14 DAY TRIAL // There is an inherent marriage between the Cloud and mobile devices, with customers expecting to access services not only independent of a specific location, but also regardless of the device they’re using. Cloud platforms are still far from being device agnostic, and in this regard, a resource from Microsoft is designed to provide users with details of the mobile device options available for Exchange Online and Sharepoint Online.
Customers interested in connecting to either Exchange Online or Sharepoint Online from their smartphone need to head over to the Microsoft Download Center and grab “Microsoft Online Services Mobility Solutions Description.”
According to Microsoft, the best devices for accessing the Cloud variants of Exchange Server and SharePoint Server are Windows Mobile, Exchange ActiveSync and RIM BlackBerry smartphones.
“Windows phones and devices help deliver highly advanced mobile capabilities while maximizing technology investments and improving both mobile worker and IT productivity,” the Redmond company revealed.
“Built on the powerful Windows Mobile operating system and produced by top original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) around the world, Windows phones provide a rich, flexible, cost-effective platform for increased productivity and improved mobile solutions.”
There are specific versions of Windows Mobile that customers must use in order to connect to Exchange Online and SharePoint Online. According to Microsoft, the two services are designed to play nice with Windows Mobile 6.0, 6.1, 6.5 and Windows Phone 7.
Exchange ActiveSync-enabled devices cover a number of products, among which:
“Nokia E series and N series phones: Nokia Mail for Exchange must be installed.
Apple iPhone: iPhone OS v2 ,v3 or V4 and Safari Mobile browser are required.
Palm Pre phone: webOS v1.1, v1.2, v1.3 or v1.4 is required.
Android phones: Android v1.5 and v2 is required; (support varies by manufacturer Exchange ActiveSync implementation),” Microsoft revealed.
The company explained that owners of Research in Motion BlackBerry smartphones can access Exchange Online and SharePoint Online either via Hosted BlackBerry for Microsoft Exchange Online or through the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS). document.write("