Updating contacts "Plaxo" style

[Steven]

I'm seeking a method of update our contacts by sending an e-mail to the
contact and requesting their updated information.

I work in a small business where relationships are important. We keep a
central contacts database which has grown to approximately 12,000. We have
searched for a way to update these contacts in an automated fashion without
success. Two plug-ins did not work as well as desired (Contacts Clinic was
ok, Actual Contacts for Outlook was terrible).

There must be a better way - since Plaxo does it for free! However, we
can't use Plaxo since we need to maintain control of the contacts and our
brand.

I'm eager to hear any solution. We are currently running Outlook 2003 (MS
Office 2003 Professional) and 2003 server applications (Exchange). We do not
have SharePoint.

I eagerly look forward to any input. Thanks!

Steve

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

The only method for automatic updating of Contacts is to use third party applications. Outlook/Exchange offers nothing in this arena.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Steven asked:

| I'm seeking a method of update our contacts by sending an e-mail to
| the contact and requesting their updated information.
|
| I work in a small business where relationships are important. We
| keep a central contacts database which has grown to approximately
| 12,000. We have searched for a way to update these contacts in an
| automated fashion without success. Two plug-ins did not work as well
| as desired (Contacts Clinic was ok, Actual Contacts for Outlook was
| terrible).
|
| There must be a better way - since Plaxo does it for free! However,
| we can't use Plaxo since we need to maintain control of the contacts
| and our brand.
|
| I'm eager to hear any solution. We are currently running Outlook
| 2003 (MS Office 2003 Professional) and 2003 server applications
| (Exchange). We do not have SharePoint.
|
| I eagerly look forward to any input. Thanks!
|
| Steve

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

honestly, none of them work well IMHO. (I hit delete when I get those
annoying emails.) But the applications I know of are listed here:
http://www.slipstick.com/addins/contacts_entry.asp and I think the only
updaters are the ones you tried.