Mobile Access

Mobile access can be enabled through IMAP account configured in the mobile email client, through browser-based WebClient interfaces suited for low screen resolutions, Email and/or GroupWare items can be synchronized using ActiveSync and SyncML technologies, by wirelessly connecting devices with the server over the Internet. There's no need for any middleware or third party services, the connection is always direct and can be tightly secured.

The users benefit from being able to access most of their vital business data on a wide range of mobile devices, meaning they always have current information in whichever device they happen to be carrying, without the need to connect their handhelds using a cable to their computers to download new items. Furher described technologies enable a true office-anywhere experience and leverage the mobile workforce in your organization.

IceWarp WebClient PDA

WebClient PDA interface provides browser access to emails and address book contacts and is optimized for viewing on a smaller screen estate, in a less capable browser (without Javascript) and/or optimized for stylus-free operation. IceWarp WebClient PDA interface is suitable for a large variety of stylus operated devices (e.g. Windows Mobile). Touch optimized interface is currently only available for iPhone, upcoming for others touch-screen operated devices.

IceWarp WebClient Basic

WebClient Basic interface provides browser access to emails, calendars and address book contacts, it is optimized for resolution 800 x 600 and higher, and is capable to work in browsers with or without Javascript. (In browsers with Javascript it is more user-friendly.)

Push Email

IceWarp Server provides several methods for Push Email, each suitable for different deployment targets and type of device: ActiveSync DirectPush, SMS/TCP SyncML Push, IMAP IDLE and SMS Notifications. Mobile email can be provided through either of them separately for each device or in a combined way. For ease of deployment and widest range of features, ActiveSync should be preferred especially in corporate environment, SyncML Push where groupware data are to be synchronized rather than email, IMAP IDLE on the other hand works only for email and SMS notifications are a good choice only if data transfers are unavailable or undesired on the mobile device.

PIM Synchronization

SyncML and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync are client-server technologies designed to maintain the same information on the device as on the server, wirelessly over an Internet connection. From user perspective, the same data are constantly updated on the mobile handset when changed in Outlook or WebClient account. The data can be all or a subset of the following items (in the order of common availability): address book contacts, calendar events, tasks, notes, journals, briefcase, email. Some clients/devices are capable of synchronizing multiple folders of the same resource, e.g. enabling access to two or more calendars or several groups of contacts (private and public).

Mobile Files

Files on the move can be accessed using SmartAttach, File Transfer Proxy, WebDAV or by the means of Mailbox GroupWare Access, a special extension to Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. Naturally, files can be e-mailed as attachments. But data transfer speeds are often limited on mobile networks or present increased costs. Using SmartAttach, attachments are converted to download links and can be viewed on demand, saving data traffic and time. Images, video, voice recordings and notes can be exchanged over-the-air using file transfer options of the mobile instant messenger, while IM Server Proxy feature guarantees that NAT and firewalls will not block the connection. There are WebDAV clients available for most mobile platforms which will make users' Files folder available from remote, having access to the same vital files from desktop, notebook and handheld. Best of all, Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync implementation in IceWarp Server brings user's Files folders directly into their mobile e-mail clients by synchronizing them over EAS as emails with attachments- it's only needed to enable synchronization of the File folder and files will be downloaded to the mobile device as emails and sorted by the last modification date.

Client Setup – ActiveSync

For more details about ActiveSync, refer to ActiveSync Guide.

In real world, valuable data often exist on the device before wireless synchronization is enabled. Some devices have the option to merge existing data with server account (two-way sync) while other do not; you need to use another synchronization method to keep any existing data.

• For testing, create a backup of your device data using desktop tethering and application supplied with your mobile device (ActiveSync, iSync, Nokia PC Suite…). You can then restore the data on the device and synchronize them back to your account.
• For production, you can either move your contacts to a SIM card first, and after ActiveSync setup, copy them back to your address book, or use a SyncML client prior to ActiveSync setup to synchronize all contacts and calendar data to your server (two-way sync or one-way sync to a server) first. The same data will then be available after the first synchronization on the device and within your server account.

1. Locate ActiveSync settings on the device. Usually when you create a new account, a wizard will walk you through the setup process.

   • Windows Mobile – Start – Programs – ActiveSync – Menu – Add Server Source

   • iPhone – Settings – Mail, Contacts, Calendars – New Account – Exchange

   • Symbian – Menu – Communication – Messaging – Options – Settings – Email – Options – New Mailbox (select Mail for Exch. in account wizard)

   • Palm OS – Menu – Email – Accounts – Account Setup… – New – Mail Type: Outlook (EAS)

   • Symbian UIQ – Menu – Applications – RoadSync – Options – Settings

   • Blackberry – Applications – Astrasync/NotifySync – Options

   • Android – Menu – Applications – Touchdown – Settings – Account

2. For devices with AutoDiscover, you will need to enter only username and password, and the server name and domain name will be located according to the email address domain part if it matches a part of the server hostname, or using an MX DNS lookup if it does not.

   Description/Account ID: <description>

   Any descriptive account name.

   Username: <user@usersdomain>

   Full email address of the user.
   Password: <Password>

   User's password.

   You may be asked to accept an untrusted SSL certificate if it's not already installed on the client, or if your server is using a self-issued rather than CA Certificate for HTTPS.

   For devices without AutoDiscover support, you will need to provide additional information:

   Server name: <hostname> e.g.: mx99.icewarpdemo.com

   In some infrequent cases you need to add /Microsoft-Server-Activesync. This has to match the hostname configured in the ActiveSync node in the console.
   Domain: <usersdomain> e.g.: icewarpdemo.com

   Usually, you can leave it blank. If you have multiple domains in your server, this will be the domain the user belongs to.

3. Finally, there should be options to enable Email, Contacts, Events and Tasks synchronization.
4. Advanced settings may include option to enable Push or if a synchronization should occur on a defined schedule, set date range of items to synchronize, select folders to synchronize with built-in applications, set custom notifications and other settings mostly specific to a device platform or application version.
5. We strongly recommend to turn on the SSL option to encrypt all communication.

As a best practice, email look-back range should be set to a limited number of days. This means considerable savings in data transfers and power consumption should an error occur and the device would have to synchronize all data from scratch ("slow sync").

Client Setup – SyncML (PocketPC)

For more details about SyncML, refer to SyncML Guide.

1. To synchronize a PocketPC with IceWarp Server's SyncML server you will need to use the Funambol plug-in (available here).

   

2. You will need to set up your device to connect to the SyncML Server:

   

   Use your IceWarp Server's domain name and add the port if you are not using the standard HTTP port 80.

   Example http://www.icewarpdemo.com:32000/syncml

   Your Username is your Full email address, and your password is that for the corresponding IceWarp Server account.

3. You will then need to add the folders that you wish to synchronize:

   

   Data Format - IceWarp Server will accept any data format you choose. Note that the SIF set of formats is specific to Funambol.

   The Remote name is the name of the folder, you can choose from the following standard IceWarp Server folders:

   • Contacts - your contact list

   • Events - your calendar entries (Calendar can be used here as an alias and the Events folder will be selected unless a folder called Calendar exists)

   • Tasks - your tasks

   • Notes - you notes

   • Journal - your Journal

   • Mail - your mail items (Note that Mail is an alias for InBox. You can synchronize a different mail folder by specifying its correct name)

   The names are not case-sensitive and that mail synchronization currently only synchronizes your Inbox.

   NOTE: Currently there are very few clients that support synchronization of more than one folder of each data type. Version 1.2 of SyncML implements a Hierarchical type, which will allow synchronization of sub-folders. IceWarp Server is ready for this.

4. With the Funambol Plug-in your synchronizable items are shown and you just need to choose when to synchronize

   

5. Save the changes. You can now synchronize your client with your IceWarp Server account.