The Synchronization Ring Manifesto

Ever since I got my first Blackberry slightly over 2 years ago, my passion for cloud synchronization has consistently grown, which is how this blog originally got started.

My initial goal was to try to find the ultimate solution, and where one did not exist, figure out a hack/work-around to meet my needs.   

• I read the HELP and README documents that no one else wanted to.
• I attempted to translate online discussions into plain, simple English.
• I've used Yahoo to pull Facebook email addresses into CSV files.
• I've used GIST and Mozilla Contacts in the Browser to find additional online profiles.
• I've used SOOCIAL to keep my Google/Yahoo/Hotmail contacts in sync with each other.
• I've experimented with both BIS (Blackberry Internet Service) and Google Sync to determine which worked better, why, and what each was missing.
• I discovered and participated in discussions regarding the open-source FUNAMBOL project/service.
• I've seen the creation of services like Raindrop and CYNCZ come into existence.
• I've seen Microsoft try to imitate GIST and Xobni with their own Social Plug-ins.
• I've seen Hotmail, of all places, become one of the few centralized locations for an realtime address book that also contains data pulling live from Facebook and LinkedIn.

Yet, through all of this, these are all still just hacks.  I haven't found that "one address book to rule them all".

The hard truth I've come to accept is that most people don't do synchronization at all because, in reality, it really is too much work to stay on top of everything.  Sometimes, it even feels like a second job just to maintain it (even with all the automated processes).

Believe it or not, I now have my address book spread over several service either through experimentation, trial and error, or leaps of faith. 

• Soocial/Yahoo/Hotmail/Gmail - since they all sync together, it's all the same
• Plaxo
• GIST
• Xobni
• Funambol
• Outlook
• Thunderbird
• Mozilla Contacts
• Blackberry
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

BUT, even after all this work, I've still almost reached a point where I honestly don't know where the most accurate and complete address book is.

So I've decided to put a call out to you, my loyal readers, who have probably reached the same frustration level as myself, for help.  Instead of whining, moaning, complaining, and waiting for the above companies to create the solution we all know we need and want, we should create our own GPL/Creative Commons solution.  It could easily take advantage of the open source flexibilty that Mozilla Thunderbird, Contacts for the Browser, Funambol, Portable Contacts, SyncML, and various web API calls offer.

Please understand that I'm not talking about competing against any of these existing projects, rather to work with them, and help them grow by contributing our vision.  The last thing we need is yet another standard or organization fighting to be *the* one.

Users should be given a way to view and organize the contact information they own, the way they want, when they want, wherever they want.  All I want to do is help users take back control over their own data without fear of it being sold or hacked.

I have a few ideas on what it should look like, what it should offer, how it could work, etc.., but since this is an open source project, I'm open to new ideas as well.

What do you think?  Would you like to see the day where this blog isn't needed any more because the solution is so easy, even your parents can do it?