Mobile e-mail
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Mobile email is the function of reading, replying to, and forwarding emails while on the move.
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[edit] Requirements
There are three things that you need to use mobile email:
1. A mobile device – the thing you read the email on and type replies with. Whether it is a mobile phone, smartphone, PDA, laptop or a hybrid of these.
2. Access to a Wireless Network – unless you have a very long cable, being mobile implies you won’t be tethered to a socket on the wall. So that means you’ll be using a wireless connection.
3. An email account – not to be confused with the software (such as Microsoft Outlook) that sits on your PC or Mac, your email account is held on an email server which is permanently connected to the internet checking for new emails.
[edit] 1. Mobile Device
These fall into two main categories; a mobile/PDA, or a laptop with a data card. Of course, you may use both.
The easiest way to get a feel of what is right for you is to see a demonstration of the devices. Useful places to visit are:
- Your local mobile phone store – who should be able to provide a hands-on demonstration of the latest devices.
- Online websites such as www.o2.co.uk/mobileguide that provide features to compare functionality of selected devices and watch videosof mobile email setup and use.
[edit] 2. Wireless Network
To connect your device wirelessly to your email server, there are many wireless networks you could use. You may require a mixture of wireless networks to achieve what you need:
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution)
3G (3rd Generation) – sometimes called Mobile Broadband
3G HSDPA (3rd Generation High Speed Downlink Packet Access)
Wi-Fi (Broadband) - Private and Public.
Mobile email providers will provide all of these options including Public Wi-Fi. The price will vary depending on which pricing plan you subscribe to, and the network connection your device supports. Most new laptops come as standard with Wi-Fi modems included.
[edit] 3. Email Account
Your email account either sits on a server either located off-site at a third party company, or somewhere onsite in your office. It is permanently connected to the internet and protected from attack by a firewall and other security systems.
When looking at mobile email solutions, you’ll need to establish whether you need an ‘Internet’ or ‘Enterprise’ based mobile solution.
Internet servers 75% of UK businesses don’t run their own email server. Instead they are provided by Internet Service Providers (ISP's), broadband providers, your website provider, or a popular email sites such as Google Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or Microsoft Hotmail.
Enterprise servers For the majority of other businesses, servers are classified as ‘Enterprise’. An Enterprise email server is likely to be running Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino or Novell Groupwise. It is likely to be also running other things that make your business tick such as the payroll and customer databases. Larger companies are likely to have the email server as a separate box.
Enterprise servers also support internet email access If you do run an enterprise server, it may also have an option to allow internet access, commonly referred to as ‘POP3’ (Post Office Protocol 3) access. This provides a route through your firewall to be able to retrieve emails from the server account.
If POP3 is enabled, you have the choice between using internet and enterprise mobile email services.
Internet mobile email services are typically the cheapest and simplest option to set up, but may compromise: - security - information that can be wirelessly synchronised - centralised management and controls - access to intranets and shared information
