Recently, Gutsy Gibbon, Ubuntu’s latest offering to the world of Linux was released. With it, came a lot of changes, most of which were long overdue. Many also claimed that Linux was now able to replace Windows, no thanks to Microsoft’s latest offering in the desktop environment (Vista), being such a flop. That does appear to be the case, if you are not a Windows Mobile user.

The reason being, there is no ActiveSync replacement for Linux. There is something similar for it in Mac OS, such as MissingSync. The software created for Linux, on the other hand, pale in comparison. Sure there’s SynCE and MultiSync, but it doesn’t really do what ActiveSync can do. And not to mention that if you are running WM5 or 6, that there might be even further complications. Is there really no hope for us Windows Mobile users? While you will not be able to use ActiveSync in Linux anytime soon, there are other options that you might want to try.

Linux Standalone

There are those who have ventured into this with nothing but the software built for Linux such as SynCE and MultiSync discussed earlier. Big names such as Ben Stanley from Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine have tried to sync his Windows Mobile device with Ubuntu and succeeded. However, there were some problems here and there and you were not exactly getting the streamlined ActiveSync experience. It should be noted as well that the device used was a WM2003 one, which deals with sync processes different from WM5 and 6 devices. Nonetheless, it is a good read which you should look into.

Porting Linux Into PDAs

Ubuntu is leading the way in this department, trying to bring Linux to mobile devices, just as they have with desktops. The good thing is that with such backings, we might actually be able to use Linux on our devices very soon. And if this is the case, then it should make sense that a Linux PC should be able to sync with a Linux mobile device just as easily. Porting Linux to Pocket PC is not new though and it has been in the past, but with very limited success. Hopefully, with this new initiative, things will start picking up speed very soon.

Exchange Server

This, in my opinion, is the best option thus far. There are many offerings which you can use, ranging from the Free to the Paid, but you can not get a better solution than this at the moment. An Exchange Server is basically your Outlook on the Internet. Used mainly by enterprises, individuals are starting to jump on as well, due to the lowering costs. Instead of having a computer turned on 24/7 to sync your data, a provider handles that for you. So your data is now online and you can sync your PIM to your hearts content, without having to use ActiveSync while still enjoying its benefits.

The good news about having your own server is that you can sync not just your Pocket PC but any other device as well. Imagine going into a store to buy a new phone and before you get home, your PIM is already loaded on it. The reason this is possible is because the data is already on the server and all you need is to connect your phone and it will handle the session. While not all phones support this kind of sync, more and more phones are able to do so.

In The End

The choice is up to you. At the moment, I am trying out Mail2Web, which offers a free exchange server and push mail but there are limitations. Soon I will be trying their paid services to see if the add-ons are really useful and worth it. The thing is, you have to experiment with different options before you can find the one that fits you best.

What are some of your ActiveSync alternatives?

Tags: opinion