[Macpartners] Strategic Direction for Mobile Devices at MIT

[Don Montabana]

Mobile devices usage at MIT is growing rapidly. Due to the popularity of PDA
and Smartphone devices, there is an increasing demand for support for
configuring and troubleshooting these types of mobile devices for faculty,
staff, and students.

 

In December 2006, IS&T conducted a survey to understand the current needs of
mobile device users at MIT. Based on the survey results and the general
market trends, IS&T will provide broader support for mobile devices in 2007.
IS&T support for mobile devices will focus on the following areas:

 

.        Windows Mobile: provide support for the rich functionality in these
devices

.        Palm OS: continue support for these devices but do not recommend
purchasing these devices moving forward

.        Apple's new iPhone: anticipate the potential popularity and explore
ways to make iPhones work within MIT's IT environment.

.        BlackBerry: IS&T will not support at this time, but basic
documentation for these devices will be available.

 

Beginning in March 2007, IS&T launched the Mobile Devices Release Project
which is scheduled to conclude in August 2007.  The project is a
collaborative effort between IS&T and members of the community in several
DLCs.  The goals of the release project are to test and document these
mobile devices and applications within MIT's IT infrastructure and train
appropriate personnel on the Computer Help Desk, Departmental Information
Technology Resources (DITR), and in the DLC's. The project will focus on the
following mobile device platforms:

 

1.    Windows Mobile 5: providing core functionality for both Windows Mobile
5 Pocket PC and Smartphone Editions.

 

a.  Devices: Treo 700wx, Treo 750, Motorola Q, VZW XV6700, Sprint PPC6700,
T-Mobile Dash, and others.

b.  Services: Email, TechTime Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Office Mobile,
Certificates, Web Browsing, SyncML, Synchronization with Windows and  

   Macintoshes, Backup, and Remote Device Management.

c.  Windows Mobile 6: validate the functionality for Windows Mobile 6
devices including upgrading from Windows Mobile 5 as it becomes available in


summer of 2007.

 

2.    Palm OS: focus on over-the-air synchronization of the TechTime
calendar and update existing documentation for existing Palm OS users.

 

a.  Devices: Treo 700p, Treo 680, Treo 650, and Palm T|X

b.  Software: VersaMail 3.5, SyncML 2.5 and 3.0, and SnapperMail 

 

3.    Apple iPhone: once released to the public investigate the viability of
Apple iPhone devices in the MIT environment

 

Based on findings of the release project, IS&T will make Recommendations
including support statements for mobile devices and software applications
that work best within the MIT environment.

 

To find out more about this project, please visit Mobile Devices Release
Project Notebook (http://mit.edu/swrt/releases/mobile2007/) or contact
Andrew Yu, IS&T's Mobile Device Platform coordinator (email:
andrewyu at mit.edu).

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Don

 

 

-- 
Don Montabana
Director, Client Support Services
Information Services and Technology
Office: (617) 253-5654
donm at mit.edu

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