Academic Technologies

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Academic Technologies
Mobile Device support for Faculty and Staff

Mobile devices owned by the College

TREOs and Blackberries purchased by the College are pre-configured by the Columbia University Information Technology staff. The CUIT web site gives information about mobile devices: http://www.columbia.edu/acis/telecom/staff/cellular.html Columbia offers service from all the major carriers (Cingular, Sprint, T-Mobile & VerizonWireless) to provide global coverage for the Columbia and Barnard communities.

Columbia will advise you on the specific plan and model to meet your needs. Equipment costs vary based on carrier. The most popular carrier for domestic use is VerizonWireless. See the University information at the web site above. All orders are carefully prescreened by Columbia to fit the end user's environment.

To order a TREO through the Barnard Purchasing Department:

Fill out a Telephone Requisition (see: http://www.barnard.columbia.edu/purchasing/forms/telephone_req.html.)
If needed, include SnapperMail (email software) on your order.
Ask if you can keep the cell phone number of the cell phone you are replacing. There may be an additional charge.
You no longer need a Columbia email account to send email with the TREO. Recent improvements in the Barnard email system allow you to send email from your TREO via your Barnard account.

Accessories: Many users need an extra Desktop HotSync Cable to sync to a home computer. To identify accessories, visit http://www.treocentral.com/ and click on Accessories in the top bar. You can order these through Treo Central or through CDW http://www.cdw.com/ with the College credit card.

Mobile devices owned by individuals

Before you purchase a personal TREO, you should consider which email account you plan to read on this device. Barnard and Columbia email servers require secure connections. Ask your vendor whether the email program provided with your TREO can be configured securely.

Academic Technologies can provide this limited support for personal TREOs and Blackberries purchased by individuals:

configure your email account on the TREO
enable the TREO or Blackberry to sync with your desktop calendar
assist you to forward your Barnard email to the Blackberry system

TREO configuration details at http://www.barnard.columbia.edu/at/TreoClues.htm

This includes the configurations for email servers and the required security password. Also clues about resetting your TREO.

Blackberry configuration details at http://www.barnard.columbia.edu/at/Blackberry.html

You need to forward your Barnard email to the Blackberry server while leaving a copy of your email at Barnard.

Notes

Before you buy:
- See the TREO web site for an overview of the product: http://www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones .
- If not buying through the College, ask your vendor whether the email program provided with your TREO can be configured to connect securely to the College and University email servers.
- Verify whether you will have (or need) national or international coverage.
- Ask about the purchase price of the device and the monthly operating costs.
The TREO and other PDAs can perform an infinite variety of functions through the purchase of additional software. Academic Technologies is not able to customize your TREO or PDA beyond the items listed above. You are welcome to send comments and inquiries to Mary Ellen Tucker.

last update 05/11/07