Synchronising a Smartphone with Zimbra

[WTFBBQ]

Hey folks, first post!

I've been asked to look at smartphones for the SLT which will synchronise calendars, contacts, email etc with a Zimbra server hosted by the LEA. Does anybody have any recommendations? The Headteacher bought an HTC Hero to try out, but I couldn't get that to sync with Outlook without going through Google Calendar first; Obviously not an ideal solution.

Is my only solution to have the SLT on Outlook to use Zimbra, and for them to all have Windows Mobile devices? I have one myself (Touch Diamond 2) and am confident that, as long as Zimbra worked well with Outlook, that Outlook would work well with Windows Mobile. I'm just trying to cut out the middle man... Outlook is a PITA

[SYNACK]

If the server is running Zimbra Collaboration Suite Stanard or Pro it should support Activesync and should work well without outlook on Windows Mobile, iPhone or Android.

http://wiki.zimbra.com/index.php?tit...ndows_Mobile_5

[ZeroHour]

Take a look at:Zimbra - Product Editions

If your using free version you dont have the ability really. Thats the prime reason we are sticking with exchange as the other editions (at the time, a while ago) were far too expensive over exchange schools licensing.

[localzuk]

Take a look at:Zimbra - Product Editions

If your using free version you dont have the ability really. Thats the prime reason we are sticking with exchange as the other editions (at the time, a while ago) were far too expensive over exchange schools licensing.

Even with schools pricing, when you add in the extra costs associated with Exchange (special SSL certs, specialist backup software agents, a higher spec server than is needed for Zimbra, and the maintenance requirements of a Windows server (anti-virus, monthly restarts from updates).

When I've sat down and done a TCO comparison, an Exchange solution for us comes in at £2250pa, compared with £1495pa for Zimbra Pro (this includes hardware, and backup costs).

[webman]

For email, I use the Android K-9 Mail app which has almost-push for our in-house Zimbra via IMAP. It's not strictly push that we're familiar with, but it's as good as. I'm not sure if your LEA Zimbra has IMAP or not though - this would be something to check.

As for calendar and contacts though, I don't have an answer for that.

[ZeroHour]

Even with schools pricing, when you add in the extra costs associated with Exchange (special SSL certs, specialist backup software agents, a higher spec server than is needed for Zimbra, and the maintenance requirements of a Windows server (anti-virus, monthly restarts from updates).

When I've sat down and done a TCO comparison, an Exchange solution for us comes in at £2250pa, compared with £1495pa for Zimbra Pro (this includes hardware, and backup costs).

Well that ALL depends on your choices for each of those things and which edition of exchange your talking about too. Also depends on your type of licensing etc as well and if you use desktop pack etc. Each school could have different situations/pcs etc so I would nessarily say it would be cheaper for us. Your also a bit of a linux user so you will be more at ease working with linux systems but here we would have to get up to speed in some form and that would always make it harder to maintain.
Even Ric is swiching to exchange and he tried to convert me to Zimbra but for us the numbers did not work out and tbh even though it has some nice features exchange is a safe option.

EDIT: This is not cheap!
- Faculty and Staff starting at $10/user/year @ 250 staff = $2500 a year!!!!
- Students starting at $2/user/year @ 1000 pupil mailboxes = $2000 a year!!!
- Zimbra Mobile is an additional license option for either ZCS Standard or Network Edition users. It has an annual license fee starting at $500 and is $1000 for 75 or more mailboxes!!!!!!


And thats starting rates (usually when buying the highest number)

[webman]

Zimbra is not Exchange though - you're getting a better and more flexible product with Zimbra in my opinion. Zimbra also has a gradual upgrade path with each release at no extra cost (although I understand with a new cheaper additional license type, major version increments will cost extra) - whereas upgrades to the latest Exchange (2003 -> 2007, 2007 -> 2010) will always cost, if I'm not mistaken. With Exchange, you also have the overhead of the Windows operating system - cost/antivirus.

But it does all depend on what your individual requirements are. It's just in most cases, those are fairly modest and Zimbra (free edition) fits the bill perfectly and makes any Exchange solutions redundant.

This is also where having Linux knowledge in the team is a great benefit to any organisation.

[Ric_]

I switched from Exchange 2003 to Zimbra approx. 2 years ago when we were using Select lcensing. My requirements changed from in-house use to extending email access to the home. The additional licensing costs were going to be huge... I seem to remember that it was going to cost a couple of thousand so switching to Zimbra Open Source Edition was a no-brainer given that I have Linux skillz.

For mobile access, I opted to simply use the mobile web interface which is rather tidy. Of course this doesnt give you integration with your device''s calendar or push email. We also had a limitation imposed on us by our RBC so IMAP was out of the question

For an RBC-hosted Zimbra install, your easiest option (I imagine) is the web unterface and you may be lucky enough to have IMAP access for your mail. If your really lucky, you will be able to by licenses to use the ActiveSync stuff.

The reason I have switched back to Exchange is because I'm now using Schools Agreement licensing and the extra cost is pennies. Standard and Enterprise CALs are included in my desktop pack and server licenses aren't much either. I also intend to implement OCS as a PBX-replacement and that will tie into Exchange so I will be further leveraging my investment there.

[ZeroHour]

The reason I have switched back to Exchange is because I'm now using Schools Agreement licensing and the extra cost is pennies. Standard and Enterprise CALs are included in my desktop pack and server licenses aren't much either.

We are sweeties as well as far as I can recall, thats the licensing I like schools agreement is very good tbh and simplies so much.

[john]

We are sweeties as well as far as I can recall, thats the licensing I like schools agreement is very good tbh and simplies so much.

Fully agreed with the ease of Schools Agreement. I've moved from the LA E-mail to Exchange and its peanuts to sort out

But as has been said its what suits your needs.