This is the third day in a row that I have NOT charged the BlackBerry 8700. However, the battery is still going strong and the battery indicator shows that the battery is still about half full. Even though I haven’t done this battery “test” with the previous devices in the 81-day-experiment, most of the devices I used before (except for the BlackBerry Pearl) were getting low on power by the end of the day or early next day. This is obviously not a scientific comparison, but just an indication that the battery life in the BlackBerry 8700 is favorable which makes the device suitable for those who are “super” concerned about battery life.
The BlackBerry Enterprise Server and wireless synchronization
While we are on the topic of the BlackBerry 8700, it is good to mention the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. For enterprise users, in addition to the “push” technology, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server offers some unique capabilities. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which works with the popular e-mail servers such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes, provides wireless synchronization between the handheld and the server. This means that when you manage e-mail, schedule meetings, modify tasks, your changes are reflected on the server within minutes and without any additional steps on your part.
This has several advantages. First, when you are using your handheld, you have access to other users’ information (such as the global address list). Second, when you go back to your desktop, the e-mails you sent from your handheld, the e-mailed you filed in folders, the meetings you initiated, are all visible on your desktop. Third, other enterprise users can see your most up-to-date information at all times such as your availability.
The BlackBerry platform is no longer the only option for enterprise users?
While the BlackBerry platform was the only platform offering wireless synchronization for some time, other providers are starting to offer similar capabilities. For instance the Treo 700p and the Treo 700w I used earlier in the 81-day-experiment do provide this capability.
Providers such as Verizon, Cingular, and Sprint, are using the backend technology from Good Technology to enable Palm and Windows Mobile devices to deliver wireless synchronization similar to what the BlackBerry delivers. Microsoft is also starting to offer wireless synchronization between Microsoft Exchange 2003 to Windows Mobile devices.
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