Google Inc. released yesterday the beta version of a program called Google Sync, which helps iPhone and Windows Mobile users synchronize their mobile devices with their Calendar events and Gmail contacts.

"One of the hardest parts about switching phones is getting your address book and calendar to your new device," Google explained in its blog page, adding that "We're making that process a little easier."

The release was possible through Google’s decision to license Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync. "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," said Horacio Gutierrez, the deputy general counsel and VP of intellectual property and licensing at Microsoft, in a statement. He also added that the agreement represents a great example for showing the company’s openness to licensing its patents if the terms proposed are fair and reasonable, and also if Microsoft’s intellectual property is respected by the license. He concluded by mentioning the fact that since 2003 when the licensing policy was introduced, more than 500 licensing agreements have been made.

The idea behind the release was to cover all the shortcomings of its Calendar synchronization, which introduced the CalDAV protocol back in July 2008. CalDAV helped users sync their calendar information between Google Calendar and Apple's iCal, but the problem was that it only allowed calendar data to be transferred to the iPhone, and not from the device.  

Google Sync is available for Nokia S60, Nokia standard, BlackBerry, Sony Ericsson, iPhone and Windows Mobile.