SyncML or XML for sync is an have been fairly important to me. It has in many occasions saved a lot of time trying to retrieve and update my contacts on all my devices.

I recently lost my phone and i had no trouble getting another phone up and running quickly as most phones supports SyncML by default. A quick configuration and all my contacts are synced again with all my contacts. This was also particularly useful when I bought the new iPhone 3GS and syncing contacts on both the iPhone was again seamless as all the contacts are availble on the cloud. You've got to love cloud services.

This is something I have been using for years. SyncML is seen as an insurance to me at the moment and it's value is only realized in the situations I have just described. Unlike insurance, services like ZYB.com doesn't really have a business model. I have yet to see it get monetized. I really wish services like these are kept around. There are other ways to keep your contacts in sync and google provides another way but for now it doesn't support all phones.

SyncML is the only non propriatary way for now. I have yet to check out soocial.com. They might have a solution. Will update soon. So for now you can check out my previous post on ZYB.com here - http://mikefoong.posterous.com/review-zybcom-mobile-sync and let me know how you keep your contacts synced and backup. Leave me your feedback