Blog

May 31st, 2007
More on Windows Mobile devices…

Further to my last post, the same client who is getting rid of the Blackberry is keen to purchase a new Nokia N95. Their question to me was “will this work with Exchange Active Sync?”

The N95 doesn’t seem to natively support Exchange Active Sync, which is not a huge surprise considering it’s not a Microsoft Mobile based device. It can receive Pop3 email but basically this means it can download email off the Exchange server when you prompt it to – hardly worth it.

Nokia have a product called Mail for Exchange which allows for full functionality but it’s only supported on the E Series phones apparently. The other option is a third party product called RoadSync which is supported on the N95 and allows for full Exchange push technology. The price is around $US50 so not too bad. I can’t vouch for it as I’ve never used it, however it is listed by Microsoft on their third party software page, so that’s encouraging.

So for those Nokia phone lovers out there, there is a way to use a Nokia phone and get the benefits of Exchange Active Sync!

Bookmark and Share
Comments (0) Topic Articles
May 31st, 2007
Small businesses – You don’t need a Blackberry for email to mobiles!

I have a client who is currently using an old Blackberry for over the air email synchronisation. Well, it kind of synchronises…email is forwarded from the customers Small Business Server 2003 Exchange account to a Telstra email address which is received on the Blackberry. So if he deletes things on the blackberry, or sends emails, it’s not really reflected in his Outlook mailbox. So ‘synchronise’ is used loosely here.
Well done to those more astute readers who said “hang on, they have Windows Small Business Server 2003, why not use the built in Exchange Active Sync push technology with a Windows Mobile device?” That’s great advice – but the number of clients I come across that have SBS2003 and don’t even know about that functionality is amazing!

So you are now being told: If you have Windows Small Business Server 2003 you have a great platform to provide yourself and your staff with over-the -air wireless push email technology – and you DON’T need a Blackberry! Get yourself a mobile device with Windows Mobile on it (such as Imate Jasjam, HP Ipaq and Samsung Blackjack to name a few), hook it up to a 3G network with Telstra or 3 Mobile etc etc and, with the addition of some basic settings on your mobile device (and assuming your SBS2003 box and your firewall are configured correctly) you will have a full over the air push email solution. And not only your will your email be synchronised – how do you like the sound of your calendar and contacts synchronising? So your office assistant puts an appointment in your Outlook calendar and within minutes it’s updated to your mobile device. Very nice. If you send an email from your device, you’ll find it in the sent items folder in Outlook on your PC. Very nice. Add a contact to your mobile device when you’re at a conference, and it’s already entered in to your Outlook contacts when you get back to the office. Perfect.

If you have Windows Small Business Server 2003 and are not using this functionality, you are under utilising your investment in technology.

Bookmark and Share
Comments (0) Topic Articles
Newer Entries »