contactsgmailiphone
I have my Gmail account configured via Exchange on my iPhone 4S. When I add a new contact, it only adds it to my phone. I have to add separately to Gmail and then merge duplicates, which seems like too many steps.
I want this to work so that any contact I add through iOS is added to my Gmail contacts, not the local phone's contacts. How can I accomplish this?
Use iTunes to sync and make sure you have your phone contacts in your MS-Exchange folder. Then you can either use the Google Apps migration tool or export them from outlook and into gmail.
Next you can remove the exchange account (which will probably delete you contacts).
Next you can uncheck the box in itunes that says "sync my contacts" so that they will all come off of your phone. Make sure you have them backed up first.
You can also uncheck the box to tell it not to sync the calendar if you like.
Next, you can add a Gmail account or google apps account - but when you do, don't click on Gmail for the account type - choose "Exchange" because it allows syncing of contacts and calendars, too.
See the gmail site for more details:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=138740
use the Gmail template on iOS to have the best Gmail experience on iPhone, use Sparrow to have the best experience on Mac. It will use your Gmail contacts and the one you have on Address Book.
Use iCloud for contact syncing on the Mac and the iPhone. You won't have the contacts on the Gmail webapp, but you can still find them on icloud.com.
Best Answer
In the settings, set your default Contacts account to Gmail.
Now whenever you create a contact on iOS, it will be added to Gmail. The only time a contact will not be added to Gmail is if you go into the Contacts application, select Groups on the top, and choose an account other than All Contacts or your Gmail account (e.g. iCloud).