How important is mobile sync to create customer loyalty?

With Nokia’s OVI, Apple promoting MobileMe, Google offering Google Sync and Microsoft upcoming My Phone the race is on to lock-in mobile users with sync and backup services and create stickiness and customer loyalty.

How do you think mobile operators would position themselves in the landscape?



Neither Google nor Microsoft will charge for the services, unlike Apple with its similar service. Apple's MobileMe syncs calendars, contacts and e-mail between iPhones and PCs or Macintosh computers, and lets users share photos from their phones on an online site. MobileMe costs US$99 per year.

My Phone will also let users sync calendar and contacts lists between Windows Mobile phones and the Web, but it will also back up other phone data including photos, videos, text messages, music, documents and tasks. Users will be able to store data like photos and videos online and share it with friends. It is limited to Windows Mobile users.