Third-party iPhone developer has an open source MobileMe alternative

For users looking for a free and open source alternative to Apple's MobileMe synchronization tool, announced Monday, Funambol will transfer personal information management data, and is based upon the iPhone 2.0 SDK.

Available through the myFUNAMBOL portal, the initial offering only allows users to sync their contacts, with the ability to sync notes and calendars to be offered later. The software works with POP, IMAP, Exchange, and Domino e-mail servers, with more than 150 mobile phone models already supported.

Funambol expects its open source back-end and its free availability will make it a viable alternative to the $99 MobileMe sync service.

"For just $99/year, you get syncing on [the iPhone]. Or you can use the Funambol client and myFUNAMBOL and get it for free, plus it works on more phones, more backends and you have the code to play around with it," said Funambol CEO Fabrizo Capobianco.

Prior to this announcement, Funambol was known for its native open source sync application that was available for unlocked iPhone models, with the software downloaded more than 100,000 times. The company also announced the availability of a wireless PIM sync solution for BlackBerrys.

Users will be able to download the free software when the second generation iPhone ships, currently scheduled for July 11.

Apple officially announced MobileMe during Monday's WWDC, allowing users to sync their e-mail, calendar, photos, files, and contacts between an iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or PC running Microsoft Windows. It will cost $99 per year. Promoted as "Exchange for the rest of us," it's the successor to Apple's .Mac service.