Enterprise Data Plan($45) vs. Personal Data ($30) question

[patrickj]

Originally Posted by dimensiondvdrob

Look, in my experience, the push exchange email will work on a Treo without business data plans; i had a treo and a normal plan (non-business) and it works fine. Accessing an exchange server is like accessing a site on the web and ATT cannot control what sites you access on the web. What they do is if your account is listed in a business name they make you pay for the business plan and if you notice how they word everything - it's confusing - they make you think that you have to pay for the business plan to access exchange servers and a lot of people will probably buy in, making ATT a lot more revenue for nothing.

Absolutely true that getting Exchange sync working is down to you / your phone's capability / your company's Exchange setup - not something AT&T prevents.

But ... just my recollection here, but I thought the place where AT&T does come into it is that their data rates (in the fine print) cover certain specific sorts of acceptable traffic - web browsing, consumer type email for example (POP< IMAP etc).

Exchange sync uses different protocols - been a while, can't recall which (RPC over HTTPS maybe, plus some used in maintaining heartbeat with the Exchange server). AT&T can see the different traffic types and slap data overage charges on for traffic that is not within the accepted data types.

I thought that's where the whole 'enterprise plan' element of things came into the equation. Not sure how often they really analyze the traffic, really charge the overage rate - but thought this was a reason that corporates cough up - for the ease of knowing those traffic types are included ...

[ColsTiger]

Originally Posted by patrickj

Absolutely true that getting Exchange sync working is down to you / your phone's capability / your company's Exchange setup - not something AT&T prevents.

But ... just my recollection here, but I thought the place where AT&T does come into it is that their data rates (in the fine print) cover certain specific sorts of acceptable traffic - web browsing, consumer type email for example (POP< IMAP etc).

Exchange sync uses different protocols - been a while, can't recall which (RPC over HTTPS maybe, plus some used in maintaining heartbeat with the Exchange server). AT&T can see the different traffic types and slap data overage charges on for traffic that is not within the accepted data types.

I thought that's where the whole 'enterprise plan' element of things came into the equation. Not sure how often they really analyze the traffic, really charge the overage rate - but thought this was a reason that corporates cough up - for the ease of knowing those traffic types are included ...

If it does turn out that we have to pay $45 for MS Exchange support on the iphone, then I probably won't be using it. I'm using Synchronica now and it works fine. I just can't see paying $15/month out of my pocket just to be able to access my Exchange calendar and contacts.

[acosmichippo]

to be honest, i don't really see a HUGE upside to push email... but maybe that's just because i haven't used it yet.

is 15-minute "fetch" not fast enough? Or, if you're expecting an email, just check manually...

[NateEssex]

Originally Posted by ColsTiger

If it does turn out that we have to pay $45 for MS Exchange support on the iphone, then I probably won't be using it. I'm using Synchronica now and it works fine. I just can't see paying $15/month out of my pocket just to be able to access my Exchange calendar and contacts.

Agreed! I would like it for the access to the contacts and the calendar. I poll the Exchange Server every 15 minutes atm and it's okay. Sure I wish I could do it every 5-10, but oh well. Also, I think I read that it will save battery life by not having to poll so often via the push aspect.

Thanks for weighing in, ColsTiger. I feel just a little less anxious that I'll be faced with the $45 decision.

[dimensiondvdrob]

The main reason I am looking forward to this Exchange Sync is so I can do things like I did with my Treo when I am out of the office. Right now, I cannot get my email, since we decided to not implement the IMAP 'pseudo-exchange' that Apple first offered with the iPhone, especially when I saw how pathetic it works compared to full, properly deployed Exchange devices. I would pay the extra $15 but that is because I run a business. I would be happier to not pay for this, but if I do, it's just the CODB.

[fd1906]

I just downgraded to the $30 data plan for my iPhone 3G and it works with activesync. The AT&T rep i called had no idea and after 5 minutes on hold basically said it should work on the $30 plan so try it. And I did. And it works.

[ColsTiger]

Originally Posted by fd1906

I just downgraded to the $30 data plan for my iPhone 3G and it works with activesync. The AT&T rep i called had no idea and after 5 minutes on hold basically said it should work on the $30 plan so try it. And I did. And it works.

Thanks for the info. You're about the 8th person to verify that the MS Exchange features work on the regular $30 consumer plan. This was a long thread with much debate, but it appears now that the only people that are required to pay the $45 plan are the people on commercial accounts.

[Ramesh]

I guess I posted in another thread. I'll do it here.

I WAS WRONG.

There. My apologies. I based my argument with what I was told. Either way, my bad. You CAN use the $30 /mo plan to get your exchange mail. I've set up our entire office that way.

[dimensiondvdrob]

no need to apologize Ramesh. Everything was speculation before the phone was released. I could have been wrong, you could have been right for all we knew then.

[styfle]

but ramesh is showing he is a real man because he admits his mistake

PS sorry if you are a woman, ramesh