Which PDAs are Most Compatible with Microsoft Exchange?

Groupware is software that allows people to work together from various locations, useful for nonprofits where staff works remotely. Collaboration features offered by groupware can include email, scheduling, discussion groups, group folders, and more.

One benefit of groupware tools such as Microsoft Exchange (available at a discount from TechSoup Stock) is that you can sync them up to your PDA, allowing you to receive up-to-the-moment information even when you are working out in the field.

Yet as the chart below demonstrates, not all PDAs are created equal. While most PDAs allow full synchronization with Microsoft Exchange when plugged into your desktop, some are a better option for over-the-air synchronization, something you may require if you are working away from your computer for long stretches of time.

I personally recommend using a Windows Mobile or Palm OS phone. For Windows phones, I've had good luck with Samsung Blackjack, Motorola Q, or HTC. For Palm OS, I've had good luck with Treo 650, 700p, and 750/755p. I don't recommend the Treo 700w or Treo Windows Mobile phones. iPhone is cool, but it doesn't offer native support for Exchange. 

Keep in mind, too, that you may need to modify your current Exchange 2003/2007 setup in order to enable over-the-air synchronization features. Support articles on Microsoft's Web site can help you with this; method two of this article has worked for me.

* BlackBerry phones only fully integrate with Exchange when used with intermediary software called BlackBerry Enterprise Server. BlackBerry Enterprise Server requires you to install the software on a Windows server, meaning that you may need to purchase additional hardware and software. It also requires its own licensing, adding another level of administration to the system, although I have found the tech support for BlackBerry Enterprise Server to be adequate. Another option is to use the Blackberry Desktop Redirector, but this requires that you leave the desktop that would perform the redirection powered on and logged in, with Outlook also running — not an ideal scenario in my book.

** The latest Palm Treos (with the Palm operating system) come with a third-party product called Versamail. Versamail has the ability to synchronize not only email but the calendar as well. At this time, Versamail does not provide access to Contacts or Tasks — you still have to connect to your desktop in order to do this.

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