Transcript E-Mail and Calendar Integration on Blackberry and Treo

E-Mail and Calendar Integration
on Blackberry and Treo Handhelds
at Georgetown
Dan Baker, Enterprise Project Manager
Georgetown University
CSG Conference, Penn State University
5/12/2005
Blackberry Integration at GU
Georgetown does not use the Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES). This architecture can
only be layered over an existing MS Exchange or IBM Lotus Domino system.
► BES Server Architecture - From the figure below, the BES (1) gets e-mail content (4)
and calendar content (5) from the enterprise servers, and 'pushes' this data via the
internet and wireless network (3) to the mobile devices (2).
►
Blackberry Integration at GU
Georgetown uses the Blackberry Internet Service (formerly called the
Blackberry Web Client).
► BIS Architecture - Incoming e-mail messages are forwarded from the GU
Mail server (44) to a Blackberry e-mail provider (11), and the provider 'pushes'
this content via the internet and wireless network (3) to the handheld.
► Calendar appointments, contacts, tasks, and memos are stored on the
enterprise Oracle Calendar (55) and synchronized at the Windows OS desktop
by using MS Outlook and the Oracle Connector for Outlook software.
►
Blackberry Integration at GU
Architecture Transition from the BES to the BIS
► The BES server (1) moves outside the enterprise, and is hosted by the Blackberry
wireless provider (who leases back the e-mail hosting service from RIM).
► The calendar server stays inside the enterprise, but the wireless push is no longer
available, and calendar Syncing must be done at the desktop.
Blackberry Integration at GU
► Blackberry
Internet Service - Lessons
Learned from Enterprise Deployment
Tips for
► BIS Account Ownership and Management
► Email Quota Management
► Training and Support Model
► Shortcomings of the BIS
► Choosing a Blackberry Provider
Blackberry Integration at GU
Tips for BIS Account Ownership and Management
► The BIS e-mail web client tool has a poorly
designed and unfriendly interface
► The e-mail web client tool does not have good
documentation. Hosted by RIM, not provider.
► Must use Internet Explorer to access the e-mail
web client
► User seldom needs to access and use the web
client
► Use the web client to send a new Service Book will solve 80% of the problems with e-mail,
important for deployment, support, and training
► SPAM Filtering Tools are not adaptive
Blackberry Integration at GU
Tips for Email Quota Management
► 10Mb Limit, may not be adequate
► T-Mobile currently offers higher e-mail quota (up
to 100Mb) at no additional cost
► Server-side Auto Aging Rules available, 3 days
recommended, 1 day minimum
► Wireless Reconcile feature enables handheld to
delete messages from server
► Essential to configure account and train user to
wireless reconcile
► Feature does not always work, have had problems
with Cingular & Verizon
Blackberry Integration at GU
Tips for Training and Support Model
► Georgetown uses a Self-Help model
► Requires extensive documentation
► Requires extensive up-front user training, normally
one hour
► New technology with few knowledge resources
► GU has “train the trainer” sessions with IT staff
► Considering the use of training videos
► Blackberry adoption and use is expanding rapidly,
formerly senior execs, now high/mid managers
and all levels of IT staff
Blackberry Integration at GU
Shortcomings of the Blackberry Internet Service
► No IMAP e-mail folder synchronization
► No IMAP folder access
► Must CC/BCC self to get a copy of SENT messages from
handheld
► No calendar push capability, must Sync at desktop
► No access to enterprise LDAP directory services
► JAVA based browser limits capability to view JAVA web
pages
► Training and documentation offered by Blackberry
providers is scattered and scarce
► When Oracle applies upgrades to their server and client
software, we rely on the Jesuits to pray that everything will
continue to work normally
► Despite obstacles, high adoption and loyalty =
“crackberries”
Blackberry Integration at GU
Tips for Choosing a Blackberry Provider
► Our rankings (factors = price, int’l+us coverage,
billing service, phone support service, features)
1. T-Mobile
2. Cingular
3. Nextel
4. Verizon
5. Semi-factored = Sprint
6. 3rd Party providers
Blackberry Integration at GU
Blackberry Providers - T-Mobile
►
National plus international coverage
►
Least expensive pricing and service plans
►
$60/month for unlimited data and 600 voice minutes
►
Very good customer support
►
Good billing support
►
Can get larger e-mail quota up to 100Mb at no extra cost
►
Can roam internationally without voice plan
►
Devices offered with promotional discounts, 7730 is free!
►
Recommended as GU preferred provider
►
Reconsider? No data at PSU - Wireless coverage in the
US may not be available in ‘rural’ areas
►
Where are the most frequent domestic and travel
destinations for the user?
Blackberry Integration at GU
Blackberry Providers - Cingular
► National plus international coverage
► Slightly higher pricing plans
► $75/month for unlimited data and 500 voice
minutes
► Fair customer support
► Poor billing support
► Cannot get larger e-mail quota
► Cannot roam internationally without voice plan
► Devices offered with promotional discounts
► Across-the-board services to customer have
declined since merger (GU was formerly an ATT
customer)
Blackberry Integration at GU
Blackberry Providers - Nextel
►
National coverage only
►
Moderate pricing plans
►
$75/month for unlimited data and 600 voice minutes
►
Good billing support
►
Fair customer support
►
Nationwide direct connect walkie-talkie features
►
Devices also has GPRS capability
►
Nextel handheld devices tend to have poor battery life,
less than 48 hours
►
Devices are slightly larger with an antenna on top
►
Preferred provider for US government, meets Federal
security requirements
Blackberry Integration at GU
Blackberry Providers - Verizon
► National coverage only
► Expensive pricing plans, but prices are dropping
► $80/month for unlimited data and 450 voice
minutes
► Fair billing support
► Poor customer support
► Best wireless coverage and penetration the US
► No browser service or features available with the
Blackberry Web Client
► No promotional discounts
Blackberry Integration at GU
Blackberry Providers – Sprint and Others
► Sprint
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National coverage only
Moderate pricing plans
Focus on Treo not Blackberry
EarthLink and Other 3rd Party Providers
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Offer promotions and pricing advantages over
services
Bad customer service and billing service
3 hour wait time for phone support
Treo Integration at GU
Treo 600 and Treo 650
► Treo 600
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IMAP/SSL Palm client promised in VersaMail 2.5
E-mail push promised but not delivered
3rd party SnapperMail failed
Calendar desktop sync with Oracle OK
Treo 650
►
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IMAP/SSL Palm client promised in VersaMail 2.7
E-mail push delivered, but e-mail headers only
Can “get” full content after headers are pushed
Calendar desktop sync with Oracle OK
3rd Party SnapperMail2 has +recommendations
Device Convergence
What more do you want?
►
Blackberry = e-mail + calendar + browser + phone + PIM
►
Treo = e-mail + calendar + browser + phone + PIM + document
storage + document editor + camera + 3rd party apps
Emerging Technologies
►
3rd party vendor may offer calendar ‘push’ services soon
►
Microsoft has a new messaging server, promising to deliver the same
services as RIM (e-mail+IM) to Pocket PCs, cell phones, and
compatible handhelds, expected release is Summer 2005
►
Palm promises to release a Palm OS based client software for RIM
technology
►
GSM/GPRS->EVDO 3G technology promises higher bandwidth to the
mobile user
►
Some newer Pocket PC devices now have GPRS/802.11b “network
hopping” capability
►
Classroom projectors have wireless G capability, can be operated by
any wireless PC/Mac with authentication. Need minimum 54Mbps
wireless network speed/connectivity for smooth audio/video.