GoodLink Server 3.0: get continuous, two-way wireless e-mail synchronization.

In recent issues, I've reviewed JP Mobile SureWave Enterprise Server (SES) version 4.1 and Research in Motion Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) version 3.6.1. This issue's choice for this series on enterprise-class wireless messaging servers is Good Technology GoodLink Server 3.0.

Good Technology has a somewhat different approach from RIM whose product, historically, has been tied to proprietary RIM BlackBerry devices. RIM only recently added mobile applications and announced plans to support Palm OS devices.

JP Mobile's product, which includes an excellent messaging solution, is fundamentally a server for mobile applications (including messaging).

So, JP Mobile specializes in mobile applications, while RIM has evolved from a pure messaging solution toward mobile applications only in recent

versions of BES.

Good offers a secure, reliable messaging solution that works across different kinds of devices, such as Palm OS and PocketPC. However, Good isn't known for mobile applications, nor is GoodLink a mobile application server like SES and the latest version of BES. So what's good about GoodLink?

Continuous synchronization

The core strength of Good's product is continuous two-way wireless synchronization for Microsoft Outlook users. Having continuous synchronization means users don't have to be tethered to desktops with cables and cradles. GoodLink provides continuous two-way synchronization of e-mail, attachments, calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks between the user's Microsoft Exchange account and their handheld. Users don't have to update or reconcile changes made on their PDA when they get back to the office. RIM BES also offers transparent integration for e-mail, for example, the user's Sent folder, but it doesn't have continuous synchronization, which is patented technology belonging to Good.

Figure 1 shows how GoodLink fits into the network.

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

As a user, continuous synchronization is a little jarring. We've come to expect having to press buttons, connect cables, place devices in cradles, and make occasional configuration changes. When e-mail just shows up without your having to do anything, it's a truly impressive experience. In terms of technology, synchronization is far more powerful and potentially more reliable than traditional store-and-forward messaging where discrete messages are transmitted back and forth without the concept of synchronizing, which can apply to any information, not just e-mail.

With synchronization, arbitrary data--not just PIM information--can be updated and reconciled even shared (and modified) by multiple users. Synchronization is inherently more robust than simple messaging over varying network technologies because of signal strength, latency, and transmission errors.

Device support

Good currently provides software clients for RIM 950 and 957 devices, the legacy Good G100 device, and the PalmOne Handspring Treo 600. GoodLink will soon be available for the PocketPC Phone Edition 2003. Although the promise of device independence is there, Good's client footprint requires high-end devices and doesn't support the broad range of device choices you might expect.

Microsoft Outlook on a PDA

Although Good doesn't control the devices, it has developed a sophisticated, integrated client side suite of PIM applications that provide a consistent administrative framework for centralized control of devices. The GoodLink client effectively puts Microsoft Outlook on a wireless PDA. The easy-to-use interfaces are comparable with other products. Although the GoodLink client imposes consistency across different devices, which is good for IT, it masks the native PIM applications of the PDA, which may not be seen as desirable for users. As with JP Mobile's client, Good users have to use the Good e-mail and PIM instead of the built-in PIM applications on Palm OS, RIM devices, or Pocket PC. Nonetheless, as an IT-supported solution, Good's approach is the right one. For a wireless PDA solution to be supportable by a corporate IT organization it's highly beneficial if users are all using the same application, regardless of what device they have.

Installation and administration

GoodLink 3.0 is the best version of GoodLink yet in terms of offering seamless integration with Microsoft Exchange, relatively easy installation and configuration on the server, and straightforward administration. Good's policy-based management of devices and administrative roles are solid features. Administrative roles allow different levels of access to the management console application, which is a Windows server MMC snap-in (figure 2).

[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]

On the policy management side, password management is particularly well thought out and granular synchronization controls--what is synchronized, when, and how--expose the underlying power of Good's synchronization compared with simple messaging (figure 3).

[FIGURE 3 OMITTED]

Although Good offers policy-based device management, the controls aren't as granular as you get with some of the other products in this category', and they are obviously not integrated with the hardware. For example, with BES, an administrator can control the power-off behavior of the device. The advantage is that Good's solution is device-independent (although, device support is limited).

Microsoft Exchange integration

Unlike some of the other wireless e-mail servers that work with Exchange, GoodLink doesn't require a complex installation process. Out of the box, GoodLink is a perfect single-server solution; but, it's unclear from the product's documentation and management console application how GoodLink scales in a large system and integrates with complex Exchange environments. For example, GoodLink doesn't explicitly support configuration based on Exchange routing groups, nor does it support configuration of policies based on Active Directory objects such as organizational units. So, scaling "horizon tally"--across multiple servers--could be a problem.

Nonetheless, GoodLink does scale "vertically," meaning its performance improves with additional hardware resources; in other words., you may not need a lot of GoodLink servers to get the job done.

GoodLink's administration and Exchange integration capabilities are adequate for most companies, considering that only a small percentage of users (a few hundred or a few thousand in even large environments) will be using wireless PDAs in the near term.

Security

Good provides end-to end security based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology, which provides data encryption. Transport encryption is provided by Secure Sockets Layer (for communication between the GoodLink server behind the corporate firewall; and the handheld uses TCP port 443).

The most interesting security feature is the ability to remotely remove handheld data, which means an administrator can completely erase information stored on a handheld that's been lost or stolen. Use of PKI technology requires IT to generate and distribute keys, but GoodLink provides a way to do this wirelessly (after the initial configuration of a device, which you must provision while it's connected to a desktop computer).

UpShot

GoodLink 3.0 is an excellent, secure, and manageable wireless messaging solution for Microsoft Exchange and Outlook customers. Continuous two-way synchronization is a significant technological advantage that promises to be of greater value when Good can expand its portfolio of supported devices.

Although the product scales vertically with hardware capacity, it's unclear how well it will scale horizontally in large enterprise implementations with complex Exchange environments. In addition, Good's Exchange-centric solution doesn't benefit users of IBM Lotus Domino and other messaging solutions.

Overall, Good has focused on its primary mission (messaging) and has done a good job for the vast majority or Exchange and Outlook customers. ADVISORY

ADVISOR[R] EVAL[TM]

BUSINESS BENEFITS

This is a strong solution for Microsoft Outlook users wanting continuous, two-way wireless e-mail synchronization.

(+) Wireless synchronization saves time and reduces support burden

(+) Simple provisioning and administration process for IT

(+) Seamless integration with Microsoft Exchange

(+) Easy administration

(+) Intuitive Outlook-like client

(+) Excellent messaging/PIM solution

(-) Limited device support, for now

(-) Weak horizontal scaling model

(-) Lack of mobile applications

(-) Lack of administrative reporting

(-) No support for e-mail systems other than Exchange

Good Technology

http://www.good.com

GoodLink Service 3.0

$330 per user, per year

SUPPORTED DEVICES: PalmOne Handspring Treo 600, RIM BlackBerry 950, RIM BlackBerry 957, Good G100. GoodLink will soon be available for the Pocket PC Phone Edition 2003.

SUPPORTED CARRIERS: AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless

SECURITY: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), VeriSign Triple DES

RON HERARDIAN, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY ARCHITECT, GLOBAL SYSTEM SERVICES CORPORATION