Nice iPhone, shame about the e-mail (or, why the BlackBerry rules the roost)

David M Williams
Wednesday, 08 October 2008 18:10

IT Industry - Market

I like the iPhone. I use one. I like its interface. It's got a lot of nice features. However, e-mail isn't one of them. In fact, the BlackBerry still leaves it for dead. Here's why the iPhone's e-mail handling sucks, and come to think of it, that of Windows Mobile too. Business users particularly should take note.

I’ll readily admit I’m a CrackBerry addict. Over the last six years I’ve administered BlackBerry Enterprise Servers versions 2 through 4.1 for Lotus Notes 6, Exchange 2003 and Exchange 2007. I’ve worn the keys off BlackBerry 7230, 7730, 7250 and 8800 models. Now I’m on to the BlackBerry 9000, otherwise known as the BlackBerry Bold.

I’ve punched out tens of thousands of e-mails on the tiny keypad. Avid BlackBerry spotters will note the omission of the BlackBerry Pearl in my list; I never warmed to the tiny keyboard models. As a heavy e-mail user I’ve always preferred the QWERTY keypad.

In addition to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) I also use the web-based individual solution for my various other e-mail accounts. I manage my Exchange e-mail plus a POP-based ISP mailbox, Hotmail and Gmail all from the one handheld.

Ok, you may be thinking I’m just another of those biased BlackBerry fanatics. I get that, particularly when I talk with systems admins in other companies who lament how much they hate the BlackBerry and want to switch their company to Windows Mobile devices.

Here’s where the iPhone comes in. Apple touted its push e-mail capabilities as a selling point to corporate types. Push e-mail works via the exact same ActiveSync technology as used in Windows Mobile. In fact, Apple licensed it from Microsoft. Talk about harmony!

Yet, I have to be honest; I can’t see any reason why someone would choose this ActiveSync-based e-mail platform over a BlackBerry. Well, except for two reasons. ActiveSync doesn’t require a BlackBerry Enterprise Server. That’s one less piece of software and one less piece of hardware in the mix. Your infrastructure costs are lower. So long as you have Microsoft Exchange and either an iPhone or a Windows Mobile smartphone you’ve got it covered.

Secondly, your Windows Mobile e-mail traffic doesn’t route through Research in Motion’s servers in Canada. Your infrastructure may be flawless but you can suffer an e-mail outage because of a fault in a far-flung nation.

So why am I such a BlackBerry bigot? Well, you asked! Let me count the ways. And if you’re a corporate sysadmin or CIO or CFO take note! You need to be informed!

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