08-21-2002, 07:15 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Random XDA musings, part 4
Now that I have a wireless device, the possibilities suddenly become vast - until I run into the limitations of software designed for a disconnected paradigm. #1 on my hit list is ActiveSync. For the past two years, my fellow MVPs and I have been begging, pleading, and practically whining to the ActiveSync team at Microsoft to give us ActiveSync that listens on an IP and a port instead of a USB or serial connection. Nothing yet, but hope springs eternal right?
Think about it like this: broadband connections are flourishing (not as fast as some had hoped, but they're becoming very common), and even in the case of "non-static IPs" like my cable modem provider, an IP address remains the same for quite some time (I've had the same IP for eight months). There are also dynamic DNS services that will give you a domain address and client software to keep the IP up to date. Bottom line: today, your PC connected to the Internet can be found and accessed easily.
Now what if ActiveSync listed on a specific port? Any requests coming into that port and IP address would require authentication (perhaps checked against known partnerships), and if they pass security checks, a remote ActiveSync would occur. Any new email, new appointments, or new contacts from your desktop PC or Pocket PC would be synched to both devices. You'd always be up to date! If your Pocket PC suffered a hard reset on the road, perhaps there would be a way to initiate a new partnership to get your data back onto your device.
I know that you can do some of the same things with RAS and an Exchange server running MIS, but I'm talking about a relatively simple tweak to ActiveSync that would open up a lot of possibilities to those of us who don't have Exchange servers in our office. Microsoft is so focused on the Enterprise audience that they get a little myopic when it comes to creating solutions that work outside the Enterprise.
Perhaps this is also an opportunity for a clever developer to create an application that would act as an intermediary and trick ActiveSync into thinking that the remote Pocket PC was really local?
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08-21-2002, 07:56 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 117
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I got Internet ActiveSync up and running really well under the original Pocket PC OS. All I had to do was open up ports 5678, 5679, 990, and 999 on my home router and put my home PC's IP address in the WINS field of whatever network connection I was using. Then I'd make my connection either via ethernet or modem and hit the sync button in the old ActiveSync application. It worked every time.
Now I can't figure out how to set things up properly with the Connection Mangler. I do the exact same setup with a CF ethernet card and it immediately tells me my connection settings aren't able to make the connection. The 2002 OS update was far more steps back than forward my uses.
Jeff
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08-21-2002, 08:04 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 68
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Wireless is great - and has potential - IF...
 Jason - you are on target with all of your observations & comments.
As a fellow newcomer to the world & potential of wireless PDA use via my Ipaq, I can see that the only missing link is the sync (Activsync) capabilities on a more reliable & flexible basis.
With WIFI locations popping up all over the place...its beginning to look like a typhoon of use around the corner in late 2002 or early 2003. Hotels, airports, and restaurants have already gotten the message, and are ramping up for 802.11b. Businesses will hopefully begin to get over their paranoia on security (you can set up security that is at least as good as wire-based networks today) and also grow in adopting this fine technology.
The two obstacles, however, are 1) Microsoft's adoption of the improvements you identify and 2) whether or not the WIFI locations become "revenue streams" or "utilities". If those locations are looking to use WIFI as a "fee-based money maker"... few users will adopt it mainstream, whereas, if the 802.11b sites are used to attract more business towards the core competencies of the locations (sell donuts, coffee, whatever)...they it could really take off.
Lost in all this is the fact that Bluetooth may get blown away in the mainstream, if the costs and availability of WIFI come true. There are mostly advantages and few disadvantages of WIFI over Bluetooth. The few new devices (phones, headphones, etc. pale in comparison to the general WIFI flexibility & scalability.
Hope your ideas are forwarded to the "gurus" at Microsoft!
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08-21-2002, 08:19 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Jeff - that's interesting. I thought it *might* have been possible, so thanks for confirming that, but the steps you described are beyond the abilities of most users. Let me know if you get it working! If you do, sounds like it might be a good step by step for Thoughts to host. 8)
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08-21-2002, 08:26 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 69
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There's a program called PocketHosts that basically lets you map a static IP to a WINS name. I have used this program occasionally when connecting my laptop and Pocket PC in 802.11 AdHoc mode. You might be able to put in your desktop's static IP and connect from anywhere. I've never tried doing this but it might work...
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08-21-2002, 08:48 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 315
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I understand what you're saying Jason and it would be nice for those of us who aren't on the corporate Exchange arrangement.
I have no way of knowing what msft's plans are, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the wireless carriers offering to host your email etc... on an Exchange server that they administer. They would of course have to charge a small monthly fee for this and we would of course eat up "minutes," but it would allow the carriers another revenue source, provide msft another outlet for their products and allow individuals a hosted/managed Exchange option.
Time will tell in any event.
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08-21-2002, 08:52 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 50
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Hi,
Activesync does not allow the user to select the port it uses. It is hard coded to use specific ports. See http://www.cewindows.net/wce/20/protocols.htm
Also, keep in mind that any decision to open these ports to the internet may put your system at risk. I have not test and do not know if ActiveSync is secure enough to prevent unauthorized use of your desktop!
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08-21-2002, 08:55 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 319
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mel
There's a program called PocketHosts that basically lets you map a static IP to a WINS name. I have used this program occasionally when connecting my laptop and Pocket PC in 802.11 AdHoc mode. You might be able to put in your desktop's static IP and connect from anywhere. I've never tried doing this but it might work...
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You can download Pocket Hosts at http://zimac.de/files/phosts.zip.
On your Pocket PC 2002 device go to ActiveSync | Tools | Options and make sure the "Include PC when synchronyzing ..." is checked and make note of the computer name listed. Now run Pocket Hosts on your device and enter this same computer name and its IP address.
After doing this I was able to connect my AudioVox Maestro to my Nextel i1000+ phone, dial in to my ISP, and Sync to my computer at work which has a static IP.
It works for me!  Of course you also must have network syncing enabled on the desktop for this to work.
However, I don't know if it works with XDA devices and Phone Edition since I still don't have one of those. :wink:
http://michael.sprague.name/pocketpc/
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08-21-2002, 09:09 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 50
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Hi,
The Phone Editions work the same as the rest of the Pocket PC family do when it comes to ActiveSync. So if you've exposed your desktop to the internet and setup a partnership first, you can sync with it.
This solution with the hosts function is really something that Microsoft should include in rom. It would fix multiple issues with network sync as well as wireless.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by msprague
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mel
There's a program called PocketHosts that basically lets you map a static IP to a WINS name. I have used this program occasionally when connecting my laptop and Pocket PC in 802.11 AdHoc mode. You might be able to put in your desktop's static IP and connect from anywhere. I've never tried doing this but it might work...
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You can download Pocket Hosts at http://zimac.de/files/phosts.zip.
On your Pocket PC 2002 device go to ActiveSync | Tools | Options and make sure the "Include PC when synchronyzing ..." is checked and make note of the computer name listed. Now run Pocket Hosts on your device and enter this same computer name and its IP address.
After doing this I was able to connect my AudioVox Maestro to my Nextel i1000+ phone, dial in to my ISP, and Sync to my computer at work which has a static IP.
It works for me! Of course you also have to have network syncing enabled on the desktop for this to work.
However, I don't know if works with XDA devices and Phone Edition since I still don't have one of those. :wink:
http://michael.sprague.name/pocketpc/ |
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08-21-2002, 09:23 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 32
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Bizarre - I've been trying to install MIS on Exchange 2000 this very evening. But with little success! So many pre-requisites - the last one being the presence of MQ Series (I guess for the transaction processing). I don't have that available so am going to have to call a halt.
Going to next have a look at Afaria from Excellenet - they've got a free 10 user version that you can get by answering a quiz. Not sure whether it's got PIM syncing included yet.
I really need remote access syncing, so I'd be interested in any other solutions.
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