How-to: sync SAMSUNG phones with iTunes

Samsung on Friday began touting a new application called "Easy Phone Sync" that allows users to transfer content from Apple's iOS to a Samsung Galaxy device, and even keeps Android devices up to date with DRM-free iTunes content.

The software allows users to transfer music, videos, podcasts, pictures, contacts and text messages from an iPhone to a Samsung device, like its new flagship Galaxy S III. The application was announced on Friday by Samsung Mobile U.K.

"We're really proud to announce the launch of this new application and can't wait to hear what our new and existing customers think of it," said Simon Stanford, vice president of Telecommunications and Networks at Samsung U.K. "We know that traditionally iPhone users have been reluctant to switch to an Android device because they couldn't use iTunes to manage their content. Easy Phone Sync means people can now enjoy their iTunes content on a Samsung Galaxy phone. What's more is that it's really easy for them to do, and literally takes five minutes to set up."

Samsung's use of a third-party application to transfer data is different from the approach that was taken by now-defunct Palm, which in 2009 made its webOS operating system trick iTunes into thinking a Palm smartphone was actually an iPod. That sparked a back-and-forth battle in which Apple kept blocking webOS from tricking iTunes, and Palm kept issuing webOS updates to re-enable iTunes sync.

However, Samsung's free "Easy Phone Sync" application does allow users to continue using iTunes software on their PC to manage music, videos and podcasts. That means while iTunes won't handle the syncing, the Samsung application will stay up-to-date with iTunes content.

The new application is another sign of the escalating rivalry between Apple and Samsung. The two companies are involved in a bitter patent dispute that now spans across the world with lawsuits in 10 countries.

The Easy Phone Sync application for Android is available on Google Play and is developed by Media Mushroom. Accompanying applications that work with the Android app are available for both Mac OS X and Windows PCs.

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