MobileMe, iPhone/iPod touch: Differences between Push and manually syncing calendars and contacts

  • Last Modified: July 25, 2008
  • Article: HT1957

Summary

MobileMe allows you to automatically syncs your calendars, contacts, and bookmarks to your iPhone or iPod touch.  Alternatively, you can sync your calendars and contacts manually (by changing the setting in the Advanced section of the Fetch New Data settings). Learn about the differences between using the Push and manual sync settings below.

Products Affected

MobileMe, iPhone, iPod Touch

Push setting

With the Push setting enabled, your calendars and contacts are updated when they receive notice of a change from the MobileMe servers.  The changes happen automatically.

Manual

When manually syncing, your data syncs with MobileMe each time you open Contacts or Calendars (up to once per minute).

Which setting should you use?

The Push setting helps reduce unnecessary network traffic, and updates data without you have to open an application. For example, if you add a new email address in MobileMe Contacts on the web, the address will automatically be synced and added to your iPhone; you could easily send the contact an email without first having to open Contacts on your iPhone or iPod touch to sync that new contact.  

Additional Information

Bookmarks are always updated automatically, there is no setting to sync manually.

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