Blackberry or Android phone

[plexer]

The Head wants a Blackberry or similar phone in order to keep up to date on emails and calendar and to allow his PA to update his calendar.

We use live@edu for head@wayland email and calendar and also a county provided gmail system giving him a personal email and calendar as well.

If I integrate his live@edu mail and possibly calendar with the gmail one then I guess android may be a better choice for him.

I posted in the quote request section but it only got 2 views so I'm wondering what people think before I go direct to O2 business.

Any thoughts?

Ben

[MK-2]

android will do gmail and an exchange account separate so there shouldn't be a need to integrate. it can also pull calendars in from the both and display them all (colour coded) in the main calendar app.
won't a BB need the BB exchange server thing before it will connect to an exchange or similar account (not sure, only from what i've heard)

[plexer]

You can add personal accounts using BB and just the internet connection without needing to go the route of BB server, live@edu is accessible via pop3 if all else fails.

Ben

[localzuk]

Android can have both email accounts set up - exchange based and gmail based. I have my work email (exchange) and home email (gmail) on my android phone.

However, something to note with android is the current poor proxy support - so if you have proxies in place you may hit roadblocks.

[plexer]

Or you can buy additional s/w NotifySync for Live at EDU

I've also emailed the O2 Public Sector Team.

Ben

[MatthewL]

Avoid the Blackberry, we got rid of them at work for Windows ones, loads easier saves us having an additional app for our secure email system. I am getting rid of my personal Blackberry in a few months when the contract is up, will be looking at Android based system.

[plexer]

He wouldn't be using it connected to the school wifi anyway just gsm.

Ben

[SYNACK]

Save yourself, avoid Blackberry..

Get Android or Windows Phone, less likely the second if you need to integrate too much of the google stuff but I think that it does unified calandering for google also. WP7 is just really easy to use so from a user point of view there are less likely to be any training issues if the user is less than technically proficcient.

[plexer]

Ok sounds like android is winning then.

Do people have security concerns?

Lock Down Your Android Devices | PCWorld Business Center

Seems a good article about this.

Ben

[gshaw]

Avoid Blackberry like the plague... nasty phones, nasty software

Amazing how they're doing OK in the consumer market... just goes to show what you can do with clever marketing (charge for a Blackberry only contract then make out you get BBM "for free" very clever!)

[MK-2]

Ok sounds like android is winning then.

Do people have security concerns?

Lock Down Your Android Devices | PCWorld Business Center

Seems a good article about this.

Ben

i can slightly agree on some security things, but even with respect to

a thief could trace the dots connected to unlock the phone

thats a bit much. if your phone is stolen, chances are its to sell or use, not because they want to read your emails. but yes you can set pin entry too. as for apps, as long as the head isn't going to install "1001 fart sounds" or things like that, he should be ok. common sense prevails, and if its a school phone, perhaps have it that any apps must be checked with the school to see if they are ok?

[plexer]

Sounds good.

Does anyone know if there is an app or way to provide a shortcut to a specific calendar? I know you can go into the settings in the calendar app and decide what calendars you want to overlay but I was thinking more of just a link to personal calendar, school calendar, network managers shared calendar those sorts of things.

Ben

[sdc]

I have to say we're using a number of Blackberries with no problem; Blackberry Enterprise Server Express is now free, and works very well - have never had to touch it since installing, which was a very straightforward process. A number of staff use personal Blackberries and we've managed to simply add their work email alongside their personal email, and there have been no complaints and no problems.

[plexer]

Good for Enterprise - Android

A secure enterprise app that keeps business info secure from personal stuff, good/bad idea?

No idea of pricing

Ben

[plexer]

About Mobile Device Management | AirWatch from iQlink

UK company offering a management service that runs on just about all modern phones by the looks of it.

Ben