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May 02, 2008

RoadSync Now Available in Nokia's Download! Store

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

March 28, 2008

Sony Ericsson G700 & G900 Organizers

Complete with Exchange ActiveSync from DataViz

Sony Ericsson G700 & G900At 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]

December 10, 2007

RoadSync 40% Off!

RoadSync is only $29.99 until the end of the year (Regular price: $49.99)

If part of your New Year’s resolution is to be more productive, we’ve got a tool that can help you at a great price. This month you can get your hands on a copy of RoadSync for your Smartphone for $29.99 (40% off the regular price of $49.99 on most platforms)!


RoadSync 40% off year end sale!


RoadSync is based on the Exchange ActiveSync protocol which DataViz has licensed from Microsoft. This allows us to provide direct push synchronization of your Exchange email and PIM data to a variety of handhelds. In fact, RoadSync is currently available for 6 different platforms and over 100 different mobile devices worldwide! Free trials are available. If you’d like to take advantage of the 40% special, make sure you do it now; this offer expires on December 31st.

August 30, 2007

Troubleshooting Certificate Problems

DataViz RoadSync (using Exchange ActiveSync)The most common issues we see/hear/read about when it comes to setting up E-Mail synchronization on a smartphone are related to security certificates, specifically custom or 'self-signed' certificates. Certificates are important because they help create a secure connection with your server, but installing them is not always the easiest thing to accomplish (and with some devices you can't do it at all). If you do get your certificate installed, you'll also want to make sure your device 'trusts' it, which can be tricky as well.

To help make sense of this, I enlisted some members of the RoadSync development team to compile their thoughts on troubleshooting certificate issues. Most of this information is specific to Nokia's S60 devices, but if you're having problems with a certificate on any mobile device, this could help (you can also find this information posted in the N95users.com forum).

Continue reading "Troubleshooting Certificate Problems" »

August 21, 2007

How Does Push E-Mail Work?

rs_logo.jpgWhen utilizing a service like push e-mail I think it’s nice to have some level of understanding of what’s going on behind the scenes. Sadly, a lot of people who use it every day don’t really understand how push e-mail (via Exchange ActiveSync) works. I remember attending 3GSM about two years ago and trying to explain to people what RoadSync is and how it works. The idea of having your e-mail ‘pushed’ to your phone without the use of a middleware server or a desktop redirector was a bit foreign back then. People are much more accepting of the idea of Exchange ActiveSync now (thanks, Microsoft!) but there are still plenty who don’t get it.

Microsoft MVP Clinton Fitch wrote a post recently about how Exchange ActiveSync push e-mail works. This type of post has been written before; the difference is Clinton doesn’t get overly technical and still manages to get the idea across quite well. His article, How Microsoft “Push” Mail Really Works, gives a great, top level overview of how ActiveSync connects to your phone and ‘pushes’ e-mail and other PIM data to it. I definitely recommend taking a look at this if you use push e-mail; it might help you use it more efficiently or troubleshoot if something goes awry (or, at the very least, it’ll make you sound smart around your friends and coworkers).

July 25, 2007

Helio adds Exchange ActiveSync

Also a new viewer for Office files.

Helio adds Exchange Activesync support to OceanSince its release in March, Helio has said that the Ocean will support Exchange ActiveSync. Those of you who have been waiting for this will be glad to know that today Helio announced the availability of ‘Mail for Microsoft Exchange’ (not to be confused with Mail for Exchange). It will set you back an extra $10/month, but ‘Mail for Microsoft Exchange’ will get you your email, calendar and contacts on your Ocean. On top of that you’ll also get a new version of Helio File Viewer for your office files.

No word yet on Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2 mobility features like Direct Push, remote wipe and GAL lookup with this new ActiveSync client. If you have a chance to try this out let us know what you think.

Press Release.

July 12, 2007

iPhone: IMAP vs. ActiveSync

And where does RoadSync fit in?

dvz_iphone.gifExchange connectivity for the iPhone has been a hot topic lately. There’s been months of discussion about iPhone support (or lack thereof) for Exchange ActiveSync (EAS). There’s even been speculation that Apple will license the EAS protocol from Microsoft. As of this writing, the iPhone does not include EAS support. It does, however, include the ability to sync with Exchange via Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP).

So, what’s the difference between IMAP and EAS, you ask?

Continue reading "iPhone: IMAP vs. ActiveSync" »

March 02, 2007

RoadSync for Java

rs_javaphones.jpgAre you one of the more than 50 million people who own a Motorola RAZR v3? If you are, or if you own one of Moto's other popular Java MIDP 2.0 phones, did you know you can use it to get your Exchange E-mail?

DataViz announced this week that its Exchange ActiveSync E-mail client, RoadSync, has been updated for Java MIDP 2.0 devices. RoadSync for Java has been available for sometime now, but this new update is Java Verified and supports many of Motorola's newer devices like the KRZR, RIZR, ROKR and more. This version will also support synchronization of email from both Exchange 2003 and 2007.

Read the press release.

February 27, 2007

Hosted Trial of Exchange 2007

ExchangeLogo copy.jpgIf you'd like to give the new features of Exchange 07 a try without making any financial commitments, you might want to check this out. Microsoft is offering a 5 day hosted trial of Exchange 2007. You'll get a temporary, pre-populated account and you'll be able to access your account in a variety of ways, including:

- Outlook Web Access (OWA)
- MS Outlook on your desktop
- Mobile applications that support Exchange ActiveSync 2007 (i.e. RoadSync)

If you have a Nokia Series 60 phone like the E62 or N80, this would be a great opportunity to experience the new mobility features of RoadSync like message flagging and online mailbox search. If you want to download a trial of RoadSync to go with your Exchange 07 trial, click here.

The Exchange 2007 trial is implemented and hosted by Unisys.

February 21, 2007

Why You Should Upgrade to Exchange 2007

ExchangeLogo.JPGLooking for a reason to upgrade to Microsoft Exchange 2007? How about ten! We know many people like to wait until the ‘kinks’ are worked out before going forward with an upgrade like this, but just in case you are looking for some compelling reasons to convince yourself or your IT department to upgrade sooner, we thought we'd share this. Microsoft has a list on their website of what they consider to be the top 10 reasons for you to upgrade to Exchange 07. Here’s a few of the reasons they list:

- Access e-mail, voice mail, calendar, and contacts from virtually anywhere, anytime
- Easy deployment and management
- Get affordable, enterprise-class mobile messaging that’s better than ever

They get into quite a bit more detail and list some good resources so that you can make a well educated decision about whether or not its time for you to upgrade.

January 05, 2007

Mobile Messaging Deployment Guide

Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2 Mobile Messaging

If you are considering deploying some mobile devices with Exchange ActiveSync email and PIM capabilities (or if you’ve already deployed some), there is a must read guide from Microsoft that you may find quite helpful. Jason Langridge’s Weblog has a very similar version of this available as a white paper (.doc) that you can download. It’s basically a step-by-step walkthrough to set up mobile messaging with Exchange Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Mobile 5.0 devices. However, one of the nice things about this is most of this deployment info still applies even if you are using a different Exchange ActiveSync solution (Such as RoadSync or Mail 4 Exchange) for a non-Windows Mobile 5 handheld (such as a P990 or E62).

December 29, 2006

More EAS Troubleshooting Help

Last week I posted some info about a troubleshooting resource for issues with Exchange ActiveSync (EAS). There’s a lot of valuable information there, however it can be pretty daunting to read through all of that and apply it to your own environment.

Microsoft has a great webcast on their support site called ‘Troubleshooting Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 ActiveSync issues’. If you have an hour to kill this can be helpful and a bit easier than reading and sorting through an entire website of info. Their description:

This Support WebCast session provides an architecture and functional review of the ActiveSync components and how they communicate with Active Directory and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. The session will review stand-alone, front-end, and back-end deployments. It will also talk about IIS configurations, error tracings, device issues, and component-level communication. It will have a heavy focus on tracing and error interpretation.

This webcast assumes you already have some experience with Exchange 2003 and ActiveSync. The error interpretation can be pretty helpful because, lets face it, you most likely aren’t going to be watching something like this until you run into an issue; so having a resource to help you pinpoint where the issue lies is often half the battle.

December 19, 2006

Troubleshooting Exchange ActiveSync

Troubleshooting issues relating to ActiveSync can be difficult because there are several factors that come in to play. It can often be difficult to determine where a given problem lies. Issues could be related to the handheld device itself (hardware), the software that is allowing you to connect to your server (Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync app, RoadSync, Mail 4 Exchange, etc), settings on the server itself (certificates, mobile services access, etc), or anything in between (ISA server, other firewalls and/or middleware). With such a large variety of complex setup possibilities, it can be a bit tricky to resolve this type of issue.

Chris De Herrera (Pocket PC FAQ; Microsoft MVP) has a very thorough ActiveSync Troubleshooting Guide which (along with the several other articles he has posted about ActiveSync) can be a huge help when rolling out or troubleshooting a mobile email solution. Some of the material is a bit dated, but most of it still applies in most situations. Our IT and Engineering departments have found this FAQ to be a valuable tool in many situations; hopefully it will help a few of you out as well.

November 16, 2006

Exchange 2007: New Mobility Features

Examining Exchange 2007: The Future of Direct Push

ExchangeLogo copy.jpg
In my last post I touched on a few of the new mobility features that will be incorporated into Exchange 2007. Personally I think they sound quite impressive and helpful if they all work as advertised. It is easy, however, to look at the list and say “I’ve got the push email already, I don’t really need these other features”. But when you really sit down and think about it (like Paul Mah did), you can really begin to understand how valuable these new features could be.

The link above will take you to an article posted on Technology At Play. Paul does a very good job of not only telling us what some of the new mobility features are, but also why they are important and what this all means for the future of Exchange ActiveSync. He also has a great Direct Push Guide with just about anything you’d want to know about Push Email.

If you are using Exchange 07 and have any thoughts on the new mobility features we’d love to hear it.

August 23, 2006

MSFP for Motorola Q: Not Quite Yet

About a month ago I commented on the fact that the MSFP (part of AKU2) update for the Motorola Q had not been released yet, leaving Q users without an Exchange ActiveSync push email solution. The Q faithful had reason to be excited last week as the AKU2 update appeared on Motorola’s website. However, according to SmartPhoneToday, Motorola posted the push email update on their website only to pull it down shortly thereafter as it was apparently a beta.

Those of you who installed this (or are thinking about installing this) should be aware that, according to Motorola, you are installing at your own risk and your warranty likely won’t cover any issues it causes.

While this is certainly frustrating for Q customers who have been waiting to enjoy the SP2 features of Exchange 2003, it could also be a sign that the ‘official’ release of this update is right around the corner. However, I have also been reading/hearing that battery life is already a bit of an issue for some Q users, so it will be interesting to see what effect ‘push’ has on that.

UPDATE Sept. 6, 2006:

The AKU2 update for the Motorola Q is now available from Motorola's website. In talking to a few Q users, it sounds like the update (including MSFP features like push and GAL) has initially been well received. Feel free to share your own experiences.

July 13, 2006

Clearing Up Some MSFP Confusion

Windows Mobile 5.0 Messaging and Security Feature Pack

Since Microsoft’s release of the Messaging & Security Feature Pack (MSFP) for Windows Mobile 5.0, there seems to be some confusion about what devices will be able to take advantage of this update. For instance, as most of you Motorola Q owners have likely discovered, MSFP was not included on the currently shipping Q handhelds. A patch for this will likely be released by Motorola in the near future, although I haven’t heard any definite word on this yet.

If you are looking for a detailed description of what MSFP is and how it works, our friends at MSExchange.org posted a very helpful Mobile Messaging series that you can find here.

The link at the top of this article will take you to a page on Microsoft’s website with a list of devices for which the MSFP upgrade is currently available (including Cingular’s 8125 and the Palm Treo 700w). There is also a nice description of the features and benefits of MSFP, and some valuable information regarding all of the mobility features that were added to Exchange Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2). You can even sign up for an announce list to find out when MSFP will be available for your Q or other Windows Mobile 5 device that is not yet supported.

For those of you using a Windows Mobile 2003 handheld (such as the iPaq 6515), MSFP will not be released for your device. However, you will still have options to get support for the Service Pack 2 features (including push email) on these phones. DataViz will be releasing RoadSync for Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition phones in Q3 of this year.

June 21, 2006

RoadSync Now Available For Nokia N-Series and E-Series Smartphones

DataViz announced today that their Exchange ActiveSync client, RoadSync, is now available for Series 60 3rd Edition Smartphones (including Nokia's E-Series and N-Series). This will allow customers with S60 3rd Edition phones to use Exchange ActiveSync to connect with their Exchange Server to get push email, calendar, and contacts (as well as other mobility features that were included with Service Pack 2 for Exchange Server 2003) on their S60 Smartphone.

Read The Full Release

Click here for more information about RoadSync and to see a full list of supported platforms and devices.

June 12, 2006

RoadSync to Provide Direct Push Email to Windows Mobile 2003 Devices

DataViz Filling the "Direct Push" Gap for Windows Mobile 2003 SE Devices

Similar to the Messaging Security and Feature Pack (MSFP) for Windows Mobile 5.0, RoadSync will extend the new mobility and device management capabilities of Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) to Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition devices. Now corporations with SP2 installed will be able to support Direct Push technology and Global Address List look-up on popular devices such as the HP iPAQ hw6515 and Samsung SCH-i730. Additionally, IT administrators will be able to enforce user policies such as requiring a device password and remotely wipe sensitive data in the event that devices become lost or stolen. In an effort to further maximize Exchange Server investments as well as extend the functionality and life span of these popular and powerful mobile handsets, RoadSync for Windows Mobile 2003 will be available in Q3 2006.

Replacing the existing Exchange ActiveSync capabilities built into the Windows Mobile 2003 platform, RoadSync utilizes the same secure, wireless and direct synchronization protocol to offer all the expected features when managing corporate inboxes, editing and sending attachments, accepting meeting requests and looking-up key contacts from the convenience of a wireless device. However, in a new era of mobile e-mail, business professionals will now be able to take advantage of Direct Push e-mail without the need to install any additional middleware servers or pay recurring monthly service fees.

More information on RoadSync

June 06, 2006

Webcast on Microsoft's Mobile Messaging Approach

Microsoft Events Home - Register for webcast

Microsoft is well known for "eating its own dog food," meaning it uses the products it sells and attempts to be a shining example of best practices.

This webcast describes how Microsoft IT used Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 and Windows Mobile 5.0 with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack to enhance its mobile messaging infrastructure.

It happens on July 18 from 9am - 10am Pacific and should be interesting for anyone considering Exchange Server and Exchange ActiveSync as a mobile messaging option, whether using Windows Mobile or other mobile platforms.

Register for the event at the link above.

May 10, 2006

Exchange ActiveSync Config Video & Some Notes for Non-Windows Mobile Devices

You Had Me At EHLO... : Video: Exchange 2003 SP2 configuration for Windows Mobile 5 and MSFP Direct Push

Harold Wong posted a 10 minute video showing how to set up Direct Push synchronization on an Exchange 2003 Server running SP2 and demonstrated how to configure a Windows Mobile 5 device as well.

If you think setting this up would be difficult, take a few minutes to watch the video to see how easy it really is.

Here are a few notes I took away as it relates to non-Windows Mobile 5 devices:

1. If you set up password policy enforcement, there is a setting that needs to be checked in order to allow non-Windows Mobile 5 devices to still be able to synchronize. This would include ActiveSync clients like RoadSync for Symbian devices as well as Windows Mobile 2003 devices.

2. Remote Wipe will behave differently for different platforms. In the demonstration, the remote wipe command causes the device to reset to factory settings. On Symbian platforms like Series 80 and UIQ where the RoadSync client is available and supports Remote Wipe, it is only the exchange data that gets wiped as there is no ability for an installed client application to cause the device to reset to factory settings.

I also noted that he demonstrated how Direct Push synchronization can be disabled on a per user basis. I think there may be some misconception that ActiveSync is something that has to be enabled as an all or nothing proposition for all users. That's not the case, you just need to disable User Initiated Synchronization for users who should not be able to sync via Direct Push.

April 25, 2006

Troubleshooting Direct Push Links

Troubleshooting Direct Push (Windows Mobile and Microsoft Exchange Server)

Mauricio Freitas from Geekzone has compiled some good links to articles helping troubleshoot Direct Push on Windows Mobile devices. Some of these steps are also appropriate for non-Windows Mobile devices and some are configuration issues on the server which apply to all Exchange ActiveSync clients.

April 06, 2006

Technet Event - Q&A

Jason Langridge's WebLog - MR Mobile! : Technet Event - Q&A all questions answered....

Some good information about Windows Mobile & Exchange ActiveSync in this blog post.

For more information on the Microsoft TechNet events, visit their site here http://www.technetbriefings.com/

April 05, 2006

Treo 700w To Get Direct Push Update

PALM to release AKU2 ROM @ Mobility Today

Palm and Verizon are set to announce an upgrade to the Treo 700w (The Windows Mobile 5 version of the popular smartphone) that will enable Direct Push email, Remote Wipe of data and other important features.

AKU2 is an update kit that Microsoft makes available to phone manufacturers so that they can take advantage of new features ion Windows Mobile. Microsoft released this update late last year and only now are these device updates becoming available for devices that were already shipping and for new devices just being launched. Sprint also made a similar update available recently for its 6700 Windows Mobile phone.

Continue reading "Treo 700w To Get Direct Push Update" »

March 30, 2006

Inside Microsoft DirectPush Technology

Exchange 2003 Mobile Messaging Part 1 - A look at the Microsoft DirectPush technology

Henrik Walther is a Microsoft Exchange MVP and MCSE Security/Messaging that works as a System specialist for Interprise Consulting A/S, a Microsoft Gold Partner based in Denmark. Over his 12 year career, he has become a Microsoft Exchange Messaging Specialist.

He writes a very in depth article about the technology behind Microsoft's DirectPush technology in Exchange 2003 SP2 and how it is configured on Windows Mobile devices.

We recently ran a webinar called "Implementing and Managing Exchange ActiveSync across Multiple Mobile Device Platforms" which details configuration on non-Windows Mobile devices. This webinar is archived here.

March 29, 2006

Microsoft How-To Guide for Deploying Mobile Messaging via Exchange ActiveSync

Jason Langridge's WebLog - MR Mobile! : Deploying Mobile Messaging with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) and Exchange 2003 SP2 Whitepaper

Although the document contained in this post is from Microsoft and talks specifically about windows Mobile devices, the same process would apply when configuring servers and infrastructure for non-Windows Mobile devices.

March 21, 2006

Windows Mobile Webcasts

Neal Wadhwani's TS2 Blog : Windows Mobile: Webcast Training

This blog posting has links to a number of Windows Mobile 5 specific webinars including information about Windows Mobile 5 with MSFP, the Messaging and Security Feature Pack that enables direct push email on WinMobile devices when used with Exchange Server 2003 SP2 and Exchange ActiveSync.

This information is useful to get an understanding of what Windows Mobile 5 is capable of when evaluating solutions on non-Microsoft devices.

March 16, 2006

Some Excellent Exchange Mobility Resources

Eileen Brown's WebLog : Exchange mobility resources

Eileen is a Technical Evangelist Manager for Microsoft UK and writes a blog about Management, Messaging, Mobility and Real Time Collaboration on Microsoft TechNet.

This post contains links to a number of resources that she received from one of her colleagues, a technical specialist focused on Exchange.

March 15, 2006

Exchange ActiveSync Webinar Q&A

Follow the link to see the Q & A summary from our Webinar on Implementing and Managing Exchange ActiveSync on Multiple Device Platforms.

The webinar archive is available here:
http://www.dataviz.com/webinar-archive


Continue reading "Exchange ActiveSync Webinar Q&A" »

March 07, 2006

Living with Windows Mobile 5 and Direct Push email

Geekzone: Living with Windows Mobile AKU2, or How I learned to Love Push e-mail and Stop Worrying

A. Karantze shares some of his experiences using a Windows Mobile 5 device that has the Messaging & Security Feature Pack (MSFP) installed.

The article talks about how Windows Mobile updates are made available to users and by whom. AKU2 refers to the Adaptation Kit Update that Microsoft makes available to device manufacturers and carriers. This is the software update that they can choose to make available to customers.

It's a good read if you're interested in learning more about Microsoft's mobile messaging system built right into Exchange Server. He also comments on data usage with Exchange ActiveSync.

March 06, 2006

Webinar - Implementing & Managing Exchange ActiveSync Across Multiple Mobile Device Platforms

Link to archived webinar on DataViz website

Ilya Eliashevsky, RoadSync Product Manager, and I are hosting a webinar about Exchange ActiveSync on Tuesday, March 7th 2006. We'll be describing how to set it up on the server and on non-Windows Mobile platforms. We also talk about trends in mobile messaging and why we believe Exchange ActiveSync, because it's built right into Exchange Server 2003, will be the technology that brings mobile messaging beyond the corner office and to the rest of the organization.

Webinar Description: In today’s global marketplace, research has shown that corporate mobility will result in significant ROI through increased productivity and enhanced customer service offerings. As a cost effective and highly scalable solution, Exchange ActiveSync now extends mobility from the corner offices to the entire organization. Join DataViz to learn how to easily implement and manage Exchange ActiveSync in your organization regardless which mobile devices you choose.

Please join us live or listen to the archived recording. We will have a Q & A session at the end.

February 09, 2006

DataViz Releases RoadSync 2.0

DataViz.com - Exchange ActiveSync - Not Just for Windows Mobile Anymore

DataViz released version 2 of RoadSync, now allowing Symbian devices secure, wireless and direct push synchronization with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.

Continue reading "DataViz Releases RoadSync 2.0" »

January 23, 2006

Exchange ActiveSync Push Email Solutions Available Now

Jason Langridge's WebLog - MR Mobile! : Push Email - There are no delays

Mr. Mobile, Jason Langridge, blogged recently about the reported "delays" to market of Windows Mobile 5 push email solutions that work with Exchange Server 2003.

His point is that the Windows Mobile world is different than the Windows desktop world in terms of delivering software to the marketplace. Microsoft has indeed delivered updates to Windows Mobile 5 device manufacturers that allow for email to be pushed to the device. This additional functionality is often referred to as the Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5, but is not generally available to the public. Device manufactueres and wireless carriers work together to provide these updates to customers and the testing, certification for networks and training of carrier reps can take months. This is rather typical for the wireless space.

Continue reading "Exchange ActiveSync Push Email Solutions Available Now" »