Zimbra Mobile Device Compatibility
On this page:
Overview
Stanford Email and Calendar (Zimbra) offers a variety of methods to access your email, calendar, and contacts from the most popular handheld devices on campus (PalmOS-based Treos, Windows Mobile devices, iPhone, and Blackberry). Options range from:
- Web Access: Zimbra provides a web interface that is designed for easy viewing using a web browser on a mobile device. You can access your email, calendar, and address book using the Stanford Mobile Web interface at http://mobilemail.stanford.edu.
- Over-the-air Syncing: Two-way, over-the-air syncing allows you to sync your mail, calendar, and/or contacts from anywhere you have a network connection to the corresponding applications on your mobile device. (Note: Except for the iPhone, you can only sync your primary calendar. With the iPhone, you can sync to all of the calendars you own, but you cannot sync to shared calendars.) Unlike web access via the Stanford Mobile Web Interface, your data will be accessible even when you don't have a network connection. This type of access has traditionally been available at Stanford for email only. Zimbra now offers the possibility of the same type of access for Calendar and Address Book data.
- Syncing via a cable: For devices that can't do an over-the-air sync, it may be possible to sync data to your device using a USB cable and appropriately configured software on your computer. This sort of syncing is what was traditionally necessary to sync Sundial data to mobile devices.
Mobile Device Compatibility Chart
Recommendation: IT Services recommends the iPhone or a device running Windows Mobile 6. Blackberry may become a recommended offering pending deployment of an additional server.
| Mobile Device | Web Access | Email: Inbox | Email: All Folders | Calendar | Address Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Over-the-air | Over-the-air |
| Windows Mobile 6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Over-the-air | Over-the-air |
| Windows Mobile 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Palm Treo 650 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Over-the-air | Over-the-air |
| Palm Treo 680 | Yes | No | No | Sync via cable | Sync via cable |
| Blackberry | No | Yes | No | Sync via Cable (Windows) | Sync via Cable (Windows) |
iPhone (Recommended)
With the release of the iPhone 2.0 software in July, iPhone users can access their email, calendar, and contacts using over-the-air syncing. Meeting invitations can be accepted or declined with a single action from either the Mail or Calendar applications. In addition, the Stanford Mobile Web interface works very well with the iPhone's high-resolution display. See the iPhone Configuration Instructions web page.
Windows Mobile 6 (Recommended)
Devices running Windows Mobile 6 are able to use an over-the-air sync for email, calendar, and contacts. You can also access the Stanford Mobile Web interface from your device's browser. See the Windows Mobile 6 Configuration Instructions web page.
Windows Mobile 5
Devices running Windows Mobile 5 are able to use the email application on the device to send and receive Stanford email. It is not possible to sync the calendar and contacts applications on the device to the Stanford Email & Calendar server, so you need to use the Stanford Mobile Web interface via the device's web browser to view that information. Some devices have the option to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6; consult with your local technical support.
Palm Treo 650
The Treo 650 can do an over-the-air sync to access the email, calendar, and contacts on the server. The Stanford Mobile Web interface can also be used.
Palm Treo 680
The Treo 680 can use the email application on the device to send and receive Stanford email. The calendar and address book applications can sync to data on the server by using a cable and an appropriately configured computer. For a "live" view of the calendar and address book you need to use the Stanford Mobile Web interface via the device's web browser
Blackberry
The options for Blackberry are expected to change significantly in the coming months. For now, if you use a Blackberry you can access your email Inbox (but not the subfolders) using a network connection. Calendar and Address Book data can be synced via a USB cable to an appropriately configured computer. Certain features may be unavailable.
Note: In the coming months IT Services expects to offer a Blackberry Enterprise Server that will allow over-the-air access to all email folders, calendar, and contacts, giving Blackberry users similar functionality to that of the iPhone and Windows Mobile 6. There will be a monthly fee for access to this server.
