Office Mobility Blog

Documents To Go for BlackBerry: June 2008!

2008-05-12T16:30:03Z

Some good news today for BlackBerry users who've been anxious for more information about our upcoming Documents To Go release: If you can attend the Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES) in Orlando you'll learn everything you need to know, but for those of you who can't attend, the Documents To Go for BlackBerry web pages have been updated with new info including an FAQ.

Among the new things mentioned there, you find that the Documents To Go Premium Edition for BlackBerry will be available for purchase in June of 2008! Those who have signed up with our announcement list will be notified as soon as it is available. Be sure to check the FAQ to find out what devices are supported and what updates may be needed for your device, BES and/or BIS. And don't forget to sign up for the announcement list so you'll be the first to know when Documents To Go is available!

DataViz at The Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES)

2008-05-07T18:51:49Z

DataViz to demo Documents To Go for BlackBerry and give away a Nintendo Wii!

Next week in Orlando (May 13th-16th), IT managers, CIO's and BES admins from around the world will be gathering for the 2008 Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES). Touted as 'The Biggest BlackBerry Conference of the Year', attendees will learn a variety of ways to leverage their wireless investments to make sure they are getting the best possible return. You'll even get a chance to have some fun networking at the Welcome Reception and watching Grammy winner John Mayer perform Tuesday night!

If you're attending WES, be sure to stop by booth #236 in the Solutions Showcase to get a first look at the new Documents To Go for BlackBerry. Along with getting a glimpse into one of the most highly anticipated BlackBerry applications in years, one lucky visitor will also win a Nintendo Wii just for stopping by!

In addition to participating in the Solutions Showcase, DataViz will be giving a 15-minute Demo Theatre presentation of Documents To Go on Tuesday May 13th at 3PM in the Crystal Ballroom (Room G1).

There's sure to be a lot of exciting news coming out of this event next week. Be sure to attend if you can!

Video: DataViz at XML Interoperability Event

2008-05-05T19:06:22Z

Recently DataViz participated in an XML interoperability event with several other software vendors at the Microsoft/Novell joint interoperability lab (Cambridge, MA). The event was designed to bring together developers who have implemented open XML support in their products with a focus on how they can work together to continue improving interoperability between products. Here's a great video recap of the event:

Video: Document Interoperability Initiative (DII) - Cambridge, MA

RoadSync Now Available in Nokia's Download! Store

2008-05-02T18:58:32Z

DataViz and Nokia recently reached an agreement to add the highly regarded Exchange ActiveSync client, RoadSync, to the Nokia Download! Store.

Now millions of Nokia's S60 handset users can install a free trial or purchase RoadSync via the Download! client that is already installed on their device. Download! gives S60 users an easy way to find, try, and buy a variety of mobile content.

“We are very pleased to be part of Nokia’s Download! global distribution channel which provides an unparalleled one-stop shopping experience for customers purchasing handheld software on their device. Download! will enable us to empower millions of Nokia S60 customers around the world with our award winning Exchange ActiveSync solution, RoadSync while offering newer pricing models that better meets their individual needs.” - Randy Figueroa, Senior Channel Distribution Manager, DataViz.

Initially, RoadSync will be offered to users of select S60 handsets throughout North America, Brazil and Europe and can be purchased as a monthly subscription ($4.99/mo) or as a non-expiring license ($29.99).

Press Release

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1 SP5 Available

2008-04-21T15:55:44Z

Including Free/Busy Lookup and Improved Attachment Support

A Blackberry Enterprise Server upgrade (4.1 SP5) was officially released by RIM a few days ago. This upgrade includes some much anticipated features such as free/busy calendar look-up and also added attachment support (downloading and editing of native email attachments).

It's important to note that some of these features will also require updated BlackBerry Device Software 4.5 (no official word at this point on when Device Software 4.5 will be available).

As far as Documents To Go is concerned, this is an important update as we will be providing support to edit native documents and email attachments on your BlackBerry. We know you've all been waiting patiently for Documents To Go to be available. This release is a big step in the right direction. More info should be available in the near future. Thanks to all of you for your patience, we promise Documents To Go for BlackBerry will be worth the wait! Make sure you're signed up for our BlackBerry announcement list so you'll know as soon as its available.

RIMs Strong Q4

2008-04-07T21:14:25Z

A recent press release out of Waterloo is proof that Research In Motion (RIM) is doing just fine in these difficult financial times. RIM’s fourth quarter profit for fiscal 2008 reached $1.88 billion, more than doubling fourth quarter numbers from fiscal 2007.

Along with this huge profit increase, RIM also added a net of 2.18 million new BlackBerry subscribers.

With bright spots like the OS 4.5 update right around the corner and the upcoming availability of Documents To Go for Office file and email attachment editing, Jim Balsillie (CEO, Research In Motion) doesn’t seem to think this growth will slow anytime soon:

"Looking forward, the prospects for RIM and the industry are more exciting than ever and we will continue to work closely with a thriving ecosystem of partners to build on our momentum during the year ahead."

RIM Press Release

Palm Centro: One Million Served

2008-04-03T16:17:22Z

While smart devices have been available for quite a few years now, mainstream acceptance is really just starting to ramp up as devices get sexier and prices drop. The RAZR was a step in this direction several years back; for many it was their first phone capable of doing more than making a call and playing snake.

It looks like the newest example of mass consumer appeal for smartphones could be the Palm Centro. Palm’s $99 offering has been “flying off the shelves” according to a recent press release which focused on the Centro crossing the 1 million unit mark in sales (it came out the day before April fools day so we’re pretty sure they were serious).

The Centro appears to be very popular among a younger and perhaps more price sensitive crowd. IDC analyst Ryan Reith touched on this in Palm’s release:

"Smartphones are certainly not new to business professionals; however, now more than ever we are seeing consumers migrate toward these types of devices as form factors have become more appealing and price points are now competing with traditional mobile phones. Palm's Centro plays right into the hands of the consumer looking for a more robust experience on their mobile phone. We definitely expect to see this trend continue worldwide."

With the combination of a low price point for consumers and the power of a huge developer community including high-end enterprise applications, this device could be just what Palm needs to re-join the elite in the smartphone space.

Sony Ericsson G700 & G900 Organizers

2008-03-28T18:54:30Z

Complete with Exchange ActiveSync from DataViz

At MWC in February, Sony Ericsson went public with their new G-series devices, namely the G700 and G900. These ~~smartphones~~ touchscreen organizers come complete with a 2.4 inch touchscreen display and a standard offering of smartphone ‘features’ (camera, Bluetooth, web browser, Exchange ActiveSync push email, etc.). They also offer a 'sticky note' app that lets you jot notes quickly (a definate advantage of going touchscreen). The G900 adds a better camera and wifi.

Expect these devices on the market in Q2 of this year. Check out the links below for reviews and a video clip of the organizers in action!

G700 & G900 on YouTube [IntoMobile]

Hands-on w/ the G900 [EngadgetMobile]

G700 Preview [GSMArena]

Apple Licenses ActiveSync for iPhone

2008-03-18T21:20:51Z

And Microsoft Publishes DataViz Case Study

Apple’s recent announcement that they’ve licensed Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync protocol for the iPhone has brought Exchange ActiveSync to the forefront of the mobile email discussion again. Many industry insiders such as Changewave’s Michael Shulman (who was recently interviewed on Fox Business with our CEO Dick Fontana) feel that this is going to turn the US enterprise smartphone battle in the into a two man race. In their discussion about the iPhone SDK announcement Shulman shared the following comments:

“The big news is push email, which is the heart of what a BlackBerry is. [Apple is] taking dead aim at the BlackBerry user and the corporate market.” ... “This sets up a world…where all other players are irrelevant. It’s the iPhone against the BlackBerry.”

While we may never know the exact details of how this licensing agreement between Microsoft and Apple came to be, the Exchange Team at Microsoft did shed a little light on the agreement and features in a recent post on the Exchange Team Blog.

As one of the few companies (and the first software vendor) to license the ActiveSync protocol, DataViz has some experience in this arena. In fact, Microsoft recently added a DataViz case study to their website which chronicles a bit of the process leading up to the licensing agreement. The case study also discusses what DataViz has been able to do as a result of the agreement, namely the creation of RoadSync: an ActiveSync client now available for 6 mobile platforms and well over 100 different mobile devices.

So, in the course of the coming months, Apple will be patching a corporate ‘hole’ in the iPhone by adding enterprise email, and RIM will be patching a corporate ‘hole’ in the BlackBerry by adding attachment editing via Documents To Go. Should be an interesting race, but I wouldn’t count the other players in the smartphone market out yet. We’ll have to wait and see if Windows Mobile, Palm, or any others make their own new play at the corporate smartphone market.

Microsoft - Case Study: DataViz

YouTube - DataViz Channel

DataViz CEO Discusses iPhone SDK

2008-03-07T18:46:53Z

Will Apple open the door?

Earlier today CEO of DataViz, Inc., Dick Fontana, appeared on Fox Business Network to share his thoughts about the recently announced iPhone software development kit (SDK) and developing applications (such as the popular Microsoft Office suite, Documents To Go) for this platform.

With many other mobile device platforms, such as Palm and Windows Mobile, a software company like DataViz is free to develop at will as the software can be marketed through a variety of channels. Based on yesterday's announcement from Apple, it seems things may be a bit different for the iPhone:

"The fact that there's one path bringing software to the device means that we have to go to the keepers of that path..."

While some may consider this a negative, DataViz has a long relationship with Apple which gives Dick reason to be optimistic about the opportunities for DataViz with the iPhone:

"We were one of the first developers for the Macintosh in 1984 and they [Apple] have always proven to be good business partners... We have every reason to believe that the path will be open for us."

You can see all of Dick's comments at the DataViz Channel on YouTube.

DataViz CEO Dick Fontana on Fox Business

2008-03-07T14:51:02Z

Friday March 7th at 10:45AM

Later this morning Dick Fontana (CEO, DataViz, Inc.) will be doing a live interview on the Fox Business Network. Topics may include the recent advancements to Documents To Go such as the revolutionary InTact Technology and discussion of DataViz future plans. On the heels of Apple's iPhone SDK news yesterday, the 'will you develop Documents To Go for the iPhone' question is bound to come up.

You can see this interview at 10:45am EST on channel 106 if you're a Comcast subscriber and channel 359 on DirecTV. For other providers, check your local listings.

Check back later for a post-interview recap.

Palm Centro - Best of Both Worlds

2008-03-05T21:11:37Z

Affordable way to manage your social life and work life.

It’s been well documented that Palm’s marketshare has been declining over the past few years as RIM/BlackBerry and Windows Mobile have taken a more dominant chunk of the US smartphone market. However, the market for smartphones has been extending into some uncharted areas of late as devices become more powerful and more affordable at the same time.

Palm seems to be capitalizing on this trend, along with the recent strides in social media, by targeting their new Palm Centro to a younger crowd. While we have seen several smart devices at a similar price point ($99 w/ contract) I don’t recall seeing many so clearly targeted at a younger audience. Their messaging and ads focus on the social, ‘web 2.0-ish’ uses of a smartphone and this mentality extends to the included software and design as well. Apps for IM/text, music, pictures, video, web browsing as well as some vibrant color options will certainly help reign in the high school/college demographic.

While they may be focusing mostly on the younger audience, the Centro is certainly a viable solution for the price sensitive corporate user, too. The QWERTY keyboard, inclusion of DataViz Documents To Go and the plethora of third party apps available for Palm OS make this an affordable enterprise phone as well. Palm takes some hits from time to time for their aging OS, but there are a lot of people who have experience with other Palm devices will surely appreciate having little to no learning curve.

The Centro has been available through Sprint for a few months and was added to AT&T lineup last week. There are plenty of reviews out there so we’re not going to reinvent the wheel. Here are a few good reviews to take a look at:

Engadget - Palm Centro Review
PalmInfoCenter - AT&T Palm Centro Now Available
Treonauts - Palm Centro Review

If you own a Centro, make sure you’ve registered your copy of Documents To Go and take a look at the free 30 day demo of the Premium Edition!

OpenXML Channel on YouTube

2008-02-18T21:30:15Z

Featuring Documents To Go on a Treo 680!

The Open XML Community recently created an OpenXML channel on YouTube. Members of the community will be posting videos to show you some examples of the great strides that are being made in Open XML based technologies.

One of the videos you’ll find featured on the OpenXML channel showcases Documents To Go on the Palm Treo 680. It’s a great example of Open XML technology making its way into the mobile space.

Documents To Go also supports Office 2007’s Open XML technology on Windows Mobile Smartphones and soon on Symbian UIQ!

DataViz and MontaVista

2008-02-11T15:33:40Z

Bringing Documents To Go to Linux handhelds!

Another example of DataViz’s commitment to bring Microsoft Office support to the world’s most popular handhelds came to light this morning as they, along with Linux leader MontaVista, announced the availability of Documents To Go for the Mobilinux 5.0 mobile operating system.

MontaVista will resell Documents To Go to mobile device manufacturers looking to implement Mobilinux 5.0. This will provide Mobilinux-powered devices with the ability to open and view Word, Excel & PowerPoint attachments. DataViz and MontaVista will also work together to implement additional features (such as editing) at the request of the developer or device manufacturer.

“DataViz and MontaVista are currently working with a major hardware manufacturer to enable its mobile customers to work with the types of documents they most commonly use. Documents To Go expands the power of the device. We expect many more mobile developers to be eager to provide Documents To Go functionality to their device users. It’s like taking your office in your pocket wherever you take a Mobilinux-powered device.” - Jim Ready, CTO/founder, MontaVista Software.

Read the Press Release.

iPhone: 28% US Market Share

2008-02-07T19:46:47Z

And 6.5% of worldwide smart device market.

The fourth quarter of 2007 definitely proved fruitful for Apple in the smartphone market. Apple Insider (via Canalys) reports that the iPhone reached #2 in US market share with 28%. RIM continued leading the way with 41% and Palm was a distant third with 9%.

"When you consider that it launched part way through the year, with limited operator and country coverage, and essentially just one product, Apple has shown very clearly that it can make a difference and has sent a wakeup call to the market leaders," - Pete Cunningham, senior analyst, Canalys.

With a new 16GB iPhone now available and third party apps on their way soon, it certainly seems like the sky is the limit for Apple in the smartphone space.

Will those third party apps include Documents To Go? Still hard to say, but if you want it, let us know!