Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

HCL Domino Domino Forum
1

We are evaluating the Martin Scott WirelessMail product for use with the Blackberry device and are having problems with mail forwarding. Let me say that the technical support person at Martin Scott has been very good at providing suggestions and possible fixes. We want to forward Notes mail to the Blackberry only when the user’s mail database is closed. When the db is open, nothing should be forwarded. I have added the suggested Postopen and Queryclose code to the database design but all mail is being forwarded regardless if the database is open or closed. The user’s mail template is iNotes.

I was wondering if anyone has experience with the WirelessMail product. If so, has it been good or bad? Are there any other products that we could evaluate that perform a similar function? We cannot justify investing in the BES since we will have a maximum 20 Blackberry users.

Thank you for any input.

Anita

2

Subject: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

Is the standard forward when not in cradle not sufficient? I guess it does require the user to put the blackberry in/out of the cradle a lot, but it works.

3

Subject: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

The PostOpen and QueryClose code will show a status bar message when WirelessMail forwarding is toggled due to mailbox opening or closing. If that’s not happening, then it’s not being triggered. This is usually because the user’s inbox or calendar is still open through the welcome page. That counts as being open. Therefore, the switch to stop mail forwarding is not engaged when the user thinks he or she is “opening” the mailbox, because the mail was already open. This feature only takes effect when the mail is completely closed (all windows to mail), and then opened.

Also, you say the user’s template is iNotes. That’s fine, but realize that this WirelessMail feature only suppresses forwarding when Notes Client, not web client, opens the mailbox.

Please call me at 703-281-6724 if you’d like a walk-through or remote web conference so we can look at the problem.

As for Kelly’s response to your posting, he was using an old version of WirelessMail from 18 months ago, version 3.x. All the issues she mentions are addressed in Version 4.x.

Here is my response to that with more information:

http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/nd6forum.nsf/DateAllThreadedWeb/90036fca85ad31ae85256fb100559b99?OpenDocument

4

Subject: RE: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

Thanks for the update, I did not know that you came out with a new version since I left my prior company and am no longer using a company PDA/BlackBerry. I kind of feel out of the wireless loop and have only gotten back into since I got a Treo.

I do think that your product is great esp for the cost associated with it. If/once I get my own server set up I will check out the new eval.

But just one thing, I am a guy.

5

Subject: RE: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

Sorry! I updated my post. I get that all time, too, being a Jamie.

Also, you don’t need your own server to install WM, as it’s just an agent and config doc added to the mailfile. You might want one, however, as we do when testing, but you don’t need one to install it. Just FYI. Thanks!

6

Subject: RE: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

Thanks for updating your post.

I am not able to download or install the product in my current work environment, policy and such, so I have to wait till I have my own to test it out and sync/wireless send mail to my Treo.

7

Subject: Solution: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

You have to check the “Prohibit design refresh/replace” property in the DB PostOpen event and QueryClose events. Your code is otherwise getting overwritten each night when the Design task runs on the server.

8

Subject: RE: Solution: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

I have added the code to Postopen and Queryclose in Database Script. On the Design Properties for Database Script I have checked ‘Prohibit design refresh or replace to modify’. The code seemed to be working while the user was in the office. He left for the day about an hour ago. I will check his db design tomorrow morning to make sure that the script code was not overwritten.

Thanks.

Anita

9

Subject: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

In my prior company I evaluated the Martin Scott product and was very happy with it. However, in the end we did get the BES and we had under 20 users.

But it comes down to how and why you are using the mail/mail forwarding. Attachments are a huge part of it, from what I remember you can run a blackberry without the BES Server, but you do not get attachments and I am not sure abut the sync process. Martin Scott was great about sending the mail, but mail sent from the PDA/Blackberry did not have a copy in the users mail file, and it came from the forwarding addess, not the users company account, again this all depends on how you have your environment set up.

Some users, prior to BB created an agent to forward mail from certain people to them or between certain hours. Martin Scott was great for that purpose but overall feel short of the overall goal. But we need E-mail to come from the office E-mail and to have a copy in the users mail box, we also needed to be able to handle attachments.

Not sure if that helped much, but if you need any more clairifaction or questions, I can try to help you out.

10

Subject: RE: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

Thank you for your input, Kelly.

We are happy with the concept of how the current version of WirelessMail is programmed to run. It sends a bcc copy to the user’s mail file that shows that it came from the company account. As for the attachments, we are not overly concerned with having large attachments forwarded to the Blackberry since it can be difficult to read large documents (Excel spreadsheets, for example). In the configuration we have it set so that attachments over 100KB are not forwarded. WirelessMail is an inexpensive product that theoretically gives us what we need but as I mentioned in my previous post, we are having a tough time getting it to function properly. Our environment is not unusual. We do not have any mail database customization with the exception of using single copy template and for this user, iNotes template. I am sure other companies have a similar if not more sophisticated enviroment.

Again thank you for your input.

Anita

11

Subject: RE: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

In theory you could write a LotusScript agent using the IsEnabled property to turn on and off the agent, which from the sounds of it should do it for you.

What do the PostPpen and QueryClose code look like that tech support gave you?

12

Subject: RE: Blackberry Mail Forwarding Software

You were using an old version of WirelessMail from 18 months ago, version 3.x. All the issues you mention are addressed in the current Version 4.x. V4 includes complete attachment management by file type and size, on a per-device basis (in case you have multiple devices). As long as your BB receives attachments when mailed to it directly, WirelessMail will convey those attachments to the handheld. Most of our users use WirelessMail with BlackBerry handhelds, and the attachment features are very popular.

When you send an email from the handheld, a copy ends up in your Notes Sent view, too. This is done by using the BlackBerry/Treo/Sidekick feature to auto-bcc an address (your Notes mail) on everything you send. WirelessMail recognizes these BCC’s copies and places them in the sent folder where they belong. They sort right next to messages you would have sent from Notes to the same user.

Additionally, you can set the handheld email to appear to come from your Notes office email address. This is set in the BlackBerry web client settings.

Also, in V4 the addresses are completely transparent now; the email arrives on your BlackBerry as if it was sent by the original sender, to your Notes mail address, with all other recipients in the CC or To fields, just as it was mailed from the sender. You can reply to all, etc.

V4 gives the user a completely BES-like experience, but without installing any new software on the server or the expensive licensing of BES and an extra Domino license. The major remaining functional advantage of BES is that it gives you 1) wireless calendar sync (with WirelessMail you to use the BB desktop and cradle to sync calendar) and 2) encryption, if that’s important to you. WirelessMail’s SMTP engine is as secure as any internet mail message, but not encrypted.

There is an entire document comparing WirelessMail to BES at

http://martinscott.com/home.nsf/pageview/WirelessMailCompare?opendocument

Keep in mind that WirelessMail also works on any Domino platform not just Windows, with any device (Palm/Treo, SideKick, PocketPC, Symbian, pagers, SMS, etc.), not just BlackBerry.

In 30 seconds, you can install the free 60-day full eval from http://martinscott.com/WirelessMail and try it out.