10-19-2005, 05:13 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Now Available, Windows Mobile Users Left Waiting
Microsoft has just released Exchange 2003 SP2 to the Web for download, and there will no doubt be thousands upon thousands of installs of this software today. Many people like myself have been asking our hosted Exchange providers when they'll be implementing SP2, but most of us are forgetting one very important thing: SP2 is useless to Windows Mobile users until we get upgraded software on our devices. And we have no idea when, or even if, that will happen.
Here's how it works: in order to get the true push email that SP2 is touting, you need to have a Windows Mobile 5 device with a piece of software on it called the MSFP. MSFP is not a part of Windows Mobile 5 shipping today, so even if you have a brand-spanking-new device, you don't have the software you need to take advantage of SP2. Here's the really painful part: the distribution of MSFP is once again being left up to the OEMs/carriers. That means that we'll likely see a similar pattern emerge: some will release it a few months from now, some will delay it for many months, and some will never release it and instead hope people will upgrade to new devices. I truly hope I'm proven wrong, but in the history of Windows Mobile I've yet to see an OEM or carrier put the needs of their customer first. The best thing we can all do is start emailing/phoning the companies that sold us our Pocket PCs and ask them when they'll release the MSFP. Let's make some noise!
Microsoft has ceded too much control to the fickle OEMs/carriers, and not created a strong enough technical infrastructure to allow pure Microsoft updates to occur. Windows Mobile 5 has made some steps in the right direction, but there's still far too much OEM custom-code required for many of these updates. Until Microsoft can make Windows Mobile devices as easy to update as our desktop computers, it will never live up to the name "Windows".
|
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 06:12 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 61
|
|
One thing I think is good unless I'm mistaken is that we can still activesync with Exchange and have the tasks now sync'd as well with SP2. Or is that a function of having WM5 on my IPAQ hx4705 too?
|
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 06:17 PM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
|
|
Microsoft has billed WM5 as an OS that can receive patches without having to flash the entire ROM. Perhaps this, along with strong user feedback, will convince the carriers to deliver the MSFP update(?) without requiring the purchase of a new device.
Are there ANY devices shipping today (anywhere in the world) with MSFP? I would have expected the iMate/Qtek products that have recently launched with WM5 to have this. What about the Sprint 6700?
|
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 06:25 PM
|
|
Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,520
|
|
Better Luck Next Year
[RANT]
This is one of my biggest frustrations with the Windows Mobile. Every version we wait with bated breath to see what new improvements are added and every version its the same story. "Here are some new features to help us sell new devices. Sorry for those of you who already use Windows Mobile, we don't have any fixes for you. Better luck next time."
Perhaps we should start salivating over whats coming at the end of the next 36 month cycle.
[/RANT]
__________________
Phone: Nexus one Backup Phone: AT&T Samsung Jack; Future Phone: I'm Watching WP7; Media Player: Platinum Zune HD 32GB; Home Server: HP MediaSmart Server LX195 Console: XBox 360, PS3, Wii |
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 06:32 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by rnbarrett
Microsoft has billed WM5 as an OS that can receive patches without having to flash the entire ROM.
|
Yes, but the MSFP is too big to be distributed that way - that's my understanding at least. Also, anything that touches the radio/communications part of a device usually requires carrier certification. It's likely going to be easier with Windows Mobile 5 to get a patch directly from Microsoft for Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, but something like MSFP will require much more work on the part of the OEM/carrier.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by rnbarrett
Are there ANY devices shipping today (anywhere in the world) with MSFP? I would have expected the iMate/Qtek products that have recently launched with WM5 to have this. What about the Sprint 6700?
|
To my knowledge, no, none at all. That's what makes this issue so painful - it's not Exchange SP2 that's the problem, it's the lack of MSFP.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 06:54 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 34
|
|
Thanks Jason for posting this, I had just installed exchange SP2 and was getting ready to try to set up push e-mail on a new WM5 device - you just saved me a bunch of time and frustration wondering why it would not work. I was thinking WM5 was already equipped for this.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 07:07 PM
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 372
|
|
holy crap this is stupid. Its time for MS to exercise some of its classic heavy handedness and tell manufacturers to do as they say.
And when the manufacturers say "well, we'll just go to Palm" microsoft can scoff and say "Hah, go right ahead, Palm is our bitch now...now start installing these updates!"
|
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 07:16 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 450
|
|
Quote:
|
UPDATE: According to a reader on HowardForums who listened to the Exchange SP2 Live Webcast that just occurred, the Microsoft Messaging Security Feature Pack will be provided as a single download to be installed on your device. Whew! And I thought, here goes another hard reset!
|
|
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 07:16 PM
|
|
Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,520
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by inteller
holy crap this is stupid. Its time for MS to exercise some of its classic heavy handedness and tell manufacturers to do as they say.
And when the manufacturers say "well, we'll just go to Palm" microsoft can scoff and say "Hah, go right ahead, Palm is our b*tch now...now start installing these updates!"
|
As much as I agree with you (Not necessarily the b*tch part), its not a matter of the carrier going to another OS platform. They could simply not carry the devices. I don't the smartphone market is that large to hit their bottom line to dramatically. Except maybe in the business lines.
MS needs the carriers more than they need MS. Theres still the Palm Treo and Blackberry. And Nokia would love to fill in the gap with Symbian smartphones.
__________________
Phone: Nexus one Backup Phone: AT&T Samsung Jack; Future Phone: I'm Watching WP7; Media Player: Platinum Zune HD 32GB; Home Server: HP MediaSmart Server LX195 Console: XBox 360, PS3, Wii |
| |
|
|
|
10-19-2005, 07:18 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by inteller
holy crap this is stupid.
|
:clap:
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
