DataViz, a provider of Office compatibility products,
has released software that will let users of Symbian-based mobile
devices use Microsoft Activesync PC synchronisation
software.
Previously, Symbian devices required proprietary synchronisation
software to transfer e-mail, calendar and contacts to and from
Microsoft Exchange.
The update to the company's Roadsync uses the mobility features
of Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) to support devices
based on the Symbian operating system.
Using the Activesync protocol licensed from Microsoft, Roadsync
provides secure, wireless, direct push synchronisation of corporate
Outlook e-mail, attachments, calendar and contacts for
non-Microsoft smartphones and mobile devices.
Supported phones include the Sony Ericsson P910 and Nokia 9300.
DataViz has also confirmed its commitment to develop Roadsync for
both.
Activesync software is available freely from Microsoft, but it
only supports devices running the Windows Mobile operating
system.
Ovum analyst Tony Cripps said with Microsoft now licensing
Activesync server software, users running Symbian handsets will be
able to synchronise handsets with their Exchange e-mail server
without the need for third party server software.
"You will only require Microsoft software on the server," he
said, which avoids the need to install third party synchronisation
software such as the Blackberry Enterprise Server.
Significantly, Roadsync users will be able to use Microsoft's
push e-mail capability, which is available with Exchange 2003 SP2
for Windows Mobile 5.0 devices.
The support for direct push technology ensures that the device
automatically receives new e-mail and other personal information
manager data from a company's Exchange Server, DataViz said.
RoadSync uses an HTTP connection with industry-standard SSL
encryption to securely push e-mail, calendar and contact
notifications to and from the device.
It supports another Windows Mobile 5.0 feature - Remote Wipe -
which enables the IT department to trigger a remote wipe that
removes all Exchange data from the device.
This new security feature will help to ensure corporate data is
not compromised when devices are lost or fall into the wrong
hands.