Sierra Wireless Ships Smartphone

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,112864,tk,dn101003X,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,112864,tk,dn101003X,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"While the Voq phone is like other Smartphones in that it features both personal digital assistant capabilities and voice and data communications over advanced networks, Sierra also added "push e-mail" support to the device, Harries says. Push e-mail technology delivers e-mail as it is received by the server directly to the client device, without the user having to access the server and download the e-mail messages in batches. <br /><br />Other popular push e-mail devices such as Research In Motion's BlackBerry require businesses to install special software to deliver corporate e-mail to mobile devices. Sierra installed client-side virtual private network technology that works with a company's existing VPN software to connect the Voq device directly with existing e-mail servers, Harries says."<br /><br />I find this description quite interesting, because Sierra Wireless mentioned that they had added several unique features to the Voq Smartphone - and a "new" email tool was one of them. I wonder how this implementation will work? I don't have a VPN on my email server... :wink:

[freitasm]

It sounds more like an IT journalist that doesn't know what he's talking about. The VPN client is just the WM2003 one.

The always-on functionality works with a WAP-push message. The server must be running MS Exchange 2003 and Exchange ActiveSync.

When a new e-mail arrives, a message (like a WAP-push notification) is sent to the phone number. The mobile in turn connects to the GPRS network, VPN into the user's company's network and download all new e-mails.

This is to be used instead of having a schedule to download e-mails every "n" minutes.

Remember the sneak peak on Windows Mobile 2003 Smartphone (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=1151) I published on Geekzone three months ago? It's there...

[Jason Dunn]

The always-on functionality works with a WAP-push message. The server must be running MS Exchange 2003 and Exchange ActiveSync. When a new e-mail arrives, a message (like a WAP-push notification) is sent to the phone number. The mobile in turn connects to the GPRS network, VPN into the user's company's network and download all new e-mails.

Yeah, I know about that feature, but the Voq people were talking about it working WITHOUT an Exchange server, which is what I found surprising. I'll have to investigate this more... :-)