There are a number of ways to access your Email while mobile, the best method for you will depend on where your emails are currently stored and the type of device you want to use to view them.
If your emails are stored on a company mail server you may try redirecting them to an ISP based mail account. This will allow you to pick up your emails from any Internet access point world-wide but as it circumvents your company security policies it may not be allowed or may even be blocked.
If your company uses Microsoft Exchange Server then it is easy to set up a redirection (or copy) to a web based pop email account - just make sure it is a server side redirection otherwise it will not work until you actually log into your network.
To summarise the options for to retrieve emails from a mailserver located on a company network:
| WEB | Redirect to an Internet email account that has Webmail, Wapmail and POP (e.g. try setting up an account at Freenet which runs GLWEB mail which is a particularly good feature rich service) |
| WAP | Secure WAP access to your mail server may be obtained by purchasing the latest upgrade to your Microsoft exchange server or by a more versatile add-on to your server from companies such as Peramon |
| VPN | A Virtual Private Network application working between your Laptop or PDA to a VPN firewall on your company LAN will provide a highly secure encrypted data link to access your LAN. Check with your GPRS network supplier for compatibility with their firewall. (Note that a VPN link will not be able to take advantage of any GPRS network based optimisation, and these will now have to be located on the company LAN) |
| RAS | Rather than GPRS you may wish to resort to using either GSM data or HSCSD (from Orange) to access your companies existing Remote Access Servers which will provide secure dial-in access to your company network. |
Configuring for Internet based email access
Mobile e-mail may be divided into two separate tasks - sending and receiving as these use different Internet devices for transmission.
ISPs usually provide both a POP server(where your emails are stored ready for download) and an SMTP server(a Internet device that allows upload of emails ready for transmission) with a single authentication when you dial into your account.
When accessing from a mobile device using GPRS you will not necessarily be authenticated on your ISPs system, and this will require a slightly different configuration to work.
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Sending |
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Receiving |
The ideal situation is that you will be able to send and receive emails wherever and however you are connected. A problem associated with accessing your email with multiple devices, is where to store the emails. If you use POP to download to your Laptop, then they will not be available on your PDA. So you sync your PDA to your Laptop and then download further emails using GPRS when out of the office (remembering to 'leave a copy on server' so that you they are available when back in the office). Synching devices again later will update both but there are risks that items will be lost.
To send an e-mail one would normally use the SMTP server associated with your e-mail mailbox (provided by your ISP). You will be authenticated when you log into (dial up) your ISP and this device would then allow you to upload your e-mails before routing them on towards their destination.
The first potential problem with mobile access to an SMTP server is authentication. Accessing through GPRS may not provide the authentication information required by your ISP which will usually not allow you to send emails.
To overcome this a SMTP server that allows authentication must be used - not all ISPs will provide this. If yours does not, then your GPRS network supplier should be able to provide one - this does not effect the contents of your emails in any way - the 'from' field will remain the same.
Many SMTP servers allow for a separate username/password authentication which is usually supplied by your e-mail application. Unfortunately, this is not supported by PocketPC's built-in email application (pocket outlook).
Receiving is more straightforward than sending as authentication is usually carried out between your email application and the POP server every time you download emails - your email package will send a username/password every time you check for mail. This will still work when using GPRS and should not need changing.
NOTE: None of the methods described above effect the contents of the email or even the 'from' or 'reply to' addresses in any way - they just provide alternate delivery mechanisms totally transparent to the sender.