The Great Debate – Windows Mobile vs Blackberry

In recent years, there has been a lot of movement for computer users towards mobile devices for email & data access. The technology has become increasingly available and affordable and many businesses now rely on being able to access data from any location. Handheld devices such as smartphones & PDAs that provide email & data access are surging in popularity because of their convenience.

There are two major players operating in the market now – Microsoft, with their Windows Mobile devices and Blackberry devices, marketed through Vodafone. Many phones come with SymbianOS built in which has also got software available for mail integration.

The majority of our clients are using Microsoft Exchange Server as their in-house email solution and have asked us about which product to buy to get their email, calendar & contacts on their phone. Vodafone have been very active in promoting their Blackberry products for businesses but before you decide what service to use, please consider the following information:

Mobile Device Features at a glance:

Feature	Windows Mobile	Blackberry	Symbian
Full Outlook synchronization with desktop/laptop via cable/Bluetooth	Yes	Yes	Yes1
Full Outlook synchronization with Exchange Server via internet (requires Exchange Server 2003 or later)	Yes	Yes2	Yes3
Full email to non-Exchange email (eg Notes) via internet	Yes5	Yes2	Yes5
Push-email support	Yes	Yes2	Yes3
Available for Telecom mobiles	Yes	No	No
Available for Vodafone mobiles	Yes	Yes	Yes
Monthly cost	Free4	Approx $35-$42/month4	Free4

1. Almost all mobile phones come with software to synchronise emails etc with Outlook via a cable
2. Requires Blackberry Enterprise Server
3. Some mobile manufacturers provide software to synchronise with Exchange on Symbian devices (e.g. Nokia & Sony Ericsson have software available for select models).
4. Requires data plan for mobile
5. Requires a third-party email gateway, or limited to POP collection (mail only)

Conclusion: For unequalled features and flexibility for mobile email & data synchronization to Microsoft Exchange, Windows Mobile devices are a clear winner. To provide true synchronization with Exchange, Blackberry devices require Blackberry Enterprise Server which provides the same functionality that Windows Mobile users get at no extra cost.  However, for connection to non-Exchange platforms, then the Balckberry is well worth a look.