Office Mobility Blog

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.

Posted by Jason Coup at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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]

Posted by Jason Coup at 01:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

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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!

Posted by Jason Coup at 04:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nathan at InsideMicrosoft has apparently gotten his hands on some documentation outlining the features/changes planned for an update to the Windows Mobile operating system (Windows Mobile 7); looks like they’re going through quite an overhaul this time around.

You’ll notice many similarities to the iPhone interface when it comes to things like the on-screen keyboard and multi-touch interface (one would assume they’ll include very similar flick, zoom & double-tap interactions). However it would appear they’re also planning to offer motion based controls (via turning, shaking, etc.) probably similar to what Sony Ericsson recently implemented in the w910i.

There’s a lot of speculation here at this point, but it’s always nice to take a look at what might be coming down the road. It looks like Microsoft is doing what we all would expect; pulling what they consider the best elements from the best phones on the market and using them to their advantage.

More screenshots and in-depth discussion can be found at InsideMicrosoft.

Posted by Jason Coup at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It’s impossible to create one smartphone that will appeal to everyone. Michael Mace wrote a great piece roughly a year ago comparing the smartphone industry to the automobile industry in that there will never be one model that everyone agrees is best.

Nokia always seemed to understand this and put it into practice by (among other things) dividing their Series 60 smartphones into two categories: Eseries & Nseries. The idea was that Eseries devices would appeal more to the enterprise user who needs things like a QWERTY keyboard and corporate email support and Nseries devices would appeal to those looking for lots of multimedia features like high end cameras and quality music support.

However, according to Boy Genius Report, it looks like Nokia might break slightly from this recent tradition by offering an N Series device with a QWERTY keyboard. This yet-to-be-named device will reportedly be similar to the E61i with a 5+ megapixel camera and DVD quality video recording capabilities.

It’s still in speculation mode (perhaps we’ll hear something more formal at CES). BGR says we can expect to see this device on the market in late 2008.

Posted by Jason Coup at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Expecting Santa to drop a Ferrari with a nice big bow at your house this year? Me either. But for the rare few who own one (and for the rest of us who kinda wish we did), Motorola has a ‘new’ device just for you.

Moto has refreshed their Z8 with a little influence from the Italian sports car manufacturer, Ferrari. Spec-wise, the Z8 Ferrari Limited Edition isn’t much different than the original. The main difference is the red trim and the pre-loaded content from Ferrari. And if you want to make your Z8 a little more enterprise-friendly, you can add a free Office document viewer and an Exchange ActiveSync push email client (both from DataViz).

Unfortunately this won’t be out in time to make your last minute holiday gift list. Motorola says it should be available in Q1 of 2008.

From [IntoMobile]

Posted by Jason Coup at 09:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

And it comes with Documents To Go!

Last week Verizon launched Motorola's next generation Q, known formally as the Motorola MOTO Q music 9m (referred to as the Q9m from here on).

Since the sleek design of the original Q was a pretty big hit with consumers, the Q9m has essentially the same design, although it has been ‘prettied up’ a bit (curved edges, improved QWERTY keypad, larger talk & end keys).

As the name suggests, the Q9m is heavy on the music/multimedia features. It supports Version’s VCast service and has a home screen designed specfically with multimedia use in mind.

The Q9m runs the Windows Mobile 6 operating system. However, rather than going with the Mobile Office suite from Microsoft, Moto decided to include the DataViz Documents To Go suite. This gives users the ability to view, edit and create Office files on their Q9m. It also includes PDF and ZIP file support.

If you have a Q9m you can register Documents To Go and check for updates or upgrades on our website. And, as always, if you've picked up a Q9m for yourself we’d love to know what you think!

Posted by Jason Coup at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

And will it be 3G?

It’s been slow going for Nokia’s Series 60 lineup in the US. Consumers and carriers alike have been a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to Symbian devices. And you could argue that the S60 devices that carriers have adpoted are not the top of the line, flagship devices that could make a big dent in the US market.

That could be changing soon, however, as it is rumored (via Engadget) that Nokia’s powerful N95 could be available in the US as early as next month.

Continue reading "Is the N95 Coming to the US?" »

Posted by Jason Coup at 01:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Documents To Go Viewer (Motorola Edition) free for a limited time.

It might be a ‘media monster’, but one place where Moto’s Z8 is lacking is document support. However, thanks to DataViz, you can get a viewer for your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files for FREE ($19.99 value)! Simply register with DataViz and you’ll be able to download the Documents To Go Viewer (Motorola Edition) for your Z8 immediately.

Continue reading "Free Office Viewer for Motorola Z8!" »

Posted by Jason Coup at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

And where does RoadSync fit in?

Exchange 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" »

Posted by Jason Coup at 09:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Yesterday at CTIA in Orlando, Sony Ericsson announced both a new device and a new platform for it to run on.

The Z750 clamshell (expected to be available Q3 07) will be Sony Ericsson’s first device supporting High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) in North America, which will deliver broadband-like speeds and open a lot of doors for new features.

The other piece to the ‘high speed, new feature’ puzzle for Sony Ericsson is the announcement of JP-8 (Java Platform 8).

Unlike the typical Java based phones that you’re used to, JP-8 will provide the means for a variety of new and exciting features like online banking, increased encryption/authentication, and location and payment services just to name a few. The addition of HSDPA will add the ability to stream video and greatly improve web browsing as compared to current java based phones.

“We believe the Z750 is such a compelling offer because not only will it be one of the best looking clamshells on the market, but it also provides the tools or applications which really let you get the most from these broadband speeds.” – Miles Flint, Global President, Sony Ericsson.

The Z750 will also offer a 2MP camera, Bluetooth and USB connectivity options, FM tuner, and a variety of messaging options like Exchange ActiveSync, POP3, SMS, IM and more.

Click one of the following links to read more about the Z750 or the new JP-8 platform.

Posted by Jason Coup at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the hottest topics in the wireless industry right now is Apple’s iPhone. And, since this blog is dedicated to Microsoft Office mobility, we have to ask; where are the document editing and exchange email capabilities on this device?

We’re not the only ones asking that question. In fact, there has been a lot of talk about not only that, but third party software in general for the iPhone. It’s unlikely that Apple will release an SDK for this phone which means that, just like the iPod, there won’t be a developer community creating applications for the iPhone.

“You don’t want your phone to be an open platform…You need it to work when you need it to work. Cingular doesn’t want to see their West Coast network go down because some application messed up.” – Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple (via Newsweek).

There are many opinions about why Apple likes to keep their devices ‘closed’. Read on to check out a few or give your own opinion.

Continue reading "iPhone: Third Party Software?" »

Posted by Jason Coup at 08:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (2)

Mixed in amongst all the news about the iPhone, Nokia unveiled a few new phones of its own yesterday; the N76 and N93i.

The N76 (a thin, RAZR-like phone) boasts a 2.4 in. screen, 2-megapixel camera with flash, microSD support up to 2GB, 3G connectivity and a plethora of messaging options. The N93i is a slightly thinner version of the N93 with an upgraded OS and a few cosmetic changes. It includes a 3.2-megapixel camera and the ability to shoot up to 90 minutes of high quality video. Both run the Series 60 OS, built on Symbian OS v. 9.2.

Nokia’s N series devices, the first of which was released in 2005, are consumer oriented phones with a strong focus on multimedia (pictures, video, games, internet). The idea is to have a converged device that can support all of your multimedia in one place.

Posted by Jason Coup at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As of yet we haven’t really commented on Palm’s new Treo 680. While this doesn't completely do it justice, if I had to describe this device in just a few words I would say this: “It’s a slightly smaller, ‘nub-less’, colorful Treo 650 with a bit more memory.” Its reasonable price ($199 from Cingular w/ a two-year contract) will likely make this an attractive upgrade for those Treo 650 (or other Palm PDA) users who are looking for something a little newer while sticking with a device family and OS that they're comfortable with. As for attracting others(blackberry users, et al), if the 650 wasn’t enough to make them take the plunge, it seems unlikely that the 680 will sway them either. But, with the delay of the Treo 750, if you’re looking for a new smartphone at a reasonable price, the 680 should be on your shortlist.

Here are some detailed reviews for those who are interested:

Treonauts – Palm Treo 680 Review Part 1: Introduction

MyTreo.net – In Depth Review of Treo 680

MobileTechReview – Palm Treo 680

PCMag.com – Palm Treo 680

UPDATE:

Famed technology guru, Walt Mossberg, gave his opinion on the Treo 680 and the T-Mobile Dash today (Nov. 30) in his Personal Technology column. Worth a look if you are thinking about buying one of these new phones.

Posted by Jason Coup at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Symbian Series 60 Smartphone Comparison

With the recent release of several new Series 60 3rd edition phones, it can be difficult to determine which one will do the best job of meeting your needs or your company's needs. I generally suggest that people start by determining if they need/want a QWERTY keyboard or not, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg with S60.

Steve Litchfield has put together a great comparison of S60 devices (1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions). If you know some of the features you are looking for but aren’t sure which phone fits those needs best, this is a great resource.

Posted by Jason Coup at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SmartPhoneToday – Sony Ericsson P990i Okay with FCC

This week the FCC approved the Sony Ericsson P990i for use in the US. While this doesn’t guarantee that the P990i will make it to the states, it is clearly a step in the right direction.

Running UIQ 3 on the Symbian 9.1 OS, the P990i will include a QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth, WiFi, and a 2 megapixel camera. It will also include document editing capabilities and a variety of email options including Blackberry Connect and Exchange ActiveSync (powered by DataViz).

Posted by Jason Coup at 01:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Symbian welcomes Nokia%u2019s new Nseries devices

Nokia has announced a number of new phones that use the new 3rd edition of the Series 60 operating system.

These devices are multimedia focused models including large capacity music phones, camcorder phones and multi megapixel camera phones.

The N series phones share the same operating system as the recently announced E series devices that are aimed at the Enterprise.

Although none of the N series phones offer a QWERTY keyboard or built in push email system, those wishing to have all their voice, multimedia and business email, calendar and contacts all in one device will be able to do so soon.

DataViz has announced RoadSync will be available for the S60 v3 platform soon and will bring Direct Push email to the N series devices when connecting to Exchange Server 2003 SP2 via Exchange ActiveSync.

Continue reading "Nokia's New N Series Series 60 Phones" »

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Cingular now selling Nokia 9300 - Engadget Mobile

Cingular is now selling this device for $299 (after rebate and with 2 year contract) and pitching it as a business oriented email device. It comes with Xpress mail as well as BlackBerry Connect software which allows it to connect directly with BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) and receive push email.

In addition to this phone working as a BlackBerry client, it can also work as an Exchange ActiveSync client if your company is running Exchange Server 2003 SP2. DataViz RoadSync for Series 80 is available today and can synchronize Calendar, Contacts and Email using Direct Push technology.

http://www.dataviz.com/roadsync

So while many people feel this device is a little long in the tooth to be offered as a "new phone", I think it is a device that could be appealing for enterprise because it offers a number of choices for messaging and an excellent Mobile Office experience with the addition of software like RoadSync and Documents To Go.

http://www.documentstogo.com

Posted by at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Nokia Says E-Series Corporate Phones on Schedule

It should be interesting to see how the new E series phones are received in the marketplace. These phones use the new Series 60 v3 platform from Symbian and include Blackberry Connect email software for connecting to BlackBerry enterprise Server as well as Exchange ActiveSync software for connecting to Exchange Server 2003.

Continue reading "Nokia E Series phones to begin shipping soon" »

Posted by at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

All About Symbian Review: Nokia 9300i

Ewan Spence from all About Symbian posted a very comprehensive review of the new Nokia 9300i communicator phone. He aptly describes it as "aimed squarely at business users on the move" and I'd say he's right on the mark with that assessment.

Continue reading "Nokia 9300i, A Worthy Mobile Office Device" »

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