For some platforms, default systems are in place. For example, smartphones and tablets running Google's Android OS work best when connected with the array of Google services, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Contacts. BlackBerry devices work best with . And Microsoft Windows Phone 7 devices work best with a Microsoft infrastructure. While it is possible to use other solutions for e-mail, contacts, and calendars, life is much easier if you embrace the de facto system for your specific mobile device, and rely on that system for keeping your data synced on your PC and on other devices as well, if possible.

2. Use Exchange Active Sync

If you use or , keeping your data synced is relatively simple. Exchange Server maintains the e-mail messages, contacts, and calendar information, so the data can be accessed from pretty much anywhere and any device. Laptops can connect to Exchange over any Internet connection, and most smartphones and tablets can stay synced using Exchange Active Sync. BlackBerry smartphones and tablets use Blackberry Exchange Server rather than Exchange Active Sync to accomplish the same goal.

3. Go Through Google

If you are not using Exchange Active Sync, or you need to keep data in sync with another PC, neither of the previous solutions will help. For both iOS devices and secondary PCs, the easiest path to syncing information runs through Google.