Personal Information Manager

What Does Personal Information Manager 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.

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Techopedia Explains Personal Information Manager

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.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…