iHub Basic provides wireless sync for iOS devices

Stephen Withers
Friday, 24 September 2010 08:46

Your IT - Mobility

A new application from a German developer allows iPhones and other iOS devices to sync contacts and calendars wirelessly without requiring the use of an external service.

One of the complaints about the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is the absence of direct syncing via Wi-Fi. Macs and iOS devices can sync contacts and other data via MobileMe or via a USB cable, but if you want a private, network-based sync you're out of luck.

And that's where nova media's €29.95 ($A42) iHub Basic comes in. The server runs on a Mac (Mac OS X 10.6 required) and shares selected calendars, contacts and address book groups.

Other Macs can sync via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, with iOS devices requiring Wi-Fi. No special client software is required as iHub Basic uses the CalDAV and CardDAV standards.

iHub Basic even simplifies the creation of an ad hoc Wi-Fi network in situations were a router is not being used.

"Thanks to iHub Basic, there is no need to store sensitive data on any far-away cloud service," said nova media spokesperson Jan Fuellemann. "In addition, the user does not have to use a cable and run iTunes just to add an appointment in the calendar or to change an address. And of course, there is no need to buy any expensive server solution to sync contacts and calendars any more."

The name of the product implies that a more capable version is planned, perhaps to sync media files such as photos.