Many ACT! users like to view their contacts in “last name, first name” format.  They want their phones to display contacts in the same format.

The new Android-based phones (like Droid, Nexus One, CLIQ, etc.) don’t do this.  They combine first name and last name into one “Name” field.

Here’s how to fix that and view your contacts by last name on Android devices.

Got a Droid, or any other Android-based device?  With CompanionLink, you have two options to sync ACT! data with your Android-based phone.

1. Wireless sync with Android-based phones

One of the features of CompanionLink is its ability to sync ACT! data with Google, which automatically feeds the address book and calendar apps on Android-based phones.  Customers can use CompanionLink Express or CompanionLink Professional to sync their ACT! contacts, calendar activities, notes, and history data.

2. Wired (USB) sync with Android-based phones

CompanionLink will launch a direct USB sync solution between ACT! and Android-based phones by January 1, 2010.  The PC solution will work with a free Android app on the device that will include a custom calendar, tasks and notes/memos apps that support categories, priorities, and search.

This direct USB sync solution will avoid the need to sync through Google or host sensitive ACT! data on Google.  Because the sync occurs locally via the USB cable that shipped with the Android-based phone, data is transmitted through a secure and closed connection between PC and phone.

Update 12/21/2009: CompanionLink launched this direct sync solution.  You can more information here.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/5280768]

CompanionLink will sync ACT! data with your iPhone using the USB cable that came with your device.  This requires Outlook and iTunes installed on the PC.

iTunes and Outlook

All iPhone devices come with iTunes, which has the capability to sync Outlook contacts and calendar with iPhone.  It does this when you dock the iPhone with your PC using a USB cable.

ACT! to iPhone, via Outlook and iTunes

CompanionLink adds ACT! to this process.  It will sync ACT! data via Outlook/iTunes to the iPhone.  Simply dock your iPhone, hit the “Sync” button in CompanionLink, and watch your data synchronize.

Here are 2 ways to sync ACT! data to your iPhone:

1. Sync using CompanionLink’s wireless sync service
2. Sync using Google and Google Sync

ACT! to iPhone sync using CompanionLink’s wireless sync service

For $9.95/month, you can use CompanionLink’s wireless sync service to sync data two-ways between ACT! and iPhone.  Sync ACT! contacts, calendar activities, to-dos, opportunities, notes and histories with iPhone.

Contacts and their associated notes and histories sync to the built-in address book on the iPhone.  Calendar activities, to-dos, and opportunities sync to an iPhone app (available for free from iTunes) called iClink.  The iClink app adds a custom calendar and tasks/to-do list with enhanced business features such as linked contacts and priorities.

You’ll need CompanionLink Professional installed on your PC, and iClink on your iPhone.  CompanionLink does not host your ACT! data; they simply mediate the transfer of data.

Total one-time cost: $99.95
Monthly service charge: $9.95

More info here.

ACT! to iPhone sync using Google and Google Sync

You can use a Google account and the free Google Sync service to sync ACT! data to iPhone.  CompanionLink will sync ACT! data to your Google account. Then, you can set up the Google Sync service to sync your Google data to the built-in address book and calendar on your iPhone, over-the-air.

Contacts, calendar activities, notes and histories sync to the iPhone and are  editable on the device.

You’ll need either CompanionLink Express or CompanionLink Professional installed on your PC.  The Professional version has everything the Express version has, plus the Auto Synchronization feature which lets you set a timer to automatically sync ACT! with Google in the background.

Google will host your data.  That’s required for Google Sync to work.  If this is a security issue for you or your client, use CompanionLink’s wireless sync service.

Total one-time cost: $49.95 (Express) or $99.95 (Professional)

More info here.