For general purposes, the default contact managers for the respective phones will always do the best job because they have the same interface with other applications in the system. In addition, the default applications provide tighter controls with other phone features that you will not find in third party applications.
Smartphone Contact Manager For Google Android™
The T-Mobile G1 is the world’s first Google Android™ powered phone. This new mobile operating system has a complete smartphone contact manager, search, maps, calendar, and more. The default smartphone contact manager offers the most integration with other Android applications as well as online web apps that Google is known for such as Gmail and Google Docs. Once you have logged into your Google account on Android, the contact manager automatically synchs all your contacts, Gmail information, and other relevant information. Google’s approach in managing contacts is unique because it relies heavily on your online connection to push all other applications.
The strength of Android’s contact manager is largely based on how the application works with other Android applications. From the contact manager, you can easily open up your Google account to send mail, mark the contact as a calendar event with Google Calendar, and send links of bookmarked websites to your friends.
Android’s smartphone contact manager is enhanced with Google Suggest. This tool allows you to search any contact no matter how long they are by just typing the first letters of the name that you are trying to find. In addition, all your contacts can be synched online, so you do not have to backup your contacts in case you lose your phone.
Smartphone Contact Manager For The iPhone™
Not surprisingly, the default contact manager for the iPhone™ is tightly integrated with native Mac OS applications. While this particular contact manager does a fair job in synchronizing information on a Windows™ machine, there are third party applications that work with Windows™ better.
By just tapping a name or a number, you can summon your contacts and scroll through them using the touch screen. Tap a specific name in your contact to draw out the information that you need. You can call, send a voicemail, send an email, play messages, or send a text message from the contact management interface.
This smartphone contact manager also has a search feature and online auto-update. Mac users can plug the iPhone™ to their desktop and use their choice software to sync their contacts. The iPhone™ is seamlessly integrated with other iPhone™ applications such as Maps, Safari, and quick SMS. You can find specific locations using the map application from the information stored in your contact manager. In addition, you can easily cross-check incoming e-mail to your contact manager so you know who is reaching you wherever you are.
For enterprise users, businesses can set an Activesync server to track, add, and change your contacts on the fly. With this feature, you do not have to organize your contacts since the server does it for you.
Smartphone Contact Manager For Palm Treo™
The Palm Treo™ smartphone contact manager is more attuned to business purposes, making it more powerful for local needs compared to the iPhone™ and Google Android™. It also has a more traditional approach compared to newer mobile applications from other platforms.
Palm Treo™ runs on Windows™ Mobile. With the many business applications supporting Windows™, it is easy to find effective applications that you can install on the desktop and your Palm Treo™ to synchronize contacts.
The smartphone contact manager for Palm Treo™ includes features like caller ID, contact pictures, SMS, easy conference calling, and one-touch call controls. You can also send and receive emails from the contact manager with multiple personal and business accounts. You can install your own email client and configure your phone to receive mail from other services. With push technology, you can get your Microsoft Outlook email straight to your Palm Treo™, and you can keep your inbox free from clutter with the powerful features of Outlook.
A popular third-party smartphone contact manager for the Palm Treo™ is the iWindows™ Mobile Communication Suite. This application combines the best features of the iPhone™ contact manager with the reliability and versatility of the Windows™ Mobile platform. The communication suite replaces most of the critical tasks of the default applications such as the task manager, SMS, and on-screen keyboard. The iWindows™ Mobile Communication Suite features a shell task management interface to organize all your smartphone applications. With the Funcontact smartphone contact manager, you can use the touchscreen to flick, scroll, and zoom over your favorite contacts.
Smartphone Contact Manager For RIM Blackberry™
The one big reason that allowed Blackberry™ to have the buzz that it created is its outstanding contact management and messaging features. Before smartphones existed, the Blackberry™ had already simulated advanced contact management that makes e-mail, SMS, and phone calls easier.
The smartphone contact manager features the same level of integration compared to Google Android™ and the iPhone™. However, you can just as easily sync your business contacts with Microsoft Outlook since it works flawlessly. Blackberry™ has its own desktop management software that supports Outlook, Lotus Notes, Novell, and Yahoo®. The software also integrates with Microsoft Exchange Server for enterprise class installations. The new Blackberry™ Storm promises more contact features that are much in line with the latest trends of mobile computing.
For more advanced needs, there are CRM software and mobile applications available for business on the go. With the majority of mobile applications going online, you can choose from a lot of different web applications that will work seamlessly with your mobile phones. Mail applications such as Gmail, Windows™ Live, and Yahoo® do a fine job in managing your contacts online by using your mobile browser.
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