Goodlink 4.5 on the SMT5600 REVIEW

[Guest fatalnoise23]

My Review of Goodlink 4.5 on the SMT5600

So I scored a copy of the Goodlink 4.5 client for Smartphone this week. I am on day 2 of usage and I can already say I am VERY happy with it. There are a few things I would change and have already started to compile info to send to my contacts at Good. I will cover all the features I can in this review as well as some things at the end that I would like to see added.

The Device:

The device I am using is a Cingular “Orange” SMT5600. This device is currently being used with a Cingular Blue (ie AT&T Wireless) SIM. The device was unlocked. I had my contacts/calendar loaded via active sync so this wasn’t a “clean” install. I may go back and install the Good client again on a fresh device. I have since cleaned the calendar/contacts out of the device via activesync. I have about 400 contacts synced via Goodlink plus my emails and calendar all loaded.

Current Device Resources:

3120kb of free memory

11.65MB of free storage

Additional Applications:

Metro Subway Maps (MiniSD)

Bluetooth Toggler (MiniSD)

Connected Bits Weather (MiniSD)

ClearVue Suite (MiniSD)

SmartSS (MiniSD)

STK Service (MiniSD)

Goodlink 4.5 OTA install:

The OTA install is easy. The CAB download is very quick to get the OTA set up. The full OTA setup is anything but quick. They say it takes 20 minutes to install, but realistically the total set up time is about 40-60 minutes. This will be greatly reduced once EDGE/3G based smartphones. The total application download is 1991kb. Once that is downloaded you simply enter the OTA PIN assigned by the Goodlink server. Again the waiting begins. The client begins to sync to the Exchange server. This is probably about 20-30 minutes of the total time.

Goodlink Smartphone Client:

The Goodlink Client completely takes over the homescreen, so no more pretty pictures or sexy girls on the homescreen guys. You can have a normal Windows Mobile homescreen and select the applications through the start menu as needed. I will probably go to this function soon, but I’m using the application as designed for the first few weeks of my trial. At the top of the homescreen is the Good Application Launcher, Mail, Compose, Calendar and Contacts tab.

Goodlink Usage:

I find the use of Goodlink on the Smartphone to be similar to that of the use on a Treo or PocketPC. It is a very solid application that provides much more reliable push email than ActiveSync is in the current state. Emails arrive just as fast (and sometimes faster) than on my blackberry which is set up on the same exchange account. The client is easy to use and while it doesn’t make use of the built in applications, it is much closer to Outlook than the native client. I believe WM5 will improve on the native client, but I have not used a WM5 device yet. If you haven’t used Goodlink, I recommend looking into the product at www.good.com for a demonstration.

My Complaints:

While I love the interface and usability of the Goodlink client there are definitely a few features that I would change. The biggest thing is the there is no client back up feature like that of the PocketPC/Palm client. I don’t want to have to download a 2 MB application if I ever have to hard reset my device. Another feature I would like to see is a greater ability to adjust the screen font size. The last and probably the smallest complaint would be the development of a few different homescreen options. It would be nice of Good to give users a few choices.

My final thoughts:

I am very excited to have this product. For the last 3 months I have had a Treo 650 (personal) and a Blackberry 7100G (work) in my bag. I had given up on my SMT5600 because my work wouldn’t allow me to have it set up on our internal email. I have been using both devices because on the weekend I only wanted one device, but still need access to my internal email. The blackberry receives my forwarded desk calls, so I don’t end up carrying both devices during the work day. The treo was designed for my after work life, while still keeping me connected to important issues that may arrive via email.

Now I have my SMT5600, which I greatly prefer to the treo based on size and OS, getting my internal email in addition to my blackberry. Usually my SMT5600 is still in my pocket incase of an emergency call on the personal line and my blackberry is still functioning as my primary day phone. It is the after work life that just feels much better. I have one small device in my pocket when I go down to the local pub, the gym or to the park.

I think the initial release is great for the fact that it is the initial release and will only get better. With the introduction of QVGA screens, EDGE or 3G based devices and more functional peripherals (ie better Bluetooth keyboards and input devices). With a few minor changes to the product, I see Goodlink really making a run at Blackberry’s dominance in the Wireless Email space. It will have to compete with Microsoft’s WM5 product also, but provides a solid backbone for companies that want a multi-platform middleware that allows device flexibility.

I'll be posting screen shots as soon as I figure out where to host them. The are in .bmp format if anyone cares to help me out...

[Guest Disco Stu]

Two things :

1. I'm still not sure what exactly Goodlink is.

2. Host for screenshots ? Why not attach them to your post ? You can convert from bmp to jpg with (eg) the freeware Irfanview.

[Guest fatalnoise23]

Goodlink is a 3rd party middleware similar to RIM's Blackberry Enterprise Server.

Their website is www.good.com

It provides full outlook sync cababilities over the air with much higher security levels then Activesync. Additionally it is much more reliable.

Two things :

1. I'm still not sure what exactly Goodlink is.

2. Host for screenshots ? Why not attach them to your post ? You can convert from bmp to jpg with (eg) the freeware Irfanview.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest fatalnoise23]

Screenshots can be seen at

http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=5613743#post5613743

[Guest lllr]

I also installed on my unlocked AudioVox phone and I agree this is the best email client for a wireless device.

BTW, I tried installing on an Orange SPV C500 (SIM unlocked and Certificate Disabled) and during the Secure Authenticating stage of the install the program returned and error tagged as 0x6. I could never get Goodlink installed on the C500 device. I then just got a C550 device (SIM unlocked and Certificate Disabled) and it resulted in the same problem. Has anyone seen this problem?

lllr

Edited August 12, 2005 by lllr

[Guest mattchapman]

Thanks fatalnoise23. My work just gave us all Treo650's with goodlink so we can access our Outlook emails. I didn't like the Treo 650 so I bought an SMT5600. My work say they wont support this device though. Anyone know how I can get goodlink on the SMT5600 and access my email again?!

Thanks

[Guest frugala]

Thanks fatalnoise23.  My work just gave us all Treo650's with goodlink so we can access our Outlook emails.  I didn't like the Treo 650 so I bought an SMT5600.  My work say they wont support this device though.  Anyone know how I can get goodlink on the SMT5600 and access my email again?!

Thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you still have the password that they sent you for the Treo, you are in luck. (It needs to have the 30 digit password, not just the alphanumeric password...)

Just don't tell your IT you are doing this...

I did it today (using my old Treo information for goodlink) and it worked!

------------

FOR WINDOWS MOBILE-BASED SMARTPHONE HANDHELDS 1. Launch Internet Explorer and enter the URL https://get.good.com . To do this:

- From the Home screen, select "Start" then "Internet Explorer." If you do not see this option, select "More..." until "Internet Explorer" appears.

- In Internet Explorer, select "Menu" and then "Address Bar."

- Enter "get.good.com" (without quotes) in the displayed URL Window. This will direct you to: https://get.good.com

- To insert a period or symbols, hit the "1" key multiple times or hold the "#" key to display a symbol map.

- Select "Go."

- The OTA Setup screen appears. Select "Download Now."

2. At the confirmation prompt (Confirm: Download the file 'GetGoodLink.cab'?'), select "Yes."

3. When the download completes ('Info: GetGoodLink.cab was successfully installed on your device.'), select "OK."

4. Proceed to STEP 2: LOGIN section below.

STEP 2: LOGIN

1. Tap on "Start" (or "Next"). The Good OTA Setup screen will appear.

2. Enter the Email Address and PIN provided at the beginning of this email.

- For Windows Smartphone handhelds, use the 30-digit numeric PIN provided above.

- When entering the PIN, check for the letter 'o' versus the number '0' and the letter 'L' versus the number '1'

- Verify the PIN by clicking each PIN field to display the characters.

3. Tap on "Next." (If prompted, enter the phone number with area code -North America example: 4083276000, Europe example: 01628509136. If prompted, select carrier name). The Good OTA Setup screen will appear and begin the installation automatically.

STEP 3: DOWNLOAD

- OTA Setup downloads the correct version of GoodLink, as specified by your IT administrator (average time: 10 mins).

STEP 4: INSTALL

- OTA Setup verifies the downloaded package (average time: 2 mins).

- At the prompt, "Do you want to install GoodLink from Good Technology Inc?" tap "Yes."

- OTA Setup uncompresses the downloaded files and installs GoodLink (average time: less than 1 min).

- For Windows Smartphone handhelds, select "OK" at the continue prompts. Then select "Launch" to start GoodLink. Select "OK" at the final prompt to reset your phone and complete the installation.

STEP 5: CONNECT

- GoodLink initializes automatically (average time: 2 mins).

[Guest mattchapman]

Thanks frugula

So the key bit of information is the 30-digit PIN? When it says "enter the email address [and PIN] provided at the beginning of this email"...is that just my corporate email address?

I don't have the 30 digit PIN (out IT dept set up the Treo's for us)....but I can try and ask for it.

Thanks

[Guest frugala]

Thanks frugula

So the key bit of information is the 30-digit PIN?  When it says "enter the email address [and PIN] provided at the beginning of this email"...is that just my corporate email address?

I don't have the 30 digit PIN (out IT dept set up the Treo's for us)....but I can try and ask for it.

Thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is not a corporate email address but rather some secret code that represents you and your account. When you go to the goodlink website it will ask for your email and 30 digit PIN number.

Were you able to get it from IT?

You can give them some line like you need to setup your Goodlink again, can they just email you the PIN, or something like that. They sent me mine.

good luck.