KeySuite

The KeySuite desktop interface lets you download folders from Outlook and has four PDA applications: KeyContact, KeyDate, KeyNotes, and KeyTasks. As with Beyond Contacts, you use a two-step HotSync process to install the Palm OS applications and download Outlook records. KeySuite offers a color palette for personalizing each application, including background and text colors. The applications launch from Palm hardware buttons, separate home screen icons, or a Go To icon within each KeySuite app.

KeySuite lets you synchronize data stored in any Outlook folder, including default subfolders and public folders, and you can change folder names on your PDA. The program lets you sync your PDA to multiple PCs and alerts you if you attempt to synchronize mismatched folders with Outlook on a PC. You can link a folder to Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, and Notes on any PC, a good example of KeySuites advanced features.

Unlike Beyond Contacts, KeySuite lets you view, create, and edit Contact record links to other Contact, Note, Task, and Date records. The product can dial numbers on combination PDA/phones and can receive beamed contacts in either Palms Address Book or KeyContacts.

KeyDate resembles Palms Date Book, but lets you display Tasks with appointments in KeyDates Day View, which you cant do in Date Book. As with Beyond Contacts, KeySuite improves over Palm OS standard applications in the quantity of Outlook data you can synchronize—22 fields with Outlook versus 7 with the Palm OS To Do List, for example.

KeySuite is best for Outlook power users who want a near-desktop PIM feature set on a PDA. Because the product can synchronize with Outlook on multiple PCs, support the creation of Contact links on a PDA, and synchronize a broader range of Outlook folders, its a more powerful program than Beyond Contacts.