Wireless e-mail alternatives, Part 3

By Keith Shaw
Network World Mobile Computing Newsletter, 05/13/02

We continue our look at companies offering different takes on wireless e-mail for devices.

* Seven

This company with the numerical name has scored some big wins recently by getting its platform to run with Sprint PCS and Cingular, to name a few (it is also supported by BT Cellnet in the U.K.).

Seven has taken wireless e-mail and brought it to the carrier's network level. Through Sprint PCS' Business Connection Personal Edition (and soon to be released Enterprise Edition) or Cingular's MailXpress program, end users can get their Outlook or Notes e-mail in real-time as opposed to being redirected like other software.

This is done by creating a secure VPN tunnel between the carrier's servers and the user's desktop that provides the user with all their contact information in real-time. Software is installed onto the user's desktop, and the file size is under 1M byte (for the Sprint version, which I tested out). In addition to the Outlook / Notes information, you can also get access to documents on your desktop (you specify the folders), which can help if you're looking for the details of that specific Word or Excel file.

Another neat feature is the connection sharing option. This lets other users (friends, co-workers or people in other offices) install the client software on their desktops. As long as one of those computers within your "group" is powered on, you can still access your Outlook/Notes information using their Internet connection. This can be beneficial if you forget to keep your desktop running, or if there's a power failure, etc.

The product mainly works with Sprint PCS phones (for the Business Connection Personal Edition Software) or Cingular phones (for its Cingular MailXpress), but you can also use other wirelessly enabled devices through the Web browser to connect to the service. In addition, you can use the service via wired connection by using any Internet browser.

For information on the Sprint version, go to www.sprintpcs.com and click on the Business Connection link. For Cingular's version, go to www.cingular.com/bus_solution/bus_xpressmail

* Visto

Handspring is currently in the beta program of its Treo Mail service, which aims to bring corporate e-mail access to Handspring's Treo communicators. The beta software is available today at www.handspring.com and is free for a limited time. Handspring said it expects to begin selling subscriptions for the commercial version in mid-2002.

The service provides integration with an Outlook/Exchange e-mail inbox (it also works with POP3 e-mail). The e-mail is synchronized wirelessly, so any mail read, sent or deleted on the Treo device will also appear that way on the desktop.

Users can choose how they want their e-mail delivered (at scheduled intervals or manually with the push of a button). Filters can be set up to exclude unwanted e-mail addresses for device delivery, and users can access, read and compose e-mail while offline. E-mail attachments can also be forwarded with the software.

Security is handled by 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer strong encryption. Visto says e-mail is secure between the Treo device and the Treo Mail Service Operations Center, where it is cached in encrypted form, and then delivered to a customer's PC. The company says the software does not require a VPN or direct dial into a corporate LAN.

Treo Mail is powered by Visto and its Mobile Access Solution Server Edition, which provides workgroups and enterprises with more advanced e-mail functionality. Go to www.visto.com for more information.