Context: advanced user, having used BB, BES and Outlook for years.

Google Sync is an utter disaster, at least when used with BES.

It has consistently either created dupes (up to 10 per contact) or without rhyme or reason deleted hundreds of contacts from my BB.

The software is an unmitigated disaster. This idea of Google putting out early crappy software and letting the chips fall where they may is coming apart at the seams and I think we'll see an acceleration of this in over the next couple years.

Anything should be suspect when used on a device connected to BES and having an IT Policy. Are you sure the problem is caused by Google and not by the IT Policy or some other application on the device?

I have been using Google Sync to keep my calendars in sync on my BB, MacBook, and 3 different PCs and laptops. Works great and without a hitch. I do get an occasional dupe, but it is usually my fault, not Google's.

Works great, not broken, doesn't need fixing.

No IT policy causing a problem. Sync will work PERFECTLY from time to time, then it falls apart, either creating huge numbers of dupes, or erasing contacts.

Considering the net is utterly littered with complaints about this very problem, I'm pleasantly surprised that it's working for you and hope to learn from your experience.

By any chance, do you reboot your BB often? Iterative software such as sync software with bugs can benefit from reboots. Also, do you sync automatically or manually?

I had the same issues as you and got very frustrated with it.

I reboot when needed, once a month maybe. But I don't run a lot of apps and don't use it for any exotic things like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, etc.

Just the normal stuff, phone, email, calendar, contacts, a few TMs, surf a bit.

Google sync is set to run every hour or so. Varies by which device we talk about. MacBook is set for 15 minutes. Some is two way, others are just one way from Google to the device itself (PC).

i have used it for quite some time with no problems

If it's working "with no problems" are you using it with BES (like the OP) or without?

That software is trouble. Those of you using it that report no problems, be very carefull. Go in your contacts, put in a birthday, watch google sync remove the birthday from your native calendar right before your eyes. It will happen within 2 minutes. Its bad news, I used it for a year without knowing what it was doing. Scary

I have been using on both my 8320 and 8900 on a BIS with no issues at all for over a year or more. Love the app and no complaints. My old berry on a BES would have all kinds of issues with third party apps from the IT policies.

Synching issues have to be taken apart connection by connection. I only allow 2-way sync between 2 computers and 1-way sync between all others. I keep 4 devices synched with multiple calendars with no problems from google, hotmail, and running BIS via my carrier. I only allow 1-way sync between google and hotmail, I use 2-way sync between my 8330 and Outlook. Dupes are almost always caused by an interru[tion in the sync process (aborted connection), or by incorrect settings somewhere.

I too like to blame software but for some unexplained reason, I find that most of the time, operator error is to blame, whether we wish to admit it or not.

No they don't - not if the software proposes to just work. Sync implies handling conflicts as they occur and not overwriting data without permission unless preset otherwise.

Exchange does this flawlessly with Outlook without any "connection by connection" acrobatics.

Mail clients do it flawlessly with IMAP to multiple devices.

BES does it between the Blackberry and corporate mail elegantly, and without a hitch.

In contrast, Google sync deletes data, causes multiple dupes, doesn't handle addresses, overwrites fields inexplicably, and so on.

That doesn't address the original post. Please re-read. Note the word "BES"

In this case, you're just plain wrong and frankly, your comment's insinuation is not appreciated, especially considering you didn't read the OP enough to understand it.

Let's play nice everyone, please.

We have testy folks all over the boards today don't we JS?

Google Sync for Calendar on a BES-enabled device is a complete cluster****.
If you're lucky enough to get it to work right a few times, then I suggest saying a prayer every day to keep up your stroke of good luck... because it will eventually fail and most likely cause you many headaches.

Here's an indicator of how bad the Google Sync software behaves:
Have you ever tried to simply Sign Out of Google Sync app on the device? You basically can't. It gives you two options when you try to Sign Out... 'Remove All Sync'd Items' or 'Stay Signed In'. What kind of crap is that!?

My advice... avoid it if you're on a BES. It's not worth the trouble it causes.

So what's your experiences with a BES-enabled device + Google Sync? Specifically, a BES-enabled handheld with OS 4.7.1.x.
Just curious to see how you've managed to keep it working smoothly.

I'm just a non-techie BIS user but I find Google Sync works great for my Calendar. On the other hand, I don't let it anywhere near my contacts (it creates endless dupes and removes items arbitrarily as described), although I think the problem is with Google Contacts as much as the sync software .

+1. I have found that Google Sync creates duplicates if a contact has multiple email addresses or phone numbers. For instance, for one of my contacts, I had one email address for her on my BB, another in my Gmail, and she put a third as her email address in Facebook. I start using GS and voila - three contact entries for her, each with a different email address. (For all GS knows, that was 3 different people with the same name.)

No big deal, I moved the extra email entries to my BB contact entry, deleted the duplicates for her and re-Synced. Problem solved; contact info is now correct on the BB and in Google Contacts, and FB recognizes it also - it's importing her FB profile photo as the caller ID photo for her.

I can see how there might be a problem on BES where you don't have complete control over your contact lists and may not be able to delete entries without them being overwritten.

I dumped Outlook thanks to Google Sync. Latest version is working flawlessly for me.

I have had really good luck with google sync so far ..not on a bes though

I don't understand the need for Google Sync while on BES. Why not just sync one way to Google once in a while?

The goal is to keep the calendars separate, but syncing wirelessly.
Google for personal. BES for corporate.

It worked great prior to OS 4.7.1.x.

One thing that I have noticed is that if you delete your email account from BIS and re-add it, once it is deleted, all the google synced items will be orphaned. For example, calendar entries change from gmail calendar to default calendar.

Then, if you re-add the gmail account, the next google sync creates duplicates.

Moral of the story, be very careful if you are deleted and readding gmail accounts and using google sync.

Great input albatross - thanks for the add!

A little OT but perhaps someone has an answer to this: a few weeks after an event that has been entered in my gCal by invitation email, my gmail sends out an email announcing that the event has been cancelled. This comes as something of a surprise to the people who participated in the event on the day that it happened! My gCal settings are for email calendar events to be added automatically but there doesn't seem to be anything regarding cancellations. Any suggestions (other than to delete events manually once they have come and gone)? Thanks

Apparently I'm not the only one with this problem:
Blackberry Sends Cancellation Notice after Google Sync Removes Calendar Items - Google Mobile Help
I'm still not clear from this whether it's a gCal issue or a BB issue, but either way it renders gSync totally unready for prime time (as the heading for this thread warns)!

So would it be safe to sync only calenders on BIS and setting sync to Google Desktop only?

its horrible - just tried sync with calender only and all my items are doubled!!

not good

As I've posted elsewhere, and at the risk of sounding like a hired tout for the company (which I'm not, just a fan, and the product is free), the best solution to double entries I've found is Calgoo and its duplicate removal tool. I would have given up on gCal a long time ago but for this.

Now if someone could just answer my post re event cancellation emails.....

it has trouble with repeating events (goggle)- (monthly, etc) So I am giving it one last shot and removing the repeats and see if it plays nice.

I just noticed that many events that I enter on Google Calendar are not showing up on the Blackberry. At first I thought it was just events that spanned multiple days, but now I see other single-day events that aren'st showing up on the BBerry. Shame. If this doesn't resolve I will have to get a datebook.

This is on a Tour using BIS.

Its horrible even on BIS. It does not sync pin numbers, and does not update contact details instead reads it as a brand new contact.

Such a POS and it's been out since FALL 2008. I have to had issues where it has wiped out my contacts are trippled my contacts.

google sync only likes it if you correct your contacts on your google account. 2 way sync like s****

Note: I don't use the calendar much..but it here it is also pretty bad

Had early problems, using 8310 Curve and BIS. Never used Contact updates, because my Google Contacts is NOT a complete set! Stopped the automatic sync and number of problems (dupes of calendar) went to near nothing!

Occasionally (once every three months!) it will rear up its ugly head and duplicate most entries, or it will be unable to get the list of multiple calendars I use on the desktop.

On dupes, I delete the whole thing, and do a double sync, once with my default calendar, and the next with all the calendars. And all is well!

On inability to d/l list of calendars, I just try a little later.

I can report that i rely on this calendar syncing probably 99% and have had success.

C-L

I have had massive problems with gsync - on a BIS, and a very simple setup - 2 way sync between gcal and my bb (no other programs/devices syncing). The problem is specifically on multi-day all-day events, and recurring events.

However, I haven't tried in about 4 months (due to it destroying my calendars previously!) - anyone aware if headway has been made in these areas?

I have been using gsync for a while now and have had 0 problems.

With BES?

Sorry for being opinionated: how does a response like this help anyone? Does it mean the problem doesn't exist?

Can't we just have people replying to the thread who have problems, or (better yet) people who had problems but found solutions?