If you missed any of the recent past Device Management and Security sessions, feel free to click on the links from my previous posts and view the recordings.
I also have another session to make you aware of for this coming Friday being done by one of my Enterprise Mobile colleagues (rescheduled from April 17th):
· Webcast: TechNet Webcast: Deploying Mobile Device Manager 2008 is easier (and cheaper) than you think (Level 300)
Friday, April 24, 2009
11:30 A.M.–1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
Attendee Registration URL: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032410692
Description: “System Center Mobile Device Manager (SCMDM) is a complex product with a lot of dependencies which must all be in place in order for it to work correctly. This session, which takes almost 2 years of hands-on experience of deploying implementing SCMDM in the field, steps through how to successfully (and cost effectively) implement this product in the enterprise. The objective of this session is to address the misconception that SCMDM is hard to implement while showing how MDM eliminates almost all of the overhead associated with Blackberrys while retaining and elevating both manageability and security.”
Highly recommended to attend if you are interested in learning more about the deployment of SCMDM 2008 in your production environment.
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One of my colleagues at Enterprise Mobile noticed the press release from Celio on a new piece of software from Celio, the makers of the REDFLY Companion hardware add-on for Windows Mobile devices. This new PC based software was announced at the CES 2009 in January with a delivery date in March.
This peaked my interest and wanted to figure out what this piece of software could do. Specifically how does it assist with using the REDFLY devices if it is running on my Windows XP or Vista machine?? So I went to Celio site and downloaded the public beta.
How it works
The installation was painless and quick on my Vista machine.
When I first ran the application it brought up this screen with the familiar logo and graphics, just like on the hardware REDFLY devices. Please notice the bottoms at the top, which mimic the traditional buttons on a Windows Mobile device.
I did have to allow my Vista firewall permissions for the application to access the network:
Once I connected a device through USB and the Vista based Windows Mobile Device Center (ActiveSync on Windows XP) came up, I clicked on the Connect button. The REDFLY Mobile Viewer application then promptly attempted a connection through the USB connection to the device:
..and brought up my device screen right away:
Findings
Through my quick testing I found that the beta software appeared to be very stable and didn’t feel beta to me what so ever. Simple to use and easy to install. I didn’t try my Bluetooth connection from my laptop to see if that wireless connection method works as well..
Usage Scenarios
What many are now asking is why would Celio release such a piece of software and what is the reasoning behind it. I don’t know the official answer, but can come up with several scenarios where I feel the REDFLY Mobile Viewer could be very valuable:
Demoing – Through the use of the “Auto hide toolbar” option and a webinar session, you could quickly discuss and display the same experience as you would have on a real hardware based REDFLY device. This is something that has been lacking when working in our virtual “less-travel-is-better” business world.
Application Development/Testing – One of the frequent questions when evaluating the hardware REDFLY units is how will my business applications running on the Windows Mobile device work and look like on the REDFLY unit? I believe with the REDFLY Mobile Viewer this support could be better tested and tried, without the need to have the actual REDFLY hardware. This could potentially broaden the number of software vendors who support the REDFLY and the larger screen size formats.
Wrap up
Bottom line, think of the REDFLY Mobile Viewer as your virtual REDFLY emulator that can come in handy when trying to explain what a REDFLY device is, how it works, and what it can do for your business. I can only hope Celio will provide it free of charge after the beta period. :-)
Also wondering if the current or newer Celio drivers could work on a Windows Mobile Device Emulator, then you could emulate the entire experience without hardware.
BTW, Celio also released updated REDFLY drivers to a bunch of devices today as well. Please see more information here and here.
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An quick updated post from the one I posted previously on this.. One of these sessions is live at TechEd and the rest are being broadcasted live on TechNet starting next week. All are being presented by colleagues of mine here at Enterprise Mobile. :-)
· Webcast: TechNet Webcast: Windows Mobile 6.1 and Mobile Device Manager 2008: The Gateway to Your Corporate Network (Level 200)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
10:00 A.M.–11:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Attendee Registration URL: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032407362&culture=en-US
Description: “So, you are using Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 and Windows Mobile 6.1. Now what? You probably know that Mobile Device Manager can manage, secure, and install software on your phones. But did you know Mobile Device Manager also gives your users the potential to control the PC at their desk and access everything they need on the corporate network, including file shares, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, instant messaging, and internal Web pages. In this webcast, we present the best practices for a Mobile Device Manager installation that provides users with access to everything they need in the corporate network through their phone and (just as important) denies access to resources mobile users don't need. We review the basics of Mobile Device Manager and IP security (IPsec) virtual private networks (VPNs), and we discuss the tools that users can take advantage of so they can work wherever they would like using their phone. Discover how Mobile Device Manager eliminates the need to expose your organization's Microsoft Exchange Server to the Internet.”
· Webcast: TechNet Webcast: Windows Mobile Digital Certificate Management (Level 300)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
11:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. Pacific Time
Attendee Registration URL: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032409997&Culture=en-US
Description: “Digital Certificates and public/private key technology is core to Windows Mobile platform security. In this session, you’ll learn about how certificates are used to provide authentication, access control and encryption for the OS, applications and networking.. You’ll also learn best practices and “gotchas” for managing certificates on the device. The speaker is an expert on Windows Mobile Certificate management and certificate-related features in the OS. Therefore, come ready to ask any questions you may have: enrollment, import, SSL, root certificates, email security, application security, etc.”
· Webcast: TechNet Webcast: Deploying Mobile Device Manager 2008 is easier (and cheaper) than you think (Level 300)
Tuesday, April 17, 2009
11:30 A.M.–1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
Attendee Registration URL: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032410692&culture=en-US
Description: “System Center Mobile Device Manager (SCMDM) is a complex product with a lot of dependencies which must all be in place in order for it to work correctly. This session, which takes almost 2 years of hands-on experience of deploying implementing SCMDM in the field, steps through how to successfully (and cost effectively) implement this product in the enterprise. The objective of this session is to address the misconception that SCMDM is hard to implement while showing how MDM eliminates almost all of the overhead associated with Blackberrys while retaining and elevating both manageability and security.”
· TechEd 2009 “Chalk Talk” in the WM area: Management Lockdown of Windows Mobile Devices
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
10:15 A.M.-11:30 A.M. Pacific Time
Description: “You can completely secure a Windows Mobile device without deploying expensive third party applications. In this session we'll show you how bar viruses, malicious and unsupported code from installing and running on the device. In addition, we'll look at various out-of-the-box devices and analyze their threat surface. Last, we'll describe all Windows mobile application security threat surfaces and how to manage all of them.”
Register them now and get it on your calendar! :-)
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