Outlook users have always had options to sync folders and / or categories with their pdas and pocket pc phones but those who chose to "converge" into smartphones didn’t have that option. That is because Chapura, the maker of PocketMirror Professional, the software that syncs multiple folders on the desktop with multiple folders on the device, wasn’t compatible with the smartphone…until now! Chapura has announced PocketMirror Professional 2.1.1 for Windows Mobile for $49.95, which is separately identifiable by handheld. This is a far better solution, in my opinion, than syncing by category, as that seems to be hit or miss at best.

ActiveSync transfers data only between the default Outlook folders on the host PC and Outlook Mobile, while Chapura’s AnyFolder technology lets the user pick which Contacts, Calendar and Tasks folders will sync with their handheld, including any public and subfolders on an Exchange Server. Do note that because the Windows Mobile Smartphone edition of the OS includes the ability to use the categories only in Pocket Outlook Contacts (and not Calendar or Tasks), PocketMirror Professional for Windows Mobile can create and sync Outlook with folder-like categories only in Pocket Outlook Contacts (not Calendar or Tasks).

Using these special folder -like categories allows you to keep your personal information off the company server and only on your handheld when you synchronize with your PC. It’s almost like filtering by handheld categories.

You can now use your Smartphone the way you want to use it rather than the way Outlook wants you to use it, thanks to PocketMirror Pro.