Blackberry/Outlook/Gmail sync

IF Google was willing to include contact sync with their desktop calender sync program life would be much easier. I don't know why mobile sync includes both but desktop doesn't. I also don't know why gmail contacts info fields aren't the same as outlook. I think outlook has a better system simply because the interface and extendability are a little better than gmail. Anyway, here's how I sync my Outlook to Blackberry Storm to Google Calender/Contacts to Outlook.

First thing Backup!

This method is free and works without making duplicates. It's not perfect and i'm only writing this because over the last 24 hours I've had to restore all my contacts and fix my calendar about 3 times because the new OS 5 came out and i couldn't help but screw around...and ruin everything.

1. Install Google Calendar sync on the PC (http://www.google.com/sync/pc.html)
- sign in and select 2-way sync

2. Blackberry Desktop Manager
-click on synchronization-configure synchronization (in the left pane)
-click on synchronization (in the right pane)
-check what you want but UNCHECK the sync Calendar box
This step make sure the contacts get synced to outlook. Because google sync for pc doesn't sync contacts there's no problem of duplicates.

This still means you have to connect to the host PC with either the cable or bluetooth...i dont have bluetooth so it's not entirely wireless.

3. Install Google sync mobile to the blackberry. (http://www.google.com/sync/blackberry.html)
This automatically puts contacts and calender events on Gmail and Google Calendar which is synced with Outlook with step 1.

I'm set up so the blackberry is the primary device. This is because i actually sync across multiple computers too and the blackberry can be the go between.