Review: DataViz RoadSync 4 gives you premium Exchange experience on E71x
I have to say that my Windows Mobile devices do give me a fantastic Exchange syncing and user experience that beats all other mobile platforms. That experience is what has me pulling out my excellent Palm Treo Pro from time-to-time. Nokia has also licensed Exchange ActiveSync and has their Mail For Exchange (MFE) client available for most of the latest S60 devices for free. While MFE is a decent product, after using it and RoadSync on a rotational basis the past two years I have found that DataViz RoadSync version 4.0 is now the superior product and worth the price. Up until now it seems that each solution went back and forth as being the software with the best features and functionality. However, with the recent release of RoadSync version 4.0, RoadSync has definitely taken the lead as the best S60 Exchange client for several reasons that I will discuss in this review. The latest Nokia Messaging client, found in the E75, that incorporates MFE is getting better again too and will continue to drive RoadSync to continue to improve.
The latest version of RoadSync is version 4.002 and I tested it out on my Nokia E71, Nokia N85, and new AT&T Nokia E71x. DataViz is still working on a version for S60 5th Edition/touchscreen devices (like the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic). While RoadSync is a stand-alone application that you use to setup and manage your Exchange server account, the email appears as an account in the Nokia Messaging client on the device and appointments and tasks are integrated into the default Calendar application. Even though RoadSync appears as another mailbox in Messaging, DataViz has added customization to support some advanced features in Exchange 2007 servers.
Some of the latest features in this 4.002 release include:
- HTML email support
- Contact photos support
- Full screen support for e-mail viewing (press the spacebar or shift-0)
- E-mail key on Nokia Eseries (hold to create new RoadSync message) Does not work on E71x.
- New keypad shortcuts
- “Shop for Software” menu links to their new App Shop
- Supports upgrading versions that come preloaded on the ROM of Samsung devices
- Improved Inbox subfolder support
- Improved battery conservation for manual sync mode
- A bunch of bug fixes and optimizations
Initial setup
After you install the application on your device, you then need to setup your Exchange account and RoadSync walks you through this with a step-by-step wizard. Make sure you have your server settings (user name, password, server name, domain) from your IT personnel before trying to setup RoadSync. You then go through and setup your sync schedule and I like that you can select the days and hours you want to set as peak hours. You can choose from push, manual, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, and 12 hour options.You then need to setup whether or not to sync Email and how far back you want to sync, what size of email you want to receive, the format (HTML or text), new email pop-up toggle, delete confirmation toggle, when to delete sent items from the device, reply with history or not, customize your signature, and finally manage your folders. You can select which of your Outlook folders you want to sync with your E71x. This does not support advanced folders like I have at work with job folders outside of my Exchange account.
You then need to choose settings for your Calendar that include the date range (all, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months). I personally have mine set to just 1 month. Contacts and Tasks sync are both either on or off.
Finally, you have settings for log files, reset (may need to do if something gets corrupted), and default access point. If you choose an access point, then you won’t be prompted for one. Now that you are all setup, RoadSync should work away as you specified.
Using RoadSync
As emails come in I have a pop-up appear that then takes me right into the email or inbox for further action. Within an open email you can move, reply/forward, delete, create a new message, flag for follow up, zoom the font through 10 levels (very useful for when text is small), toggle to full screen (simply press the space bar to toggle this), view message details, or get help. I like viewing my email in HTML format since they come through as intended and appear just fine on the E71x.There are actually quite a few keyboard shortcuts and I highly recommend you view the Tips & Tricks pages to find out what they all are as they can make you much more efficient with RoadSync.
Within the Inbox you have options to open an email, move it to another folder, follow up flag the email, mark as read/unread, view subfolders, search the server, create a message, reply to the selected message, delete the message, sort the inbox (date, sender, subject), copy to folder, mark/unmark all, or exit the program. I love the ability to search the server for email messages and have only seen this ability on Windows Mobile devices, which have the best Exchange support.
When you choose to create a message you are given options to send now or save to outbox, add attachments, view your contacts, search the global address list (GAL), display cc/bcc, assign message priorities (high, normal, low), zoom as before, or check out the help file. Using the GAL has saved me several times since I do not have everyone on our company contact list on my personal contact list.
While you cannot create meeting requests (one area still where Windows Mobile excels), you can accept or decline them from people when they come into RoadSync and they will then go into your calendar.
With the integrated Quickoffice suite you can view and access any Office document attachment sent to you via Exchange.
In addition to email, RoadSync sync up your calendar, contacts, and tasks. For you folks new to the Eseries, you will not find a separate to-do application on your E71x. The To-do/tasks are found in a view in the calendar application.
Keep in mind that some of these advanced features require Exchange Server 2007, which is what I have at work. I believe with Server 2003 you cannot do things like flag messages or access the Global Address List. I see there is some SharePoint support and look forward to trying that when we roll out SharePoint later this year in my office.
You should also NOT sync via Nokia PC Suite to Outlook if you are going to use RoadSync to sync to your Exchange server or you most likely will get duplicate entries.
A nice security feature that should please your IT department is that you can remote wipe your E71x if you lose your phone. The IT people can perform a remote wipe and erase all the Exchange data on your device to prevent abuse.
Why RoadSync over Mail For Exchange?
Nokia’s own Mail For Exchange (MFE) is a free utility and it actually is improved in the Nokia E75 device. However, there are still some areas where RoadSync gives you a better Exchange experience and these may be important enough to you and your business to justify the $50 price.- Server search capability
- HTML email format support
- Font size adjustments when viewing emails
- Full screen email viewing support
- Email priority settings support
Conclusion
If you want and need just a basic level of Exchange syncing, then Mail For Exchange may work for you. I have found it to be a decent solution, but I have also found it to lockup on me and not give me that full experience I get with RoadSync or on other devices. If you have an Exchange account (either via a work server or hosted Exchange service) I highly recommend RoadSync for your S60 device, especially if you have an Eseries device designed for work.You can download a full 30-day free trial and also rest easy knowing there is a 30-day money-back guarantee if the software doesn’t work out for you. RoadSync is available for US$49.99 and if you have an earlier version of the software there are reduced price upgrade options.
Ratings (out of 5)
Overall: 5/5
|
9 Comments to Review: DataViz RoadSync 4 gives you premium Exchange experience on E71x
Finally the long awaited RoadSync Review I have been waiting for (even though I did purchase an E71 and tested RoadSync myself for the last couple of days), and as always a very detailed review.
I agree with you that Windows Mobile still has the best Exchange integration by far, but Roadsync is a very good alternative if you are a fan of Symbian phones. The system integration is great, but I wish they would have customised the look of the inbox a little bit. The classic Symbian inbox look is just getting really old (as is the standard mail client). And while I find the keyboard shortcuts very helpful, they seem to only work when you are within a specific email and not within the mailbox (where I would need it most personally to quickly mark and flag messages). Also they could have left the notifications that pop up whenever using any of the shortcuts.
I think the price is quite steep and can be hard to justify (in regards to the free MFE). It should be in the $30 region to be more appealing, but the features are very nice indeed.
Now if only the rest of the E-Series Email client would be better so that I could also use it for two other Gmail accounts I am using. I hate to use different email clients for different mailboxes, but using Nokia Messaging is pretty much the only decent solution (if it works) for Gmail accounts these days.
Again, big thanks from Germany for your review Matt.
JMEhlers, thank you for the kind comments. I have talked extensively with the DataViz folks and there are limits placed by Nokia on what they can do in the default Messaging application. It is too bad since MFE supports some things at the Messaging level that RoadSync cannot.
I agree that $30 would be a more justifiable price, especially given the change in expectations for mobile apps given all the 99 cent iPhone apps today. MFE and RoadSync both get better regularly, but the line between them is pretty close and the cost may not be justified by many. I personally find the server search capability to be a necessary function.
LesHabs29May 9, 2009
Thanks for a thorough review, Matthew. My company is moving to exchange 07 next wk and your review will help me get started on my E71. Are you saying that even if I don’t sync a folder, I can still perform a server search and find emails if needed? I have a large “Archive” folder that I’d rather leave off my device until I really need something specific. Thanks
AndrewMay 9, 2009
I was interested to see that you have a Treo Pro in addition to your e71 & e71x since those are the three devices I am interested in as potential replacements for my Centro.
[...] primary means for syncing my data is with Exchange and as I mentioned in an earlier review RoadSync provides the best experience on the S60 platform. However, it is priced at $50 so that is quite [...]
June 13, 2009
[...] version that just rolled out a day or two ago. The Ovi Store works fine so far and I did find that RoadSync in there right [...]
[...] version that just rolled out a day or two ago. The Ovi Store works fine so far and I did find that RoadSync in there right [...]
Deal Alert : Just purchased Roadsync from my-symbian.com for $24.99 and if you use their FESTIVE code you get extra 20% discount so that makes it $19.99
RajatApril 12, 2010
Couldn’t agree more.. I just have a small query: whenever I receive a new mail I get a alter tone but there is no way from the screen I can understand if I have received a new mail..
I mean I am not able to see any new mail alert on my mobile mail screen.. can anyone suggest a way out?
-R
May 8, 2009