Synchronizing data between several Microsoft Outlooks on different computers linked by a local network, without the Microsoft Exchange server.

The problem with synchronizing data usually arises, when a group of users utilizes the Outlook software to manage such company data as: clients' contact list, group calendar, to-do list, etc. In order to share such data, a relatively expensive software (both in terms of price and the maintenance costs), such as Microsoft Exchange Server, must be installed. MS Exchange Server is not an ideal solution for every single company. Our product is aimed at clients, who do not want or cannot afford to purchase the MS Exchange Server software, but own a computer network with a number of users utilizing MS Outlook not exceeding one hundred.

The solution is based on data synchronizing, with the use of the central data base situated at one of the dedicated computers, and communication between computers happening in the actual time. When one of the users is making changes to his/her MS Outlook instance (e.g. editing, deleting or creating new contacts), they are being immediately moved to the central data base and subsequently other MS Outlook instances are being informed about them. Thanks to that any user is able to see in his/her local MS Outlook all the changes being made by other users of the network.

Since we are in possession of our own data base on a dedicated server, we can also assist off-line scenarios, like when a laptop user disconnects it, takes some data with him/her, modifies them and then reconnects. In this case the synchronization takes place after reconnecting, the moment MS Outlook is being run.

At the moment the public domain solution of that project is our CodeTwo Public Folders software.