Smartphone email options
From Provider Notes
This page was created primarily for the 2006 Smartphone Email Client Evaluation, as a place to track notes, etc.
For more information on the evaluation, please visit the 2006 Smartphone Email Evaluation website.
Contents |
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Platforms
| Platform | Email Client | Notes | Tester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm OS | VersaMail | Mikki | |
| Palm OS | SnapperMail | Bob D. | |
| Palm OS | ChatterMail | supports push email using IMAP IDLE but it reduces battery life significantly | Mikki |
| Palm OS | Eudora Mobile | Mikki | |
| Windows Mobile | WebIS (FlexMail) | Jorj | |
| Windows Mobile | QMail | Jorj | |
| Windows Mobile | Built-in (Outlook mobile) | Plug in to do push email? | Caroline |
| Windows Mobile | Npop | Caroline | |
| Windows Mobile | Profi mail | Jorj | |
| Blackberry | iCJKMail | Specifically designed to make reading foreign character sets livable on mobile applications. Will run on any Blackberry with Java MIDP 2.0 | Mike |
| Blackberry | iMobileMail | Same manufacturers as iCJKMail. Designed to create a "similar experience to using a desktop client" | Mike |
| Blackberry | Gmail Mobile for Blackberry RIM 1.2.1 | Does not download Gmail messages, but rather interacts with messages on Gmail's servers | Ryan |
| Blackberry | Reqwireless EmailViewer | not much available on their site since Google purchased the company | Mike |
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Deliverables
- Contextual advice on whether to proceed with integrated/included or third-party email clients
- Vendor-specific considerations.
- Precise configuration instructions for all three smartphone platforms with representative University email servers.
- Best practices for handling large amounts of email on a smartphone,
- Discussion of what user populations can use smartphone email effectively,
- Documentation of smartphone-specific email security considerations.
- Any troubleshooting information gleaned during this evaluation will be captured.
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Testers
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Palm
- Bob DeSilets
- Mike Morris
- Mikki Miller
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Windows Mobile
- Jorj Bauer
- Bill Smith
- Caroline Couture
- Warren Petrofsky
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Blackberry
- Mike Morris
- Barbara McKinnon
- Ryan Butkus
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List of Test Features
This is the list of features that we decided were important in our first couple of meetings. The script we will be using for testing will be built from the list below.
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Basic Requirements
Items that the client needs to support, otherwise it should not be considered:
- Authenticated SMTP
- Authenticated POP/IMAP (SSL/TLS and/or Kerberos/GSSAPI)?
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Installation
- How easy is the client to install?
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Configuration
- Can you change the server location of Sent, Junk, Deleted, Trash?
- Support for multiple accounts?
- Ease of management of multiple accounts?
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Supported protocols
- POP
- IMAP
- IMAP prefix support
- Mailbox synchronization
- Multiple folder support
- Automatic subscription of new folders?
- Delete from local handheld without deleting from server
- Push email support?
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Security
- Kerberos
- SSL
- PGP
- Note in Best Practices about device security
- Authenticated SMTP
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Composing Messages
- Support for multiple signatures?
- spellcheck?
- Can you set up auto BCC
- Character set support
- LDAP/address book support?
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Reading Messages
- Can you change formatting of incoming messages?
- Can you display full headers for a message?
- What is the process to add someone from your Address book to the list of recipients?
- Can you click on an email address and add it to your list of contacts?
- Notification flexibility
- Scheduled "pull" flexibility
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Attachments
- Can you forward attachments to other users and preserve file integrity?
- Can you specify that attachments are stored externally?
- vCard support?
- What message/attachment formats are supported?
- Does the client understand vCard attachments (or their ilk)?
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Storage
- Local storage of messages
- Message size management
- Message time frame management
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General
- Performance/battery optimization
- How does this software affect my hardware?
- Can you search?
- Is mail backed up when synchronizing with a desktop computer?
- SMS/MMS integration
- How will the proposed change to 40 character name support affect email clients?
- Are there any length restrictions to usernames?
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Idiosynchracies
- Local storage useage
- Searching mail
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