Google on Thursday announced a new and improved way to sync Gmail Contacts with iOS devices. Google announced that it is now supporting the open protocol known as CardDAV. The new system allows third party clients such as the native iOS Contacts app to sync with Google Contacts and more easily pull in user data.
While third party clients have existed for pulling Gmail Contacts data this is the first time Google has actively attempted to remedy the situation on its own.
Setting up the system on your iOS based device is a breeze, simple follow these instructions:
- Open the Settings application on your device.
- Select Mail, Contacts, Calendars .
- Select Add Account…
- Select Other
- Select Add CardDAV Account
- Fill out your account information in the following fields:
- -Server : Enter “google.com”
- -User Name : Enter your full Google Account or Google Apps email address.
- -Password : Your Google Account or Google Apps password. (If you’ve enabled 2 Step verification , you’ll need to generate and enter an application specific password.)
- -Description : Enter a description of the account (e.g. Personal Contacts).
- Select Nex t at the top of your screen.
- Make sure that the “Contacts” option is turned to ON.
After you start the process and finish the last step your sync is done.
CardDAV joins Google’s already existing IMAP support for email and CalDAV support for its calendar.
While Google and Apple may still be fighting it out in patent court and in regards to mapping software the company’s appear in many respects to be more closely integrating their software than ever before.
