procedure to sync photos to the iPhone is as simple as it is non-powerful. Put all the photos you want to sync in a folder (or hierarchy of folders if you want to separate them out, e.g., Family, Friends, Birthday, etc.) and then select that folder in iTunes.

From Apple Mac OS X: iPhoto and Folder Sync

For Mac users, in addition to the folder sync described above, you can also chose to sync from Apple’s iPhoto application, either your complete library, or from selected sub-libraries.

From Everywhere Else: Yahoo! Flickr, Facebook, Google Picasa, etc.

If you keep your photo collection online (i.e. Flickr, Facebook, Photoshop Express, Windows Live, etc.), you’re going to have to target a desktop backup, or download the photos you want on your iPhone to a local directory. Put all the photos you want to sync in one folder, and make sure you note down the location of that folder (e.g. iPhone Photos). This will be the folder you target inside iTunes as described above.

For Picasa, make sure you organize all the pictures you want on your iPhone into one folder, or a hierachy of folders, and then that will be the folder your target from inside iTunes, also as described above.

Wait! Help! My Data is Stuck On My Phone!

On the off chance that some of you don’t use a desktop, laptop, web service, or anything besides your mobile (smart)phone for your data, here’s a down and dirty guide to help you get started.

From the Original iPhone (iPhone 2G) to iPhone 3G

Apple provides excellent directions for upgrading to the iPhone 3G.

From RIM Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and Palm Treo (Windows Mobile OS)

Blackberry’s are data monsters. Data — all of it, all now, all the time — is the only reason for a Blackberry. It’s why RIM invented the Blackberry. Windows Mobile, whether running on a Motorola, Samsung, HTC, Palm, or whatever device, is made to integrate with other Microsoft products like Exchange, ActiveSync, and Outlook/Entourage. (Note: Always make sure you have the latest/greatest firmware, patches, updates, etc. from your phone carrier and platform provider).

From a Blackberry or ActiveSync perspective, pretty much all business users will have an Exchange server of one kind or another available to them. Just use ActiveSync on your new iPhone 2.0 and you’re good to go. (Check with IT if you have to, especially for the settings information).

If you don’t have a business Exchange server but you do have access to a Windows computer with Microsoft Outlook on it, sync your Blackberry to Outlook, then Outlook to your iPhone.

For Mac users, check out Markspace, which provides a variety of phone-specific syncing solutions especially for the Mac. They’re not free, but the time and effort they’ll save you are well worth it. (I used to it get my data off a Palm OS Treo 680 into the default Apple apps and it worked seamlessly).

If you don’ have any of the above available to you, try a hosted Exchange service, even temporarily. Sync your Blackberry data to that, then ActiveSync it to your new iPhone, and cancel the hosted Exchange service.

From Palm OS Treo

Palm OS (Garnet) Treo’s can work similarly to the above if you have ActiveSync installed (or download it from Palm’s website – warning, direct file link!) and access to an Exchange server (business or hosted). 

Similarly if you have access to Outlook. If you’re stuck in Palm Desktop, you’ll first have to find your Palm install CD and go through the setup again, choosing Outlook instead.

(Mac users, see Markspace, above).

From a Feature Phone

If you don’t have a smartphone, but are coming instead from a standard consumer feature phone (candybar or flip phone from Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, etc.) and have data on there you really don’t want to retype, you can try looking for a data transfer kit that matches your phone. These vary widely in form, availability, and functionality, and will cost you money and time, but if you have both check out Howard Forums or even Google. Search and ask around. Be key word specific (i.e. “transfer data nokia model# outlook”. Best of luck, and please share what you find in case others are trying out the same.

Conclusion

Well, there they are, my tips and tricks for getting your data off the old and outdated just in time for your brand new iPhone 3G/2.0. But try as I might, I know our readers — the real data ninjas — have a whole host of sneaky black magic all their own.