iphone vs Windows Mobile for business
 

Wife and I are going to change phones. She wants an iphone. The thing seems absurdly expensive, but but I'll go along. I just use my phone for....wait for it.....calling people and text anyway.

But I'm more worried about the wife. She is a physician, and I'm kind of thinking she would be better off with a Windows mobile device.

Have any of you iphone users run into serious limitations? Is there any software out there that would allow her to read Word/Excel docs on the iphone?

The fact that they cannot directly sync to Exchange yet is absurd. I guess I can have an Exchange account forward everything to a Yahoo account and push it from there, but its a completely insecure work around.

iphone serious limitation: no Cut & Paste.

I also wouldn't want to give up writing cursive for inputing notes. --even tho my phone has a slide out keyboard, writing with a stylus really rocks.

Do you have a T mobile Wing?

What does she have now?

I love my iPhone, but there are a few things that need to be changed; cut and paste, 3rd party apps, missed call reminder, independently password protected apps. It's a long list, easily fixed with software updates. Apple is usually pretty good about these things.

She has a HP ipaq that runs some ancient flavor of Windows mobile.

I phone is not really a business tool, we tried to get decent integration into our applications, however the lack of secured email to exchange, and other glaring limitations had us scrap the whole project.

An iPhone can read Word/Excel docs now, as well as PDFs.

You might want to wait until the iPhone SDK is released and see what apps are forthcoming. IMHO, there will be a flood of new apps very shortly and there will be Exchange solutions in there too.

Yes, cut and paste is lacking AND is a big deal that Apple should fix in the next software update.

I use my phone for personal and business and have found very little lacking compared to the other "stuff" available now. :)

To me at least, the iPhone doesn't seem to be any more expensive than comparable smart phones.

Best,

Kurt

edit: One more thing, AT&T is now selling iPhones to business accounts, which is IMHO, a sign that the "enterprise" will be more directly addressed in future software offerings.

Can't integrate with BES, so corporate email is going to be a no-go.

I have the Verizon of that HTC phone. The wing is very similar in form, but the processor speed is half ...so memory prob's too. Verizon has a couple nice Pocket PC phones. THe Samsung SCH-i760 and the HTC XV6800. If she is accustom to an ipaq she should have an easy time with a Pocket PC phone.


I just checked, Verizon now has another P-PC phone, SMT5800. --nice that it has a real 10-key pad front, and the slide out qwerty.

Edit: scratch that. the SMT5800 is a "smartphone" = no touchscreen.

get a win mobile if you are a biz user, iphone if you are a consumer that need the latest bling and the $$ to toss at it.

BTW, iPhone supports MS Exchange now - I haven't used it but it's there.

And, I think when the SDK is released and developers are "let loose" you will see BES solutions as well.

Best,

Kurt

I have the Samsung sch-i760 and it is a great device.

It combines the occasionally cool qualities of a touch screen with a slide out keyboard. Also the freehand notepad IS very nice as mentioned.

I can't think of anything it can't do and it's been very rugged. I just toss it in my pocket with no cover or anything, not a scratch on it.

Another nice feature on it is the micro-SD memory slot.

If you're into the video and music end it has a very good screen and sound. And yes you can stream videos, etc..

Kurt, are you sure? I know it can get mail via POP3 or IMAP4, but what I am hearing is that it will be the next version of the iPhone that will have AirSync.

?

I know it support IMAP and POP, but Exchange Active Sync? Some third party app I don't know about?

I read an article wrong - apparently Exchange works well on MS's own web based access according to some folks.

Have you looked at Zimbra or Hyperoffice?

Hyperoffice: http://www.hyperoffice.com/hypermain/highlights/iphone.cfm

I checked the Apple forums and some folks have developed work-arounds and Apple have even published some papers on setting up an enterprise server to work with iPhone and using VPN on iPhone.

Enterprise server set-up: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307313

VPN: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305723

My "guess" :) is that most corps. want official Apple support.

I have read correctly that Apple is working on an Exchange fix and for full support - they are even hiring folks with deep Exchange experience. FWIW, Jobs committed to having a complete MS Exchange solution months ago.

I bet Apple get it right if the 3rd party developers don't do it first, but the proof will be in the pudding.

Best,

Kurt

Let me frame my comments: As soon as the iPhone supports Exchange, I am buying an iPhone. It will instantly become the 800 pound gorilla in the corporate messaging world.

That said, take it to the bank... ActiveSync works slick as sheep snot on a WM phone. And we don't have the national outages the crackberry users have. :D

I got an iphone for Christmas, personally don't like the touchpad, too easy to "touch" an incorrect contact, and also too easy (for me) to touch the wrong key when typing a message.

I do like the browser though, and email pickup works fine.

Just my .02.

e

Its an "iff" and according to Microsoft, they still have not agreed to support it on their end. You may end up with a hack job of an active sync solution. The BES issue is much bigger than Apple lets on, RIM makes their own hardware, and they don't need any more competition.

Scott, you may well be right. I have heard that Apple has licensed ActiveSync (I think the
correct term is AirSync) and that they have not licensed it. Lot of money out there to be made, that's for sure!

My guess is that when the iPhone SDK hits, there will be folks who reverse engineer a BES program that will enable an iPhone to access a BES network.

But, perhaps there are technical issues I am ignorant of . . .

Best,

Kurt

Kurt, I don't think that will happen. BB messages filter through a centralized NOC. If you have an unlicensed device, my guess is the message will get dumped. Since ActivSync has nothing like that and communications are between the device and Exchange, there is a better chance for a 3rd party product to tie them together.

Wife's a partner at a CPA firm and uses her iPhone with no issues. She loves it in fact.

Thanks, Hal, I didn't understand how that worked.

RIM sounds like they have a very Apple-esque vertically integrated system in place! :D

And I would agree that RIM and Apple are not going to be joining hands and singing love songs anytime soon.

I guess someone could try to spoof a BB device, but that, of course, will never gain any widespread use . . . IMO.

Best,

Kurt

Palm's native e-mail app also supports Activesync, live continous mail up, without need of a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES).

Palm is REALLY an old platform. She should pickup an HTC TYTN II (unbranded AT&T Tilt) and then use that puppy with any GSM provider. It is Wifi, 3G, Edge, GPRS. And you can customize that sucker to be as good, or better than an iPhone. And to me, a keyboard is essential.

If the TYTN II had a slide out thumboard, for surface less texting, along with the flip out big keyboard, for dedicated typing, it would be a laptop killer.

Just to add: The previous version of the ATT "Tilt" is the 8525, and has an IR port, which can come in handy. For some reason the Tilt doesn't have it. Ended up going with the Treo 750 as I needed the IR.

Oh, and I didn't even think that Apple was in the running as a business/smart phone OS. I thought it was always been between Palm and WM?

Thats a UNAX violation actually, as the IRS requires that the device have a remote wipe and disable function from a master console, also encryption. after it's your tax information possibly on her phone.

Except for Apple fanatics, they aren't.

And for folks not involved in the 9to5 corporate world - "business" does happen outside of that space, you know. :)

edit: iPhone is number 2 in the smart phone market, right behind RIM, BTW.

Best,

Kurt

I use a Treo680, because I like the Palm OS.

HD: The real answer comes from what she wants to use it for, and how she physically uses it.

Yeah, I know a drug deal . . er, snowboard instuctor who has an iPhone for business. :rolleyes:

Shoot me his number. I need...er.....instruction.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1204083304.gif

I meant US smart phone market - sorry for my misprint!

Source: http://www.switched.com/2008/02/07/iphone-second-in-u-s-smartphone-market-share/

iPhone #2 at 28% last quarter of '07, RIM #1 and iPhone beating all MS/Windows/Mobile phones combined (21%).

Not too shabby for less than a year on the market, one has to admit.

edit: iPhone still managed number 3 for the world smartphone market even with limited availability.

Island may be right, there are a lot of drug dealers on Earth. :D

FYI.

Best,

Kurt

yes I knew the report, I just had to set the record straight. SmileWavy

I wont admit to anything ;)

What is interesting is how different the NorthAmerican market is compared to the rest of the world.

BTW I guess Im more than a little biased.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1204086467.jpg

NOooo! She should only consider how good a phone Might be in the future, after all those "easy" software fixes; Plus the consideration for current US market share!


heh heh... iPhones; no replaceable/removable memory or battery. The touch screen can only sense a big smudge of bare fingers --no stylus, no fine pick.

. . . But one day everyone will realize the pure genus of the iPhone! Until then only the really smart people will understand their greatness. :D

You really have some issues with Apple, eh?

You sound as silly as Mule with your emotional involvement with a group of products you don't even use or like.

It's really extraordinary! It is very telling and revealing. :cool:

Respectfully,

Kurt

No, it's more the eccentric hype and zealotry that I take issue with. Same balance I give to various other products.

FWIW, firmware 1.1.4 was released today (162MB) and apparently paves the way for the SDK due out any day now, if it isn't delayed.

Just loaded it and I'm not sure what, if any, new visible features are here - reports say the new stuff is under the hood and that iPhone is ready for 3rd party apps now. We'll see . . .

Best,

Kurt

I think you use the word "balance" rather loosely.

On this issue, you come across as kooky and extreme on your side as some of the most ardent Mac fanboys do on theirs, IMO.

Just my 2¢

Best,

Kurt

:D yeah, maybe you're right....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1204094772.jpg

...maybe I'm not doing enough to call it "balance." :D

to your credit, only 9 of your 10 posts were pro iphone, and only 3 of my 5 were trying to provide balance. --I'm such a slacker. :D

Seriously, I don't hate the iPhone, or even dislike it. It's just that I see it for what it is ... another brick of features, like every other product out there. That feature set has some good and some bad. As I see it, the 'good' is the 1/2VGA screen (most are qtr), clean, durable main surface, best VM (other than slow to notify -but still best). That's it off the cuff. I won't delve into the negatives (the zealots get angry) but will just say, that on balance the iPhone isn't everyone's answer. ...and it likely won't be. What's so wrong with that? As you point out, market share in it's category.