Personal Information Manager (PIM)

What Does Personal Information Manager (PIM) Mean?

A personal information manager (PIM) is a software application that uses tools to manage contacts, calendars, tasks, appointments and other personal data. PIM tools vary according to user need and product cost.

Techopedia Explains Personal Information Manager (PIM)

PIM software is a very general term and may include any of the following features:

• Address books
• Lists (e.g., task lists)
• Significant dates (e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, appointments and meetings)
• RSS feeds
• Reminders and alerts
• Notes
• Email, instant messaging (IM) and fax communication
• Voicemail
• Project management

It used to be that synchronization was implemented as a a point-in-time update between computers and devices. As more software migrates to the cloud, a PIM that syncs between multiple types of devices is standard.

Most users would probably never use the PIM term. For example, a user might know all his contacts and calendar information is with Google Apps, but he would not necessarily refer to it as his PIM.