Making the Switch to Windows Mobile

Does Windows Mobile plus Exchange 2003 SP2 offer enough to break the BlackBerry habit?

I've been a faithful user of Research in Motion's (RIM's) BlackBerry for many years and have enjoyed the fast and reliable email access that BlackBerry provides. When Microsoft introduced the upgraded Mobile Services in Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Mobile 5.0 became available for a new range of Pocket PC hardware, I decided to investigate whether I should switch my loyalty. I've used both a Windows Mobile 5.0 handheld and a Windows smart phone as my primary messaging device. As you'll see, I found some notable differences between the Windows Mobile/Pocket PC and BlackBerry devices in how they perform messaging tasks and in some other areas as well.

Making the Switch
I moved from the BlackBerry to the Pocket PC by taking my Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)—the identification card that links your phone number to a network—out of the BlackBerry, inserting it into the Pocket PC, and powering up the device. Cell phone providers usually issue devices that are locked to specific networks, so it might not be possible to simply move your SIM if the device that you want to transfer your SIM to belongs to a different provider. Apart from the data held on the SIM (usually just contact information), you can't copy information from one device to another; you have to resynchronize with Exchange to download your email, calendar, and mailbox contacts to the device. . . .

I think one of the stongest features pocket pc devices have over blackberry is a touch screen.I got used to the scroll wheel but really like being able to simply touch the screen

it@orchardplace.org March 19, 2007 (Article Rating:

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I think that you will only find touch screens on Windows Mobile PDA devices and not on SmartPhones, which are more comparable to Blackberries. The reason is that the touch screen adds weight, complexity, cost, and power consumption. If we get to a stage where these factors are addressed, then you might seen touch screens on Windows Mobile SmartPhones.

TRedmond March 21, 2007 (Article Rating:

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I should also have said that the Apple iPhone is a good example of a next-generation phone that supports touch screen capability. However, you'll notice that the iPhone has relatively short battery life and is expensive. I suspect that this is because of the power draw for some of its components (the iPod has never been great when it comes to battery life) and the cost (plus maybe some mark-up for Apple's industrial engineering and marketing). The fact that we now have a major-league player setting new standards for phones is good because other vendors will respond. However, another caveat is that the iPhone is relatively limited when it comes to connecting to Exchange. It can do IMAP or POP connections, but not ActiveSync. In other words, you'll get email only but no extended features.

TRedmond March 22, 2007 (Article Rating:

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