What to do if Outlook is banned by company?

[lderooy]

I recently helped a friend whose palm visor broke switch to a pocketPC. He is excited and learning the new device. He asked me this question:

The palm came with a generic calendar desktop program. The pocketPC came with a copy of Outlook. The problem is that the company he works for will not allow Outlook on the workstations because they are worried about viruses etc. (eg Outlook is a virus population program which happens to have email features...).

So he would like to know is there any other generic software that will allow calendar, to-do and address book features that ActiveSync will connect to?

[Janak Parekh]

First off, the company's being short-sighted: if Outlook isn't configured for email, it can't be at all vulnerable. Outlook XP is also very safe. But I won't argue the point...

There are a number of third-party sync solutions that work with other programs. Try and pick one of them (IntelliSync (http://www.pumatech.com/) is one), and then find a PIM program to fit.

--janak

[Pony99CA]

So he would like to know is there any other generic software that will allow calendar, to-do and address book features that ActiveSync will connect to?
Besides what Janak said, while doing some registry snooping, it looked like ActiveSync would work with Microsoft Works. A Web search seemed to indicate you had to use Works Suite 2001 (or later?), not the regular Works shipped with PCs. I haven't tried it, as I don't use Works, but that may be worth a try.

Steve

[Sven Johannsen]

There are a number of third-party sync solutions that work with other programs. Try and pick one of them (IntelliSync (http://www.pumatech.com/) is one), and then find a PIM program to fit.

--janak

I guess a question is, what PIM program(s) does the company use? Or do they have no need for Contacts, Tasks, Calendar, e-Mail??

[Janak Parekh]

I guess a question is, what PIM program(s) does the company use? Or do they have no need for Contacts, Tasks, Calendar, e-Mail??
The implication of the original post is there's no companywide standard, but rather everyone has individual Palm Desktop setups. If that's not the case, do let us know, as that can help us tailor the solution you need.

--janak

[davidspalding]

The problem is that the company he works for will not allow Outlook on the workstations because they are worried about viruses etc. (eg Outlook is a virus population program which happens to have email features...).

Valid viewpoint. He could argue with his IT department and convince them that he would install Outlook WITHOUT configuring any e-mail services. So he'd have the benefit of Calendar, Tasks, Notes, blah blah blah. But never use it to download e-mail.

If they're using Notes in their environment, there are 3rd party connectors for Notes (I think AvantGo sells one).