Mobile devices are everywhere! And the choices for what users want to use seem limitless. What's a GroupWise administrator to do when users want to be able to synch their calendars, address books, and tasks with GroupWise? How can you provide them with a way to receive emails on these devices? Let's take a look at your options:
GroupWise Mobile Server
* Devices Supported: Over 400, excluding BlackBerry and iPhone. For a current list please see: http://www.novell.com/products/groupwise/mobileserver/device_support.html
* Cost: Customers with current GroupWise 7 and above maintenance and support can download a free license key from the customer care portal. It is not available as a for-purchase product.
* Platforms: Runs on Windows and Linux
Blackberry Enterprise Server
* Devices Supported: Blackberry Handhelds. For a complete list and for a compatibility matrix please see: http://www.blackberry.com/la/products/software/server/groupwise/index.shtml
* Cost: Previously, a free five user license was available for GroupWise customers. This was a RIM promotion, not a Novell promotion. The promotion has ended. Customers may now download a 60-day, 20-user trial version of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1 at http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server/offers/v41_trial.jsp. Pricing for full licenses is available on Blackberry's site.
* Platform: Windows
NotifyLink
* Devices Supported: NotifyLink supports virtually all PalmOS, Symbian, Windows Mobile and iPhone devices over a variety of networks. To check for your specific devices, please see: http://www.notifylink.com/devices/index.htm
* Platform: Host on your own Windows server or choose a hosted service from Notify.
* Cost: Please contact Notify for pricing.
Additional Information: One important consideration about the Notify service is that, while it is a paid-for service and therefore not free like GMS, you can support a wide variety of devices and will not have to turn away a user just because they have an iPhone. Notify also told us at the last GroupWise 8 tour that if users need to move from one mobile platform to another, such as from a Blackberry to an iPhone, they will work with moving licenses accordingly. This is quite an attractive option, as it lets your company decide on what devices they want to use based on pricing and/or user preference.
Recent News
Late in 2008, Nokia announced that they are discontinuing development on the Intellisync Mobile server (which is the technology Novell licenses for GMS). Nokia announced that they would provide support for two years going forward and that Novell has rights for distribution for that time. Novell maintains that they are committed to mobile messaging with GroupWise. There have been posts on CoolBlogs regarding the future of mobile messaging for GroupWise being ActiveSync technology, but as yet, no detailed announcements have been made. Stay tuned for more info!
The bottom line is that you have quite a few choices for mobile messaging with current GroupWise versions!
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