Google has finally launched a way for iPhone and Windows Mobile smart device users to sync their Google Contacts and Google Calendar information over the air, using the iPhone's built-in apps.

Google provides instructions for setting up syncing for either Mac or Windows, which is as easy as backing up your iPhone data and creating a new Exchange account on your iPhone. Google Sync is currently in beta, and right now it only allows syncing contacts and calendars—mail still needs to be handled via a separate IMAP or POP account—and those using SyncML are only able to sync contacts at present.

The application enables users to push their Gmail contacts and Google Calendar items directly to their mobile devices. For iPhones, Windows Mobile devices, and phones that support SyncML (like most Symbian S60 devices and many Sony Ericsson phones), the synchronization is two-way, meaning updates to made either on Google's services or the phone are automatically matched up "within minutes." Google Sync's connection is always on, so updates are automatic regardless of users' locations or activities.

Both Google Sync and Microsoft My Phone are in a beta or test phase right now, however, Microsoft's is limited and available only by invitation. Google is opening its beta more broadly.

"Google's licensing of these Microsoft patents relating to the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol is a clear (acknowledgment) of the innovation taking place at Microsoft," Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft's top intellectual property lawyer said. "This agreement is also a great example of Microsoft's openness to generally license our patents under fair and reasonable terms so long as licensees respect Microsoft intellectual property."