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Google: we're cool with Exchange on Google-branded Android phones

by Ross Miller posted Jul 7th 2009 @ 6:49PM

Okay, this gets a bit confusing, so bear with us. Back when HTC first unveiled the Magic, the company said that any Android device with a customized build -- and that includes adding support for Microsoft Exchange -- has to drop the "with Google" logo as per Google's rules. Indeed, that notion seemed to be validated by the all the international Android phones that had Exchange but no branding. Cut to present day and the T-Mobile's myTouch 3G, which looks to have both the "with Google" backing and Exchange support, contrary to previous assertions. Did the search engine giant soften its policy? We spoke with a company representative who told us, surprisingly, that it has "never been Google's policy" to deprive its branded devices of Exchange support, and that if another phone maker wants to add it and keep that logo plastered on the phone, that's A-OK. In all honesty, we never really put too much stock into the Google logo on the phone, but if it's really just been one huge misunderstanding that's prevented our G1 from having Exchange, well, we're gonna be quite nonplussed for many weeks to come.

DataViz brings Documents To Go to the App Store

by Paul Miller posted Jun 15th 2009 @ 2:01PM

Editing documents? On a phone? We're sure most iPhone users are a little taken aback by this prospect, but we assure you it's completely safe and devoid of artificial preservatives. DataViz just launched its Documents To Go suite for the iPhone, which lets you edit and create Word documents, sync work files with a desktop over WiFi, and view other Office documents with the iPhone's existing viewer -- it's not the first app to offer some of these functions for the device, but it's the first with this level of street cred. An optional version of the app also includes a Exchange mail client with ActiveSync for accessing and editing Word documents from email, which seemingly flies in the face of Apple's vague "don't mess with Mail or any of our other built-in apps" policy. The basic Documents To Go app retails for a limited time at $4.99, while the Exchange version goes for $9.99 -- and anyone who picks up the 1.0 version will get a free update to include Excel editing once it becomes available.

Rogers' HTC Dream and Magic aren't "Google phones," have Exchange support

by Chris Ziegler posted May 23rd 2009 @ 11:24PM

Remember how we found out that there's a difference between the Google-branded Android firmware and its HTC-modified equivalent, and the latter isn't allowed to feature the silkscreened Google logo? The HTC version is way cooler on account of its Exchange ActiveSync support and the much-improved camera app; the only downside is that you can't flaunt that logo on the case, which -- let's be honest -- is totally meaningless to an end user (unless you're some raving Google fanboy / fangirl, and in that case, no amount of awesome customization is going to sway you). Anyhow, it's up to individual carriers to decide which versions of the devices they wish to launch, and Rogers customers will be excited to know that they're getting the logo-free HTC builds. That makes Canadian Dreams and Magics a whole hell of a lot more useful to business users than the G1s down in the States, and going forward, this is an issue T-Mobile probably wants to think about -- as long as the base Android code doesn't license ActiveSync, anyway.

Gallery: Rogers' HTC Dream and Magic aren't "Google phones," have Exchange support

Exchange-enabled HTC Magic explained: it's not a "with Google" phone

by Chris Ziegler posted May 15th 2009 @ 6:26PM

We've gotten the lowdown on that HTC Magic seen sporting Exchange support over in CNET Asia's capable hands, and as many readers opined, it's indeed a custom solution rolled by HTC without any Google involvement. Of course, HTC is no stranger to customizing OS builds loaded onto its devices; it already does this with every single Windows Mobile phone it sells, so we shouldn't be surprised to see some tweaks on its Android wares, either. Here's where it gets juicy, though: it turns out that Google forbids user of the "with Google" branding (as seen on the back of the G1, for example) when the build is customized, so the particular Magic that was being tested here lacked the Google name. Not all Magics are sold this way -- it's a carrier decision. Vodafone's version is Google-branded, for example, but in order to score the Google name they've got to comply to Google's standards for the software load.

Some unlocked Magics (like CNET Asia's) are being sold in this sans-Google configuration, but if you like your Google apps, don't sweat it -- these devices still have GMail, Maps, and the like installed -- it's strictly a marketing and branding issue we're talking about here. In addition to Exchange support, the HTC-customized Magics include a reworked Smart Dialer with better contacts integration, a "much more responsive and full featured" camera app, and additional home screen widgets not found on the Google-ified Magics. We know which version we'd choose.

HTC Magic supports Exchange, Google says Android doesn't

by Chris Ziegler posted May 15th 2009 @ 7:54AM

A lack of Exchange ActiveSync support has largely relegated Android to the enterprise sidelines since its commercial launch last year in the G1, and while third-party apps have attempted to come to the rescue, there's nothing quite like a little first-party love to instill confidence in the world's IT managers. Strangely, CNET Asia noticed that its Magic seems to support Exchange -- indeed, it's listed right there in the mail setup and the reviewer reports that it works like a champ -- but a check with Google would have you believing otherwise. CNET's US bureau dropped Google a line to get the straight dope on the current Exchange situation and was greeted with an unhelpful response of "Android does not currently include support for Microsoft Exchange," going on to say that third-party devs are filling in the gap. Yo, Google, Magics in the field would have us believing otherwise, so do you want to clarify what's up here?

[Via CNET]

Nokia shutters mobile enterprise development, looks to partners for help

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 30th 2008 @ 5:39PM

Nokia has announced that it'll no longer be working on its own "business mobility solutions," reallocating some of the knowledge and manpower in that division over to its consumer-focused push email client that recently launched in beta form. For what it's worth, the announcement comes across not as a message that Nokia's abandoning its enterprise customers -- far from it, in fact, with the Eseries looking better than ever -- but as a genuine admission that other companies with established solutions are better cut out to manage that functionality, even on Nokia's own S60. Interestingly, Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco are all mentioned as partners with commitments to develop for Nokia's wares, but noticeably missing is RIM, whose BlackBerry Connect went missing on the E66 and E71. These days, it's hard to mention "enterprise" without also mentioning "BES" in the same sentence, so we're not too sure how far Nokia's going to get here without roping RIM back into the equation.

Nokia takes S60 3rd edition corporate with Exchange ActiveSync support

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 10th 2008 @ 1:23AM

43 devices representing some 80 million mobile phone users -- that's the largess of Nokia announcing Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync support on all its S60 3rd edition devices. Mail for Exchange will also be available out-of-the-box in future E-series and N-series devices. That means future phones like the Nokia Tube and existing, high-end, media-centric devices like the venerable N95 and new N96 will now feel just as comfortable in the beige cubicle as you do.

Apple looking to push ActiveSync onto iPhone?

by Sean Cooper posted Dec 14th 2007 @ 2:52PM

We've reported rumors about this should-have-been-in-the-initial-offering feature since well before the iPhone's launch date and here we are, half a year down the road from iPhone day and we're still kludging along with IMAP support. All that may be set to change with Apple's recent job posting looking for an "iPhone Windows Outlook/Exchange QA Eng" in Cupertino. Of course, this new position may simply exist to help bolster the team working on the IMAP features in its "ongoing effort to improve your mobile mail experience" -- but we hope not. We're hoping that this will usher in the era of real push mail from Exchange on iPhone, and we'd be willing to bet the proverbial farm that there are a ton of others out there thinking the same.

[Via AppleInsider]

Nokia ups Mail for Exchange to version 2

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 1st 2007 @ 1:12AM

Symbian and Windows Mobile might be sworn enemies, but to play ball in the corporate space, Nokia has little option but to support the 800-pound email gorilla that is Exchange. To that end, Espoo has loosed version 2 of its Mail for Exchange client, tightening integration with Microsoft's Exchange Server 2007 (while still supporting 2003) and enabling full attachment handling and meeting management directly from Nokia's Eseries devices. Who'da thunk they'd be rocking ActiveSync from their E62? Get it now, free of charge, for the entire Eseries line along with the N73, N76, and N95.

Ocean gets Exchange ActiveSync -- for a price

by Ryan Block posted Jul 25th 2007 @ 3:00AM

Exchange using Helio members, your time is now: the Ocean's finally getting that Exchange ActiveSync support (for Contacts, Calendar, and email with Exchange Server 2003 SP2+) promised users, as well as bumped new version of Helio File Viewer (supporting .doc, .ppt, .xls and .pdf). But, as always, there is a catch. Although the first 60 days of use during the beta period will be free, the final version of Helio EAS + File Viewer will set you back an addition $10 per month for all-in users. If that still sounds workable with your expense account, jump on that Ocean right now and download the app that gets the corporate collaboration wheels moving. One more shot after the break.

Continue reading Ocean gets Exchange ActiveSync -- for a price

More evidence of iPhone's Exchange support and RSS reader

by Thomas Ricker posted Jun 29th 2007 @ 3:11AM

The kids over at ThinkSecret have some exclusive pics of what they purport to be interface shots of the iPhone. In these, we clearly see an RSS view thanks to the reader.mac.com URL, a previously unseen SIM loading procedure (requiring a paperclip), and what appears to be an Exchange email configuration tab. TS says that the iPhone supports Microsoft Exchange servers and has likely licensed Microsoft's ActiveSync. The latter dealio we've heard before and is certainly making corporate IT departments a bit fidgety. After all, more than a few CEOs will be demanding integration of their new toys come Monday morning. Jobs himself responded to a USA Today question about the lack of corporate email support with, "You'll be hearing more about this in the coming weeks. We have some pilots going with companies with names you'll recognize. This won't be a big issue." The fact that most of these pictures still sport the old Cingular logo certainly doesn't give us much confidence for an "iDay" release.

Update: As pointed out by a number of our readers, the Exchange tab likely configures IMAP4 access to Exchange like Apple's OS X Mail.app client. Made all the more likely by yesterday's "Rollup 3" release by Microsoft which fixes Mac related issues with Exchange 2007.

Microsoft rolls out Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 12th 2007 @ 10:44AM

Remember that little file synchronization debacle we told you about for owners of Windows Mobile 6 Standard devices running Vista on their PCs? Yep, well, we can officially close the book on that one. Microsoft has rolled out Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 which fixes several niggles present in the Vista RTM build of WMDC, most notably the inability to synchronize files to smartphones (a feature that's available to ActiveSync users on XP). Check after the break for Microsoft's official rundown of the changes.

[Via MoDaCo]

Palm Treo 650 gets Direct Push email, too

by Darren Murph posted Mar 20th 2007 @ 4:40PM

Alright Treo 650 owners, you can now (carefully) climb off your soap box, as the svelte Exchange ActiveSync Update is now available to treat your very own handset. While Palm had already shoved the update onto the 680 and 700p handhelds, it's now giving the faithful 650 users the ability to revel in Push Email technology too, which is sure to make hard-nosed managers grin from ear to ear. Aside from the newfound support, the update notes here haven't really changed, so if you're interested in having your Outlooked life beamed straight to your Treo 650, be sure to hit the read link and get your download on. Of course, you should probably have your credit card ready as well, as folks with VersaMail 3.5 will be asked to cough up $2.99, while users without the aforementioned software will pay out $12.98.