Tripp Fenderson

Over the last few years, I’ve become a die-hard customer of Google’s services. On a daily basis, I log into Gmail, Reader, Analytics, Adsense, Docs, and others but because Google and Apple’s iCal don’t play nicely together without the use of third-party sync apps, I never bothered with Google Calendar.

This morning, Yahoo! emailed me, letting me know I’ve been selected from their waiting list to enjoy a preview of the all-new Yahoo! Calendar Beta, which promises to shake things up a bit.

Built on the much-loved Zimbra platform, which Yahoo! acquired in September 2007, the new Yahoo! Calendar promises to boost communication and collaboration with a number of new features.

The app supports both the iCal (iCalendar) and CalDAV3 standards, which gives it the ability to work with calendar utilities from Google, Microsoft, AOL, Mozilla and Apple. Reminders can be set up and sent via instant messaging, email, and even phone (SMS). Event planning gets a little easier with their addition of invites that allow me to keep track of RSVPs and other event changes. It also supports to-dos but given my heavy reliance on Basecamp for tasks, I doubt I’ll use that feature. Lastly, it has a snazzy integration with Flickr - it’s more of a diversion that a feature but I like it.

So what’s not in the new Yahoo! Calendar?

When logging in for the first time, a list of “coming soon” features is presented, which includes:

• Sync using Yahoo! Autosync or Intellisync for Yahoo!
• Sync with Blackberry Desktop
• Yahoo! Groups Calendars (still available directly in Yahoo! Groups)
• Search for Events
• Sports, Finance, Weather, and Holiday Time Guides
• Event Types and Birthday and Anniversary Symbols
• Calendar Plug-in in Yahoo! Messenger
• Calendar from Yahoo! Widgets

I’ll be toying with the new app over the next few weeks. If the iCal integration works as well as promised, Yahoo! may have earned a little more of my time and attention.

Related links:
Yahoo! Open Strategy: http://ycorpblog.com/2008/04/24/developer-welcome-mat/
Yahoo Mail Vice President John Kremer’s post: http://ycorpblog.com/2008/10/07/time-for-a-calendar-revival/