Smartphones & PDA Devices

Smartphones and PDA devices are becoming more commonplace in our culture. While laptops provide high-end portable computing power, handheld devices are extending our level of communication capabilities, as well as access to all sorts of data/information.

PDAs (personal digital assistants) provide basic PIM (personal information management) functions, which are typically limited to calendar and contact information (plus a few other utilities).  Smartphones are the epitomy of converging technologies (PDA, cell, camera, and web), providing access to:

  • mobile web technologies
    • e-mail, calendars, contacts
    • various messaging capabilities (text, picture, video)
    • other internet services (stocks, news, search, etc...)

Different devices provide different "connectedness" to data. When attempting to surf and/or download data from the web, or to synchronize your email/calendar/contact information stored on a server, devices must either provide OTA (over the air) or wi-fi service. Some devices will synchronize data via direct cable connection to a computer - which may even support Bluetooth technology - using RF (radio-frequency) technology.

The purpose of this page is to identify those devices that seem to provide the best functionality with SVSU resources (primarily Vmail). With the conversion to this new email system, SVSU is now able to provide greater access to email, calendar, and contact information via portable handheld devices.

OTA - Over the Air

Smartphones employing OTA access capabilities, will typically require a data plan with the cellular service provider. Data plans are usually an added cost to a cell phone plan, and can be costly if not properly used/configured. However, it does provide that instant access to the web, email/calendar information - keeping a user completely connected with schedules and contacts, stock quotes and internet news, etcetera - etcetera...

SVSU ITS has identified specific smartphone devices that will work well with Vmail (Zimbra). As of this moment in time, Windows Mobile 6.x and iPhone devices are supported and fairly easy to configure for Zimbra access. Palm SmartTreo phones have shown to work, if they have the latest version of Versamail. In the future, Blackberry technology will work seamlessly, but right now it is not fully operational and therefore not fully supported.

Wi-Fi Access

Some devices will provide wi-fi access, which in many cases is freely accessible via hot spots (such as on the SVSU campus in specific locations, and with wireless home networks).  PDAs tend to be used via a docking unit that synchronizes via the computer.

SVSU ITS has found the iPod Touch to be the simplest device to configure for wi-fi synchronization with Zimbra.  Some cell phones provide direct connect PDA-like synchronization, but take some special steps to fully configure (basically have to disable all OTA features). Most Palm PDA devices have proved to be unreliable (moreso, if they do not offer wi-fi access) and usually requires an additional purchase of a unique synchronization application to make them work (ITS does not fully support Palm PDAs). 

NOTICE: If you used software (GWMobiile, Intellisync) to synchronize you device in the past, you should uninstall it first.

Save yourself some time - identify what server your account resides on, prior to configuring your device.  You must identify which server/domain you're on (vmailbox#.svsu.edu), replacing # with 1, 2 or 3 (i.e. vmailbox2.svsu.edu). To find out which server your account resides, you must first log onto your account in a browser and look at the address/URL identified.

Supported Devices - Vmail Configuration Information

  • iPhone
  • Windows Mobile 6
  • Palm Treo 680 and 700p
  • iPod Touch (recommended Palm PDA replacement)
  • Blackberry (requires future upgrades to Zimbra & BES technology)
    Currently Blackberry users can only get email pushed to their device. Calendar/Contacts can still be obtained through the device microbrowser and logging into your account like a normal web browser.

Non-Supported Devices

  • Palm PDA
  • Windows Mobile 5