How to Configure Always Up-To-Date Notifications on Your Pocket PC

With Windows Mobile 2003 software, you have control over how and when your device synchronizes. You have three synchronization options: AUTD, scheduled, and manual (see Table 1). Besides the three options, you also have control over these three synchronization methods, which are configured using the peak time and off-peak time settings.

Synchronization configuration options	Description
Manual Sync	Initiate synchronization manually to update the mobile device.
Scheduled Sync	Configure the mobile device to synchronize at scheduled intervals.
AUTD	Configure the mobile device to automatically synchronize whenever new messages arrive in a mailbox that is configured for synchronization.

Table 1: Synchronization configuration options

Synchronization Schedules

To maximize the usefulness of the AUTD feature, you should configure it to keep your data "always up to date" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This configuration is appropriate for most mobile device users. However, you should be aware that using the AUTD feature during periods of extremely heavy e-mail message traffic may affect the battery life of your device, for example, if you receive 60 or more messages a day. Additionally, you may also be incurring costs associated with each time that you synchronize.

As an alternative to configuring AUTD to keep your data synchronized 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can use the peak and off-peak time settings to configure your device for optimal synchronization management. For example, consider using AUTD during periods of low e-mail message activity (off-peak time) and using scheduled synchronization (every 15–30 minutes is best) during periods of high e-mail message activity (peak time). With this configuration, your data is kept up-to-date with the least amount of effort and the lowest impact to your device and connection plan.

Mobile Carrier Considerations

Because AUTD uses SMS messages to automatically trigger synchronization, it is highly recommended that your wireless plan include unlimited incoming SMS messages. Although many plans include unlimited incoming SMS messages, if your plan does not, you may be charged for each SMS message received. For additional details, contact your wireless service provider.

Important: Not all mobile carriers support AUTD. Before you try to configure your device, confirm that your mobile carrier supports AUTD.  Currently, Sprint PCS, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Verizon Wireless, Nextel, and T-Mobile all do support AUTD.

Compatible Devices

AUTD is compatible with Pocket PC Phone Edition devices and Smartphones running either Windows Mobile 2003 software or Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software.

Requirements

Before you set up a mobile device, make sure you meet the following requirements.

•	Have a Pocket PC Phone Edition device running either Windows Mobile 2003 software or Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software. For information about upgrading a Pocket PC device, see Upgrade to Windows Mobile 2003 Software for Pocket PC on the Windows Mobile site.
•	Have ActiveSync 3.7.1 or later installed on your computer. To download the latest version of ActiveSync, see Microsoft ActiveSync Download - on www.microsoft.com

How to Configure a Pocket PC Phone Edition Device

Important: Not all mobile carriers support AUTD. Before you try to configure your device, confirm that your mobile carrier supports AUTD.

To Configure Your Pocket PC Phone Edition Device

1.

Set up a data connection for your device, either General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) or dial-up. For more information, see Help and How-To on the Windows Mobile site.

2.

Set up the mobile device to synchronize with the correct server running Exchange ActiveSync (see Figure 5).  Follow the procedure here for this: http://www.Thoughtbus.com/Customer_Support/SetupConnection/Procedure-Setup-ActiveSync-for-Thoughtbus.html

Figure 5: Server Synchronization Options screen on a Pocket PC

3.

Start ActiveSync and manually synchronize your device. If you used desktop pass-through, remove your device from the cradle now.

4.

If your server and account support AUTD, your device may prompt you to start using AUTD (see Figure 6).

Figure 6: Always Up-to-date pop-up bubble

If the ActiveSync bubble comes up, click Yes and move on to Step 6. If you do not see the bubble, proceed with Step 5.

5.

Check that the mobile device is enabled for AUTD. To do so, click Start, click ActiveSync, click Tools, click Options, and then click Mobile Schedule. Click one of the synchronization frequencies for peak or off-peak times. If your device is enabled for AUTD, you should see the option When new items arrive (see Figure 7).

Figure 7: Mobile Schedule screen, When new items arrive

Note: If you do not see When new items arrive, your device may not support AUTD. However, if you are sure your device does support AUTD, confirm that you have synchronized successfully to a server running Exchange ActiveSync and that you meet the requirements listed in Requirements, later in this article. Then, try restarting the device and repeat the previous steps. If you still do not see When new items arrive, contact your Thoughtbus Technical Support (support@Thoughtbus.com) for assistance.

6.

In the Mobile Schedule screen, specify how frequently you want the device to synchronize during peak times and off-peak times (see Figure 8).

Note: The default Peak Times setting is 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. To learn how to customize the Peak Times setting, see Step 7.

Figure 8: Mobile Schedule screen, recommended settings for a heavy e-mail user

You can configure the following options:

•

Use During peak times, sync and During off-peak times, sync to specify how often you want your device to synchronize during peak times and off-peak times.

•	To enable AUTD, select When new items arrive.
•	To specify a synchronization interval in minutes, select an interval in minutes. Note: For more information about configuring these settings, see "Synchronization Schedules."

•

Select Sync outgoing items as they are sent to force the device to synchronize after you have composed e-mail messages or marked items to be downloaded. This option works even if the device is not configured for AUTD.

•

Set When roaming, sync to Manually to control costs by disabling automatic synchronization when you are roaming. You can tell if your device is roaming by tapping the connectivity icon at the top right; if a triangle is shown in the connectivity bubble, your device is roaming. Mobile devices are determined to be roaming based on your wireless service plan and your wireless service provider's billing system. Therefore, being in roaming mode may not mean that your roaming connectivity is more expensive than in your home area. Refer to your calling plan to change this setting appropriately.

Note: You may receive a prompt to configure your device address for AUTD. If so, see Step 9.

7.

You can adjust the scheduling options to define your own peak times (when you receive a greater influx of mail). To make this adjustment, click Peak Times (see Figure 9).

Figure 9: Peak Times screen

8.

Click OK. If you have never set up your device to use this feature, you receive a message letting you know that you need to provision your device address. Click OK.

9.

In the Device Address screen, to specify how to address your device to synchronize new items as they arrive, do one of the following:

Note: If you are not at the Device Address screen, click Start, click ActiveSync, click Tools, click Options, click Server, click Options, and then click Device Address.

•

Standard method. Click Corporate Service Provider, select your service provider from the drop-down list, and then enter your device's phone number into the Device Phone Number field (see Figure 10). Figure 10: Device Address screen, Corporate Service Provider option Note: If you do not see your service provider in the list, or if the Corporate Service Provider option is unavailable, manually enter your device SMS address by using the following alternative method instructions.

•

Alternative method. Manually enter your SMS address. Click Device SMS Address and enter your device's SMS address as shown in Figure 11. Some examples of common SMS address formats include the following: Example phone number: (425) 555-0101 T-Mobile: <1+area code+number+@tmomail.net> Example: 14255550101@tmomail.net AT&T Wireless: <area code+number+@mmode.com> Example: 4255550101@mmode.com Cingular: <area code+number+@mobile.mycingular.com> Example: 4255550101@mobile.mycingular.com Verizon: <area code+number+@vtext.com> Example: 4255550101@vtext.com Sprint PCS: <area code+number+@messaging.sprintpcs.com> Example: 4255550101@messaging.sprintpcs.com Nextel: <area code+number+@page.nextel.com > Example: 4255550101@page.nextel.com Figure 11: Device Address screen, Device SMS Address

10.

Click OK to close the Device Address screen. If you enabled your device to use AUTD currently, your device automatically provisions itself (by synchronizing again via Exchange ActiveSync). When that succeeds, you have successfully configured your Pocket PC Phone Edition.

Performance: In general, we've seen AUTD get new e-mails to Windows Mobile devices within 3 to 5 minutes.

To change your device's SMS address

1.	Click Start, click ActiveSync, click Tools, click Options, click Server, and then click Options.
2.	In the Server Synchronization Options screen, click Device Address (see Figure 12). Then, follow the instructions beginning at Step 9 in the To Configure Your Pocket PC Phone Edition Device procedure. Figure 12: Server Synchronization Options screen, Device Address

To Configure a Mobile Schedule for Synchronization Times

1.	Click Start, click ActiveSync, click Tools, click Options, and then click Mobile Schedule (see Figure 13). Figure 13: Setting your mobile schedule
2.	Use the options to set your mobile synchronization schedule.