August 1, 2010
Choosing a Mobile Email Device
Joe Whitt asked:
Just a few years ago, there were very few options when it came to mobile email. Now there are many choices. However, not every mobile email device and service is equal. Here are some things to consider when choosing a mobile email device.
Service Expense – Plans can range from $4 per month to $70 per month to $15 per megabyte. Make sure you understand how you will be charged and choose a plan that meets your needs. International Usage – Many plans only work in the US. If you travel a lot internationally, make sure you choose a plan that works where you need to be. Also make sure you understand the charges for international roaming. Many plans will work, but charge a premium fee of up to $15 per megabyte. You can easily go through 50 megabytes in a month traveling abroad, so these charges can really add up. If you travel a lot you will probably want a provider that offers a flat fee for international usage. Included Services – Some plans offer unlimited basic email, but charge you extra for web browsing. Others include web browsing and other types of data transfer as long as you are in a certain service area. Once again make sure you understand exactly how you will be billed to avoid unexpected charges. It is not unheard of for someone to get a $750 bill for data usage that they thought was included in their service plan. Existing Email Accounts – For a device to be useful to you, it needs to work with your existing email accounts. If you have to create a new email account, the result is yet another way for people to get a hold of you. Choosing a device a plan that works with your current email accounts means it will be transparent to the people who normally contact you through email. Test Your Account – Once your device is setup, you should test it by sending yourself an email to another account and replying to an email that came to your mobile device. This testing is important to make sure you understand exactly what your emails will look like to others. Sometimes mobile email services will automatically add in a signature line or otherwise change the emails being sent and you need to test it so you understand what to expect. Email Reconciliation – Part of the reason for having a mobile email device is so you can deal with emails out of the office. If your system is setup so you get mobile emails, but then have to deal with each one again, once you get back to your desktop, you may be wasting more time that you are gaining. Look for a system that at a minimum allows you to delete an email off of your mobile device and have it removed from your desktop client automatically. Input Method – There are various kinds of input methods for mobile devices. Some use a pen based input. Others require typing letters on a numeric keyboard. Others have a mini QWERTY style keyboard embedded in the device. Take the time to choose a device that you are comfortable using. There are few things worse than spending several hundred dollars on a device meant to increase your productivity only to discover that you cannot stand to use it
Just a few years ago, there were very few options when it came to mobile email. Now there are many choices. However, not every mobile email device and service is equal. Here are some things to consider when choosing a mobile email device.
Service Expense – Plans can range from $4 per month to $70 per month to $15 per megabyte. Make sure you understand how you will be charged and choose a plan that meets your needs. International Usage – Many plans only work in the US. If you travel a lot internationally, make sure you choose a plan that works where you need to be. Also make sure you understand the charges for international roaming. Many plans will work, but charge a premium fee of up to $15 per megabyte. You can easily go through 50 megabytes in a month traveling abroad, so these charges can really add up. If you travel a lot you will probably want a provider that offers a flat fee for international usage. Included Services – Some plans offer unlimited basic email, but charge you extra for web browsing. Others include web browsing and other types of data transfer as long as you are in a certain service area. Once again make sure you understand exactly how you will be billed to avoid unexpected charges. It is not unheard of for someone to get a $750 bill for data usage that they thought was included in their service plan. Existing Email Accounts – For a device to be useful to you, it needs to work with your existing email accounts. If you have to create a new email account, the result is yet another way for people to get a hold of you. Choosing a device a plan that works with your current email accounts means it will be transparent to the people who normally contact you through email. Test Your Account – Once your device is setup, you should test it by sending yourself an email to another account and replying to an email that came to your mobile device. This testing is important to make sure you understand exactly what your emails will look like to others. Sometimes mobile email services will automatically add in a signature line or otherwise change the emails being sent and you need to test it so you understand what to expect. Email Reconciliation – Part of the reason for having a mobile email device is so you can deal with emails out of the office. If your system is setup so you get mobile emails, but then have to deal with each one again, once you get back to your desktop, you may be wasting more time that you are gaining. Look for a system that at a minimum allows you to delete an email off of your mobile device and have it removed from your desktop client automatically. Input Method – There are various kinds of input methods for mobile devices. Some use a pen based input. Others require typing letters on a numeric keyboard. Others have a mini QWERTY style keyboard embedded in the device. Take the time to choose a device that you are comfortable using. There are few things worse than spending several hundred dollars on a device meant to increase your productivity only to discover that you cannot stand to use it
Filed under Computers And Technology by on Aug 1st, 2010. 
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