Smartphones Being a First-Class Outlook/Exchange Client

[Jason Dunn]

Does it bother anyone else that even with the latest version of Windows Mobile, Smartphones aren't fully functional extensions of Outlook/Exchange? This was readily apparent the other day when I was using my Smartphone to create an appointment. My wife and I use Outlook to book appointments & events we both need to be at, so we're constantly listing one another as attendees on the appointments. I was reminded of a glaring omission in the current operating system: when you create an appointment on your Smartphone, there's no way to add attendees. You need to wait until you're back at a "real" PC to edit the appointment and add attendees. Does that strike anyone else as being completely dysfunctional? Pocket PCs have this ability, so why did the strip it out of the Smartphone version of Windows Mobile 2003 SE?I love my Orange C500 Smartphone - it gives me an incredible amount of information and functionality in a small package - but if I need to go back to a desktop computer to do what I need to get done, there's something seriously wrong with the software on this device. In order for consumers and businesses to look at Smartphones as being an extension of their Outlook/Exchange experience, the device needs to deliver the features they need. Inviting other people to meetings isn't an obscure feature - it's a core function of using a calendar and the fact that it's missing hobbles the usefulness of my device. Let's hope this is something they address in the next OS release.In your day to day usage of a Smartphone, in what other ways is it not a first-class Outlook/Exchange partner? How can Microsoft make future versions of Windows Mobile better for your mobile Outlook/Exchange needs?

[mzh]

Is this a function of the OS or the transferred database?

I kind of think that Mr. Regev over at SBSH (http://www.sbsh.net/) was working on adding this to Papyrus (http://www.sbsh.net/products/papyrus/) - their calendar/PIM application.

This is the thread (http://www.sbsh.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=3864) in the customer support forum where I saw it mentioned.

Although I am listed as Staff on the site, I only help moderate and answer questions there (when I get the chance, Mr. Regev usually gets to them before I can). I am not compensated.

Hope that helps.
Ron.

[chucky.egg]

For me a big limitation (actually with ActiveStink I suspect, rather than the phone) was that you can't choose which calendar to sync with. Your default calendar, or nothing (unless you can sync wirelessly of course)

Symbian phones (I'm thinking of the Px00 series, but possibly others too) can do this "out of the box". It's quick and easy to setup, and reliable to use.

I've spent ages trying to find a work-around, but in the end I gave up. I adapted my calendar use to compensate for the lack of this facility.

MS Windows, MS Outlook, MS Exchange, MS Smartphone... and yet still Symbian manage to do it better :roll:

[lagsun]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but the email synchronization has a lot to be desired. I use Outlook on my PC and there is no way to leave email on the server and I can't Activesync the sent items from my SMT5600.

[mboone]

I'd like to see the message flags from your e-mails go back and forth from the Windows Mobile device.

Mike B.

[abf]

It's not quite what you're asking, but I still can't figure why tasks are so limited.

I freqently need to enter a task when out of the office but cannot set when a reminder occurs, or even put in some explanantory notes. Of course there are third party applications. But Outlook does it - why not the smartphone?

[ARW]

And how about Notes while we're on the topic of critical Outlook functionality that is lacking.

[Mike Temporale]

I kind of think that Mr. Regev over at SBSH (http://www.sbsh.net/) was working on adding this to Papyrus (http://www.sbsh.net/products/papyrus/) - their calendar/PIM application.

This is the thread (http://www.sbsh.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=3864) in the customer support forum where I saw it mentioned.

It was talked about and suggested on this site too. However, I don't think it's made it's way into Papyrus. I'm running it and I can't seem to find a wat to invite someone to an appointment. :)

[jfreiman]

Categories: I use categories for everything and find myself having to synce the new calendar item to my desktop to add one. I agree this bites and is a big limitation.

[mindspin]

I agree that tasks are a very limited "feature" on both Pcoket PC and Smartphone. I hate the fact that without a 3rd party add-on they will not even show up on Smartphone (on PPC it shows up a "X Active task(s)). I'm not sure about the rest of you, but Tasks are a very important part of my day. To get my tasks to show up on my Smartphone home screen I have to make calendar entries, then inevitabley, they overlap with a real appointment.

The original post of the inability to schedule appointments with multiple people is also a problem. Before I started using the phone with Exchange 2003, ActiveSynce over the Web, this was not an issue. I made my changes in Outlook, then plugged in the sync cable. I used it mostly as a "read-only" view of my day. Now that I have the ability to manage my day without the PC, I find it most annoying that the Outlook client is so slimmed down. I understand that for the program to function and run in the least amount of RAM and processor usage, that it needs to be minimized, but stripping out Tasks and the ability to use a full function Calendar is unacceptable.

[gryph0n]

Okay, third party aps have been mentioned to do certain things, like notes and etc. Outlook itself should have the notes built into the phone, after all these days BT Keyboards are becomming more and more common to imput data into our devices. Also with notes and tasks, I would think that I would be able to sync those over exchange along with contacts, calendar, and email. Just my sporatic shotgun blasted thoughts ;)

[possmann]

This is true - standing alone the OS does well, but it leaves much to be desired in features and functionality when talking about syncing with exchange remotely or even getting stuff puched to your device remotely. RIM has it on MS big time here.

I agree that if MS really wants to make inroads into the business environment it will certinaly need to address the integration between Outlook/Exchange and it's mobile OS - and fast. Take the time to create it right, make it affordable and easy to use/configure and they will clean up the marektplace

[lurch]

This diatribe sounds all too familiar... haven't I heard complaints about this before? Or was that regarding the Pocket PC, and now it's about the Smartphone?

I may call it a diatribe, but I do agree. I think it is an essential feature if this is truly going to be a usable extension to the desktop. I do tend to be a fairly basic user though (in terms of advanced office functionality) so I haven't run into this issue yet, and don't really have any others to report.
Couple that with the fact that I was just given an Audiovox 6600 Pocket PC Phone to use at work and cancelled the data plan to my smartphone, I don't think I'll be having much at all to report in any fashion in the near future. :)

[sojourner753]

My wife and I use Outlook to book appointments & events we both need to be at, so we're constantly listing one another as attendees on the appointments.


Jason, are you running Exchange at home? I've been tossing around the idea of setting up an OpenGroupWare (http://www.opengroupware.org/)deployment for my girlfriend and I.


I think most of my grievances with my smartphone are the same grievances with my PocketPC. My biggest complications come with trying to coordinate them both. I think thats another reason for thinking about a server deployment.

I guess I don't have very high expectations for my smartphone except to play nicely with my other devices. Data entry on it is just so excruciating.

[Jason Dunn]

Jason, are you running Exchange at home? I've been tossing around the idea of setting up an OpenGroupWare (http://www.opengroupware.org/)deployment for my girlfriend and I.

Nope. I ended up going with a fully hosted Exchange solution (http://www.4smartphone.net/affiliates.aspx?go=referal&ref=JD10726) [affiliate]. It's the BEST decision I've made regarding my email in a long time - it's cheap, works superbly, and allows me to use any of my devices and know that all have the same data. It's AWESOME. Expect a front-page summary of this soon.

[sojourner753]

I have to ask.
I own a smt5600 and I love it. But I have a tough time considering it as a dedicated input medium.

You guys who are smartphone-only users must be a wiz with iTap.

Everytime I think about leaving my PDA at home I think about the idea of trying to put in an appointment or task, or contact while someone is watching me trying to record what they're telling me.

[Jason Dunn]

I own a smt5600 and I love it. But I have a tough time considering it as a dedicated input medium. You guys who are smartphone-only users must be a wiz with iTap.

I guess it depends on how much data entry you're talking about doing. Myself, I might enter in three appoinments per week on average in my Smartphone, so it's not a lot. I'm not that great with T9 either. ;-)

[Mike Temporale]

I'm no T9 wiz, but I'm getting better. I'm thinking of picking up a Voq for weekday use. Then I'll have a handy keyboard for text entry. However, I usually have my laptop with me. If it's up and running, I'll type the appointment or info in there. Otherwise, I use the Smartphone to jot down a quick note and I'll update it later.

[Mark Larson]

I've really cut down on using the keypad - I usually just use Outlook on my PC for appointments and contacts. When I have to use google or SMS its painful though, mostly because the phone doesn't seem balanced - I'd rather hold it with one hand and text with the other than have the phone fall while i'm texting.

[sojourner753]

Jason, are you running Exchange at home? I've been tossing around the idea of setting up an OpenGroupWare (http://www.opengroupware.org/)deployment for my girlfriend and I.

Nope. I ended up going with a fully hosted Exchange solution (http://www.4smartphone.net/affiliates.aspx?go=referal&ref=JD10726) [affiliate]. It's the BEST decision I've made regarding my email in a long time - it's cheap, works superbly, and allows me to use any of my devices and know that all have the same data. It's AWESOME. Expect a front-page summary of this soon.

Wouldn't it be cool if this was apart of the much anticipated smartphonethoughts subscriber plan? :wink:

Funny I've never put so much effort into trying to give my money away. :robot:

[subzerohf]

However, I usually have my laptop with me. If it's up and running, I'll type the appointment or info in there. Otherwise, I use the Smartphone to jot down a quick note and I'll update it later.

That's it... smartphone and a laptop are the key. I carry my smartphone with me when I'm out. Once I'm back in the hotel, the laptop takes over. I find this combination works well. My co-workers all alike, except they carry Blackberry's instead of a smartphone.