04-24-2009, 10:05 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,432
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Windows Mobile 6.5 and Exchange to Auto-Sync SMS Messages
"Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is apparently looking to integrate Windows Mobile more tightly with the Windows computing experience. The newly available Exchange Server 2010 beta has shed some light on an upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 feature - the ability to synchronize and archive all SMS text messages on the Exchange Server! Never again will you have to worry about losing important text messages or having to scroll through endless text-convos just to find a phone number." 
The idea of being able to backup your text messages has been a very popular request I have seen throughout the years but I it makes me uneasy to think that any SMS messages that were coming into my Windows Mobile handset were being backed up on an Exchange server somewhere. Email, contacts, calendar appointments and tasks are one thing since I purposely use Exchange to route that information between the cloud, my device, and my various computers. My text messages however have nothing to do with Exchange and it is my own personal feeling that they never should. Any information that was ever of value that was sent to me via SMS - such as a phone number, appointment, or address - was something that I would take the time to put in the appropriate program that managed that information. If I did lose a text message it wasn't that hard to ask the sender to pound out another 160 characters so I could have that message again. Am I the only one bothered by this new upcoming feature? This also brings up another interesting question I have been thinking about for a while now – how much syncing is too much syncing?
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04-24-2009, 10:46 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 740
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In general terms yes, of course this feature raises concerns.
The issue is broader though and, IMO, started when people let their personal life become more and more antrenched with their personal one: you can work fom home, you can access your work computer, files, mail etc. from home; basically you never "close the door and walk out".
Also different Countries deal with privacy rights differently; here in the US is, unfortunately, unknown; in other places is a little better.
Back to Exchange I say that it will be important to see how customizable this functionality will be.
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04-24-2009, 12:08 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12
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In principle I like the idea of SMS syncing. It assures me of having my SMS messages should I ever need to go back and get them, especially if I have changed devices or I'm using multiple devices.
The challenge though comes in that the vast majority of my SMS traffic is personal in nature - to my wife, kids, etc - with very little being corporate in nature. Yet I sync to a corporate Exchange server. Do I really want that on a corporate server or worse, can the corporation look at the content of my SMS messages and potentially impact my work status? It's unlikely but it's possible in a worst case scenario.
Couple this with retention laws in many countries. Do private SMS messages that are sync'ed to a corporate server become subject to such laws?
It's sticky for sure....
__________________
Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices
Principal
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!
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04-24-2009, 01:20 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 676
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As long as it's something you can disable (and maybe better yet something that is disabled by default), then I see no issue. For some, I'm sure it could be a useful feature. But yeah, as others have said, my SMS messages tend to be personal while my Exchange emails are work. Just as I wouldn't want my personal email (via IMAP accounts like GMail and Yahoo!) to be synced along with my work email to an Exchange server somewhere, I also wouldn't want my personal SMS to be synced.
Now if there were some way to distinguish between personal and work SMS (other than having 2 mobile phone #s), then I would be fine with synching work SMS to the Exchange server.
__________________
64 GB iPad 2 WiFi, Apple TV 2, 32 GB iPhone 4
Early 2011 MacBook Pro 13" (dual boot with Windows 7), Early 2009 Mac Mini
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04-24-2009, 01:37 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 676
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Maybe the wmpower user guy mis-interpreted the information? Reading the feature list for Exchange Server 2010 Beta, I see no mention of SMS synching. What I see regarding SMS is this:
New Outlook Web Access Features
- The ability to send and receive text (SMS) messages from Outlook Web Access
New Unified Messaging Features
- Missed call and voice mail notifications using text messaging (SMS)
Web Management Interface
- Text messaging (SMS) integration
So you can send and receive text messages from OWA, and it will send you an SMS to notify you of missed calls or voice mail messages. But I don't see anything about it synching SMS messages with your phone.
__________________
64 GB iPad 2 WiFi, Apple TV 2, 32 GB iPhone 4
Early 2011 MacBook Pro 13" (dual boot with Windows 7), Early 2009 Mac Mini
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04-24-2009, 03:32 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 251
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sms sync?
i agree that if there is sms sync that it should be something that can be disabled. ms still has trouble sync'ing other data types they already do--why would they take on another one!?
i use txt's as rocco mentioned--stored as a txt until data is copy/pasted to the appropriate app (if any) and then deleted.
i use txt for personal and business use. the fact that the cell system stores and forwards (until my phone is avail) is enough third-party handling of the data for me.
m.
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04-24-2009, 04:50 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 137
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Exchange syncing has always let you choose what to include in the sync. I don't see why SMS would be any different.
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04-24-2009, 08:18 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 338
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I think this is a good feature. I like to have a history of what I've said. I also like to have the option to control that history, i.e., delete it if I don't want it anymore.
If you are using a work provided phone, and work provided cellular service, and you are sending SMS texts to family and friends you are, technically, at the mercy of what the company wants to do with that data. I have my own hosted exchange server and my own smartphone (and always have) for the simple reason I like to use my phone to stay personally and professionally connected and don't want my personal life at the mercy of an employer. (I do accept a cell phone subsidy from my employer to compensate for the portion of the phone usage that relates to work.)
I almost consider the separation of work and personal life a little like the constitution's provision for separation of Church and State - guard it at all costs - even if it means I have to buy my own hardware!
Ultimately, if you are worried about an exchange server synchronizing your SMS's, then either don't send them using that system or go out and get your own phone/phone service.
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04-24-2009, 09:00 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,432
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clintonfitchdotcom
The challenge though comes in that the vast majority of my SMS traffic is personal in nature - to my wife, kids, etc - with very little being corporate in nature. Yet I sync to a corporate Exchange server. Do I really want that on a corporate server or worse, can the corporation look at the content of my SMS messages and potentially impact my work status? It's unlikely but it's possible in a worst case scenario.
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This is spot on with how I feel on the situation. Do I really need the thousands of SMS messages I send to my girlfriend or Twitter synced up to a corporate server somewhere where it has no business being? The legal question you brought up brings up even more red flags for me.
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04-25-2009, 01:02 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 338
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
The legal question you brought up brings up even more red flags for me.
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As painful as it sounds, if the company provides your cell phone service, or provides you the phone, they are fully entitled to review any activity used on or by the device. I used to tell my staff: don't say, do or otherwise leave a trail of anything on corporate property that you wouldn't want to have to explain to a judge or lawyer one day.
If you use a company provided phone **OR** company provided service the bottom line what you do on it/with it is subject to company oversight.
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