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.
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.