USE CASE:
Need:          Share/View Calendar between Mark and Cyn to avoid scheduling conflicts
Software:    Mark and Cyn both use iPhones with local Outlook clients
Problem:     Local home Outlook clients do not show each others calendar

SOLUTION:

• This is a  way to enable calendar viewing and sharing at home with no additional software purchases.  Great for busy families.
• Primary use for  iPhones/Outlook Users.
• Uses the New Google Calendar Widget to Sync Outlook to online Google Calendar
• Uses the Google Mobile calendar widget to view each others Google Calendar over iPhone
• Optional-You can also try an app like Pocket Informant instead of the Google Mobile Calendar widget
• *note-if you are not using Outlook there are other ways to download free iPhone calendar apps that sync with Google Calendar or  simply use the Google Calendar Mobile Widget described below.

The rest of this blog gets detailed. Only read it if you are interested in using Outlook.   Skip around to the highlighted areas that interest you most. I must warn you that this sounds difficult but the steps are very simple:

1. Sync IPhone to Outlook Nightly
2. Set Up Google Calendar account (one time)
3. Sync Outlook to Google Calender (one time)
4. Add the Google Calendar Mobile view for iPhone (one time)
5. Repeat for Hubby (one time)
6. View Sharable Calendars as often as needed either online or on iPhone

My process is this and if you follow these steps you will be able to:  add event to IPhone>sync nightly to Outlook>autosync to Google>sharable>view Google hubby's Google Calendar on IPhone.

1- Syncing iPhone to Outlook:
This part was easy because iTunes already had this functionality.   Both Mark and I use Outlook to send each other events.   We both were already performing a nightly sync between Outlook and the iPhone to capture all event updates.  If you are not using Outlook you can simply use the other components listed in this process and bypass Outlook.  

2- Set up a Google account and enable Google Calendar.  All FREE
The key need for us was to have the ability to view each others busy schedules and to avoid scheduling conflicts especially on the weekends which are usually full of shows and concerts.   After looking at the cost of  other online sharable calendars, it was immediately clear that Google Calendar was the best choice.   It allows you to set permissions so that anyone with a Google account can view or add events to your calendar.   It's not Outlook, but for our purposes it is perfect.
Link to Google Calendar

3- Google Calendar with Outlook:
Next you have to download a Google sync widget to your laptop which will sync Outlook with Google every 30 minutes.
Widget was simple to install and worked perfectly from the first moment.  Syncing is perfect with no issues.
Link To Google Outlook Sync WidgetAfter installing the sync widget, you now have a perfect tool for sharing your Outlook calendar with anyone you choose.   You can stop here if you are not interested in the iPhone or mobile viewing.

4-iPhone Calendar and Viewing Google Calendar on IPhone:
You have a couple of options when selecting a calendar to add and manage your personal events but I will discuss the easiest option that does not require any additional app purchases and lets you easily toggle between the native iPhone app and the Google Calendar.

It's important to note that I WANTED to use the native iPhone calendar because I really like the alerts.  This entire process was dependent on my ability to enter events into the native iPhone calendar but still use Outlook because my husband does.

Notice on the shot below I have 2 calendars installed.  The native iPhone calendar at the bottom where I enter events.  The Google Mobile calendar is installed as a link/bookmark.    To install the Calendar icon on your iPhone simply go to this address using Safari:

http://www.Google.com/calendar
Login to your account
Click the + at the bottom of the page
Add to Home Page.


5- Repeat for Hubby

6- View Sharable Google Calendars
You are practically done.  Now all you have to do is view the sharable Google Calendar on you iPhone. Of course you can view Google Calendar online as well, but what's the fun in that.  Below is a photo of the Google Calendar.   Of course it is nice enough to use as your primary calendar and completely bypass the native iPhone Calendar altogether.  In fact if you do not care about Outlook, this is a very feasible option.   It lets you toggle between view your calendar or hubby's calendar.   (or any one else for that matter)


Drawbacks:
Admittedly this is not the easiest solution, and clearly if you remove Outlook from the picture there are so many other options out there.   But for those of us still slaves to MS Outlook, this is a very cheap simple solution to a sharable calendar.  

I have not yet found where the Google mobile calendar will send me an alert for an event.  This is a huge drawback.   However I understand there are other good calendar apps out there that will give you all of the features you need, plus sync with Google Calendar.   I'm about to try Pocket Informant.