Personal information manager


A personal information manager is a type of application software that functions as a personal organizer. The acronym PIM is now, more commonly, used in reference to personal information management as a field of study. As an information management tool, a PIM tool's purpose is to facilitate the recording, tracking, and management of certain types of "personal information".

Scope

Personal information can include any of the following:
Some PIM/PDM software products are capable of synchronizing data over a computer network, including mobile ad hoc networks

History

Prior to the introduction of the term "Personal digital assistant" by Apple in 1992, handheld personal organizers such as the Psion Organiser and the Sharp Wizard were also referred to as "PIMs".
The time management and communications functions of PIMs largely migrated from PDAs to smartphones, with Apple, RIM, and others all manufacturing smartphones that offer most of the functions of earlier PDAs.