Using My Smartphone For All It Is Worth, And Then Some

[Mike Temporale]

<i>The following article was written by Smartphone Thoughts reader Jason Sheehan and focuses on his use of his Smartphone in day to day life, and in his business organization.</i><br /><br />I work for a relatively large higher education organization (2,000+ employees) that is stuck in a <a href="http://www.novell.com/">Novell</a> environment (think cost benefits and migration costs). Keeping that in mind, calendaring, contacts, and email compatibility with a mobile sense is difficult, and over-the-air synchronization is impossible. I found myself using my PDA as an information "shuttle" if you will. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands.<br /> <!> <br />At home I use <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/default.mspx">Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003</a> with <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/">Exchange 2003</a>, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/iis/default.mspx">Internet Information Services</a>, and <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/">ISA Server</a> for security. I was lucky to acquire legal copies of the software by attending a <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/events/default.mspx">MS TS2 Event.</a> On the way out they hand you a certificate to send away for free copies. This really is what gave me the bug to get going on this project. All the software runs on one machine and acts as my web server, calendaring, contacts, and email source. I use it as an all-in-one box. However unorthodox it might sound, it works, and it is primarily for my personal use. I purchased a domain to make things simple, and because I am on a retail cable modem service I use a <a href="http://www.dnspark.com/">free dynamic DNS service</a> I found to direct my traffic. I am fortunate enough to have good upstream performance in my area so it all works great.<br /><br />At work I use <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/prodinfo/default.mspx">Outlook 2003</a> which can take advantage of a new feature in Exchange 2003 called <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/2003/three/ch8/OutC07.htm#sub_1">RPC over HTTP(S).</a> What a dream come true. Follow the link for the technical details, but I do not need to establish a VPN to access my exchange server remotely. If you are familiar with Exchange you understand the significance of this. It works on-demand, whenever I need it from any location. It even works over the wireless network seamlessly.<br /><br />At remote locations, for example, visiting friends and family, internet café’s, etc., I can access my exchange server using <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/techinfo/outlook/OMA.asp">Outlook Mobile Access</a> (OMA). This feature is not completely new to Exchange 2003, but it has been revamped to run very smooth, and it looks and feels just like Outlook 2003. <br /><br />On the go, or in between places, I love to use my Smartphone (ATT/Motorola MPx200/4MB data plan). After installing the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&amp;familyid=d88753b8-8b3a-4f1d-8e94-530a67614df1">Disable Certificate Verification</a> patch onto my Smartphone I was able to ActiveSync over-the-air and all of my contacts, calendar, and email items are synchronized.<br /><br /><span><b>Always in Sync</b></span><br />What this means to me is no matter where I am I have the same, synchronized communication data at my fingertips. If I add/change/delete a contact or calendar item on my Smartphone, when I sync the phone, over-the-air, the information is updated on the exchange server, therefore everywhere else has the same information. At home, work, remotely, and on-the-go, all the information is the same. Thanks to my Smartphone, I have dropped my PDA in a desk drawer and haven’t looked back. <br /><br />I am currently working on a few niceties including the use of <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx">Windows Media Encoder 9</a> in conjunction with <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/server.aspx">Windows Media Services 9</a> to facilitate broadcasting myself some streaming TV from an <a href="http://www.ati.com/products/tvwonderve/index.html">ATI TV tuner card</a>. I’ve tested it out, and it works, just data usage is a bit much. I’m waiting for a reasonable unlimited data plan to come out.

[possmann]

Very cool.... so what kinda box are you running all that software on eh?

[brianchris]

Interesting article. A couple thoughts:

1) It sounds like you use your SBS2003 server as your desktop too? If so, unorthodox indeed :wink: but if it works for you, great.
2) You mention Outlook Mobile Access (OMA), but then you describe Outlook Web Access (look and feel of Outlook 2003)....are you sure you don't have these two confused? There is a difference: OMA is stripped down text only access to you PIM info, designed primarily for WAP phones and PDA browsers, both with little bandwidth. OWA is a full blown web based client that indeed looks and feels amazingly like the Outlook 2003 desktop client.
3) While it sounds like you have a nice solution up and running, other readers can accomplish the same thing with a lot less work and cost by using a hosted Exchange solution (www.eoutlook.com is just one example). Its what I'm doing now with my Pocket PC, and will be doing with either my MPx100 or 220 (as soon as they are released :worried: )

Again, a good article near and dear to my heart :werenotworthy: > Mobile Activesync via Exchange 2003

[kagayaki1]

This is an excellent mini-review. I've long wanted to do the same thing, but I hate working on a project for hours and hours, just to learn I didn't have the right software or something. Now that I know it's working for you on AT&T, the same network I use, I might take the time to give this a shot. Great read! Thanks!

[pilotz69]

Very cool.... so what kinda box are you running all that software on eh?

Amazingly enough all of this runs on a P3 450, 384MB and a pair of 6 Gb hard drives.

[pilotz69]

Interesting article. A couple thoughts:

1) It sounds like you use your SBS2003 server as your desktop too? If so, unorthodox indeed :wink: but if it works for you, great.
2) You mention Outlook Mobile Access (OMA), but then you describe Outlook Web Access (look and feel of Outlook 2003)....are you sure you don't have these two confused? There is a difference: OMA is stripped down text only access to you PIM info, designed primarily for WAP phones and PDA browsers, both with little bandwidth. OWA is a full blown web based client that indeed looks and feels amazingly like the Outlook 2003 desktop client.
3) While it sounds like you have a nice solution up and running, other readers can accomplish the same thing with a lot less work and cost by using a hosted Exchange solution (www.eoutlook.com is just one example). Its what I'm doing now with my Pocket PC, and will be doing with either my MPx100 or 220 (as soon as they are released :worried: )

Again, a good article near and dear to my heart :werenotworthy: > Mobile Activesync via Exchange 2003

1) No, definitely not also used as a desktop. It runs on a standalone machine. That would be very unorthodox.

2) I do understand the difference between OMA and OWA. That was a half typo in that I alternatively can use OWA, but OMA is quicker. Both work, just OWA is more GUI

3) True I could pay for hosting, but what would I learn? The project was partially convenience, partially a very fun educational experience. I really enjoyed getting my hands into this new technology, then getting to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

[wirelessbeachbum]

My company is for the most part using an older version of exchange, I am part of a test group testing Exchange 2003, I can already tell you I wouldn't go back to the older version if they paid me.

OWA (outlook web access) is awsome, I use that more than I use outlook (even on my own PC)

And the ability to sync directly with Exchange is another feature I would miss...(Verizon's Wireless Sync gives you pretty much the same experience if you are not running exchange 2003)

I too love the video streaming, I'm currently using Beyond TV for this, with it I can stream my recorded shows as well as live TV.

Window's Media Encoder is another great tool, I use that to keep an eye on my house...it's actually a pretty good solution, I mounted my webcam to an oscillating fan that I keep on my deck, the fan rotates and will allow me to look into my house, on my deck and then out into the drive way....I've got the bandwidth configured to give me a solid picture over the 1xrtt connection.