Entellect
Entellect has a range of products to help the mobile user. The Desktop SMS package will send messages to cellular phones and pagers on over 200 networks around the world from a Windows PC. The free download of the software includes three free SMS messages. All networks within Australia are covered, though the system says it cannot guarantee delivery to Optus network.
The software interface is very space-age looking, with heavy piped edges and scrolling messages. As far as using the system is concerned, it is simple, uncluttered and useful. After the first three free SMS messages users must register the software and pay 22 cents for each SMS sent. Messages can be purchased in lots from 100 to 10,000 though there is no cost benefit from purchasing larger volumes.
Entellect also offers "Mobile Office" connectivity, which is a way to use Outlook for your mobile phone. If you have a WAP-enabled mobile phone, you can access your diary, e-mail, contacts, and tasks from anywhere in the world, right from your mobile phone. There is no need for another mailbox--mobile office accesses your existing Exchange Mailbox using the WAP protocol. No synchronisation is involved--changes made from the phone or the desk are all stored in the same place for instant access where and when you need it. While out of the office, you can be notified via SMS of new e-mails, reminders for meetings, or to-do items. If a meeting changes while you are out of the office, you'll know immediately via SMS and can accept or reject the changes straight from the handset. Mobile Office allows business users to retrieve and work with information from the corporate MS Exchange Server.
Mobile Office features include access to all e-mail, filtered by read and unread status; access to contact information; access to calendar information--view, create, and change appointments; and access to Tasks and notes--view, create, change. The functionality of the product is excellent, and it would be a real benefit to road warriors, but it does take some time to get used to WAP. From an Emulator on a PC it works well, but when you have to start making do with a tiny screen and the limited buttons of a mobile phone, it will take some getting used to.
Your Palm handheld, in combination with a mobile phone or modem, can also be used to wirelessly access Mobile Office. It works using the built-in data capability of these devices to establish a connection to the Internet for your Palm handheld. Using this solution you don't need to buy a WAP-enabled phone to take advantage of Mobile Office--and you can take advantage of the large screen and ease of input on the Palm device to access your office information live.
Mobile Office is installed for you on your own Microsoft Exchange Server. Pricing is based on a setup fee plus a number of tiers. Tier One has a maximum of 20 users and costs $2000. Tier Six ranges from 500 to 1000 users and costs AU$32,750. Additional users over this level are charged at AU$10,000 per 500 users.
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