Blackberry/Phone Edition/Smart Phone

[Chris Botha]

Hi, one of my clients wants to go with Blackberry. I would have liked to
post this question to someone at MS, but they are a bit hard to get hold of.
I've done a fair amount of programming using the Compact Framework on Pocket
PC and Active Sync to connect to the server, but none with Phone Edition or
Smart Phone.
AFAIK the RIM devices are permanently connected and one can receive/send
email without manually connecting, correct me if I am wrong.
In order to swing the client in the right direction, I need answers on 2
questions:
1. What is the effort using Phone Edition/Smart Phone to, for example,
receive email? Is there, or can there be a permanent connection to the
Internet, or must the user manually connect? If this depends on the
location, they are in Toronto, Canada.
2. Can I program Phone Edition/Smart Phone using VS.NET and Compact
Framework?

Thanks.

 

[Ilya Tumanov [MS]]

You can program PPC Phone Edition (which is no different from ordinary PPC
in many ways) and Windows Mobile Smart Phone (smaller screen and reduced
number of UI controls) with VS 2003 and CF.

However, Blackberry is not running Windows Mobile OS and is not supported
by VS/CF. You'd have to use other dev tools with Blackberry.

Best regards,

Ilya

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--------------------

From: "Chris Botha" <[email protected]>
Subject: Blackberry/Phone Edition/Smart Phone
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 15:43:21 -0500
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[Alex Feinman [MVP]]

Blackberry was initially created to provide mobile access to Exchange-based
mail services (today I think they have Notes support as well) by means of
server-based redirector. "Permanently connected" is not how I would describe
it - it really depends on the network the BB is on. For example Nextel
Balckberry is permananently connected, but that's a network property -any
other Nextel phone is also connected since on iDEN network every device is
assigned an IP address. Blackberrys running on GPRS (AT&T, Cingular,
TMobile) or CDMA (Sprint, Verizon) networks need to place a data call to get
connected. Today this is done automatically and is transpaent to the user.
When there is a message to be delivered, Blackberry receives a network ping
that makes it establish a data connection and pull the message.

In this respect SP/PPCPE can be configured to mimic Blackberry behavior very
closely. Devices on GPRS network can stay constantly connected and not
incure extra traffic. Exchange synchronization is built-in. The AUTD
(always-up-to-date) feature allows instant synchronizaton by means of SMS.
SP/PPCPE can be programmed using VS.NET and Compact Framework. Most
Blackberries use J2ME

As you can see, Blackberry functionality is rather close to PPCPE/SP. A bit
more information to help you choose.

Blackberry has a full keyboard, while SP does not at all. PPCPE has a
virtual keyboard, and some of the new devices, most notably PDA2K
(http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=I-MATE_III&partner=register) have
built-in keyboard.

PPCPE can be programmed using Visual Studio, while Blackberry uses Java

Blackberry data plans are usually custom tailored for the Blackberry usage
pattern. With PPCPE you will need to assess your data plan carefully to make
sure you don't run out of MB

Using Blackberry requires either desktop mail redirector (always running) or
purchasing Blackberry Enterprise Server (starts at $5K ) and installing it
next to your Exchange server. PPCPE can synchronize with Exchange Server
2003 out of the box.

Blackberry will not (AFAIK) work with POP3 mail account. PPCPE will.

Hope this is sufficient for you to make a decision

 

[Chris Tacke, eMVP]

1. What is the effort using Phone Edition/Smart Phone to, for example,

receive email? Is there, or can there be a permanent connection to the
Internet, or must the user manually connect? If this depends on the
location, they are in Toronto, Canada.

Blackberries and Palms run on a different network (anctually one of two -
mobitex or motient IIRC) than cell phones. Phones are not capable of being
always connected - well really they are always are anyway to get phone
calls, just not in the same way. The question you really are asking is can
the user receive emails without manually requesting them. The answer is -
since you're writing the app, sure.

2. Can I program Phone Edition/Smart Phone using VS.NET and Compact
Framework?

All PPC Phone Editions can. SmartPhone 2003 (not 2002) can.

 

[Mike Margerum]

Check out GoodLink for palm and CE. We just bought it and are getting
rid of our Blackberrys and replacing them with treo650's

 

[Chris Botha]

Hi Guys, thanks a lot for the responses, at least when contacting the client
tomorrow I will have some ammunition.

 

[Chris Botha]

Hi Alex, thanks for the comprehensive reply, I am mailing your reply to the
client.

 

[Chris Botha]

Hi Mike, this is a great link, thanks.

Check out GoodLink for palm and CE. We just bought it and are getting rid
of our Blackberrys and replacing them with treo650's