[JonV]

Although I use gmail as my desktop email client of choice (to front my IMAP-based email system), I have yet to find an end-to-end-sync solution like you seek.

Instead I have to use Outlook as an intermediary. ActiveSync keeps my phone and desktop Outlook in sync and I use Google Calendar Sync to send calendar items to my google calendar. Contacts though are more difficult. I did a one-time export of the Outook contacts to Google via a CSV file. Now I guess I update google contacts manually.

I am surprised that Google hasn't provided more in this area. They make some great tools but leave some gaps in provided an integrated solution for mobile users.