Software

Five apps for managing your Gmail Contacts

By · June 25, 2014, 2:20 PM PST · jlwallen

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  • Five apps for managing your Gmail Contacts

    If you're a heavy user of Google Apps, you know that the Google Contacts Manager isn't the greatest tool in an otherwise outstanding toolbox. In fact, the contact manager trapped within Google Docs is so bad, I use it only as a Gmail address book. How this has been overlooked for so long escapes me — considering how the business landscape lives and dies by its contacts. Finding third-party contact managers for Google Contacts isn't easy. But between Android and web-based apps/services, I have come up with a solid list of five contact managers that work with Google Contacts to bring a bit of power and flexibility to a rather weak entry.

    Note: This article is also available as an article.

    Image: iStockphoto.com/DNY59

  • FullContact

    FullContact, previously called RainMaker, is a web service (currently in beta) that automatically collects your Gmail Contacts. It features a unified contact manager, so you can import contacts from other lists/apps, too. The FullContact interface is simple to use and allows you to tag, add notes, edit, and enter information (organization, title, address, phone, etc.). You can also add multiple address books and import business cards.

  • FullContact

    From within the Settings, you can enrich your contacts. FullContact will pull in publicly available information about a client and automatically add it to the contact. There are two versions of FullContact: Free and Premium. The Premium edition will set you back $9.99 per month (or $99.00 per year). It will hold up to 25K contacts, allows you to import 100 business cards per month, and offers real time syncing of contacts.

  • Contacts+

    Contacts+ is one of the best contacts apps you'll find for the Android platform. This free app features a beautifully rendered interface, an integrated dialer, easy access to SMS and calls, smart contact organization (by frequency of call, alphabetically, or last called), photo sync with Google+ (or Facebook), dialer search (as shown in the Verizon-branded HTC M8), rich profiles, duplicate contact merging, filters, and much more.

  • Contacts+

    The developers of Contacts+ are fantastic at responding to requests and even feature suggestions. If you're looking for one of the best means of managing your Gmail Contacts, Contacts+ might be the way to go.

  • Google Contacts

    Google Contacts is an add-on for the Thunderbird mail client that does a great job of syncing your Gmail and Thunderbird contacts. Access is bidirectional and, upon first setup, the contacts will take some time to initially sync. The Google contacts behave exactly as they would in the standard Thunderbird Address Book, so you can add more information.

  • Google Contacts

    One caveat: You must add the Gmail Account to Thunderbird for it to work properly (otherwise, you just view the Gmail Contacts page in a tab within Thunderbird). The app is free and is found/installed in the Thunderbirds Add-ons Manager.

  • Contacts Ultra

    Contacts Ultra is another Android app that goes out of its way to offer features not found in the Gmail Contacts app. Like most Android contacts apps, Contacts Ultra unifies contacts from all accounts. But you can still add contacts to specific accounts as well as view contacts only from your Gmail account.

  • Contacts Ultra

    Contacts Ultra features easy navigation, access to all contact info from the contact picture, the ability to sort contacts by name or conversation and to add/edit contacts, an option to enable/disable sync, a homescreen widget, and more. The app is free and includes ads. You can dismiss the ads with the in-app purchase ($0.99).

  • Zoho ContactManager

    Zoho ContactManager is an odd entry here, because it is a competitor of Gmail. But Zoho ContactManager is light years better than the Gmail counterpart. In fact, Zoho ContactManager is about as powerful a tool as you will find in this arena. It lets you distribute work through a team, interact with contacts through social media (from within the app itself), access the contact manager from your desktop or your Android or IOS device, and use task templates to help you work with your contacts.

  • Zoho ContactManager

    Zoho ContactManager is geared toward helping you get business done rather than just keeping a digital Rolodex. Zoho ContactManager is $25/month for up to five users.

Five apps for managing your Gmail Contacts

If you're a heavy user of Google Apps, you know that the Google Contacts Manager isn't the greatest tool in an otherwise outstanding toolbox. In fact, the contact manager trapped within Google Docs is so bad, I use it only as a Gmail address book. How this has been overlooked for so long escapes me — considering how the business landscape lives and dies by its contacts. Finding third-party contact managers for Google Contacts isn't easy. But between Android and web-based apps/services, I have come up with a solid list of five contact managers that work with Google Contacts to bring a bit of power and flexibility to a rather weak entry.

Note: This article is also available as an article.

Image: iStockphoto.com/DNY59

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By Jack Wallen

Jack Wallen is an award-winning writer for TechRepublic and Linux.com. He’s an avid promoter of open source and the voice of The Android Expert. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen.com.

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