North Dakota State Government Wireless Email Solutions

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are my options for receiving my State email on mobile devices?
   • If your email account is on the State's Enterprise Microsoft Exchange environment, you can currently be configured to receive it on devices running the following operating systems: BlackBerry, Pocket PC, Palm, Windows Mobile, and Symbian.
2. How do I purchase my handheld device (BlackBerry, Treo, PocketPC, etc.)?
   • Please contact Tim Frederick (328-2280) or Dorothy Vetter (328-4395) from ITD Telecommunications to facilitate the ordering of your device and service.
3. Where is the mobile data service that these devices require, available?
   • Service availability may differ depending on your desired Cellular service provider. Please contact Tim Frederick (328-2280) or Dorothy Vetter (328-4395) from ITD Telecommunications to find out if there is service available in your area.
4. What costs are associated with this service?
   • There will be a charge from your cellular provider for the mobile data service.
   • There will also be a charge from ITD to cover the server hosting, software licensing, and maintenance.
   • Please contact Tim Frederick (328-2280) or Dorothy Vetter (328-4395) from ITD Telecommunications for further pricing information.
5. Why do I want to use the State's server based solution to get my email on my device, rather than just using the desktop redirector software?
   • There are several reasons that the server based solution should be utilized, the most important of which is security. As long as your device is on the State's server infrastructure, policies can be used to ensure the security of the data that resides on the device when it is in your possession as well as if the device is lost or stolen. This can not be done via the desktop redirector software.
   • For additional information regarding the other benefits that the server based solution provides, please contact Tim Frederick (328-2280) or Dorothy Vetter (328-4395) from ITD Telecommunications.
6. Does my mobile device have a password reset or retrieval feature?
   • If you are on the State's server infrastructure, there are ways for your administrator to get you into your device, in the event you forget your password.
7. What applications come with my mobile device?
   • Pocket PC devices come with applications such as phone, web browser, email, calendar, address book, task list, memo pad, alarm, and calculator. As well as pocket versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, Windows Medial Player, and MSN Messenger. Additional applications are also available.
   • Palm devices come with applications such as phone, web browser, email, calendar, address book, task list, memo pad, alarm, calculator, and a media player. Additional applications are also available.
   • BlackBerry devices come with integrated applications such as phone, browser, calendar, address book, task list, memo pad, alarm and calculator. Additional applications are also available.
8. What is email reconciliation?
   • Email reconciliation is the process of synchronizing all email transactions between your Exchange mailbox and your handheld device. All received emails, deletions, email filings, etc. are synchronized wirelessly.
9. Is my mail secure while being transmitted to my handheld device?
   • Yes. During the transmission of data between the State's server and your handheld device, encryption is used to ensure that the data remains safe and secure from unauthorized access.
10. Can I send or view email messages while I am on the phone?
    • When you are on a voice call, email messages can be read and composed, but cannot be sent or received. 
    • If you compose a message while on a voice call, this message will be sent once the call is complete. Any messages that were sent to you while you were on your call will be received on your mobile device once the call is complete. 
    • If a voice call happens to be received at the exact moment an email message is being sent or received, the call may go directly to voice mail.
11. Can I open email attachments on my mobile device?
    • Common attachment types such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Adobe Acrobat files, image files, etc. can be opened on your mobile device as long as you are part of the State's server based infrastructure.
    • If you choose to use a desktop redirector solution for delivery of your email to your device, you cannot receive attachments.
12. Can I modify email attachments with my mobile device?
    • PocketPC devices ship with a special version of Microsoft Word and Excel that allow for the editing of these types of attachments.
    • Third party applications are available that allow for the editing of attachments on BlackBerry and Palm OS devices. However, this capability is not available by default.
13. Does my calendar stay synchronized?
    • Yes, if you are on the State's server infrastructure, your calendar is wirelessly synchronized between your Exchange mailbox and your handheld device.
14. Does my mobile device support web browsing?
    • Yes, if you have a data plan with your cellular provider, you can use your device to browse the web. The web browser that ships on these devices is a scaled down version and therefore, may not support browsing all web sites.
15. Can I use instant messaging on my mobile device?
    • PocketPC devices come with a pocket version of MSN Messenger installed. This version will not work with the State's corporate instant messaging server; however, it will work to communicate with the public MSN Messenger community.
    • Third party software can be purchased to allow instant messaging on Palm and BlackBerry devices. However, these applications will not work with the State's corporate instant messaging server.
16. Can I play, listen, or record music, videos or other multimedia files on my mobile device?
    • Pocket PC and Palm devices come with software that will allow you to play music and video files.
    • BlackBerry devices cannot play music or video files at this time.
17. Are photos viewable on my mobile device?
    • Yes, you can view photos on your mobile device.
18. Does my mobile device have handwriting recognition?
    • Pocket PC and Palm devices use a stylus for input. Therefore, they can be configured for handwriting recognition.
    • BlackBerry devices use a keyboard and track wheel for input and do not use a stylus. Therefore, they cannot be configured for handwriting recognition.
19. What is QWERTY?
    • The name QWERTY is used to describe a standard English-language keyboard and comes from the first six letters in the top alphabet row. Many mobile devices are sold with thumb size keyboards that follow this standard keyboard layout.
20. What is SureType?
    • SureType is feature on some BlackBerry devices that combines a traditional phone keypad and a familiar QWERTY keyboard to create a familiar dialing and typing experience. The BlackBerry 7100 Series features SureType technology.
21. Where can I get a user guide for my handheld device?
    • User guides should be available on either your device manufacturer's or cellular provider's web site.
22. Can the memory on my mobile device be increased or expanded to hold more data?
    • Available memory slots are a device specific feature. Some Pocket PC and Palm devices do offer additional memory slots for increasing your available space. Please consult your user guide for further information.
    • BlackBerry devices are not currently capable of memory expansion.
23. Does my mobile device support Bluetooth?
    • Bluetooth is a device specific feature. Depending on your manufacturer/model your device may or may not support Bluetooth. Please consult your device's user guide.
24. Does my mobile device have a camera?
    • Cameras are a device specific feature. Depending on your manufacturer/model your device may or may not have a camera. Please consult your device's user guide.
25. Does my mobile device have a speaker phone?
    • Speaker phones are a device specific feature. Depending on your manufacturer/model your device may or may not have a speaker phone. Please consult your device's user guide.