INTRODUCTION

    The ability to easily transfer files with desktops is important for users of Windows Mobile devices. Microsoft’s ActiveSync provides us the file synchronization functionality but it relegates the transfer to a single directory structure. With version 4.x, the loss of WiFi connectivity requires the mobile device to be in close proximity to the desktop. This makes ActiveSync a less productive mode of transferring files from a desktop. Bachmann Software & Services, LLC has developed the FilePoint Wireless Exchange system, for Microsoft Windows Mobile and Palm OS, that addresses this issue. Let’s take a tour and see how well it works!

SETUP

    With the setup of FilePoint Wireless Exchange, a Windows FilePoint Mobility server and a Windows Mobile FilePoint Exchange client are installed. The installation process is well documented with screen text and pop up windows.

(desktop screenshots link to higher resolution)

The initial FilePoint desktop component selection screen.

The setup process completes the workstation component installation with a pop up requesting connection of the Windows Mobile device via ActiveSync.

The ActiveSync setup process status window.

    Once the FilePoint installation is complete, the Mobility Server configuration is automatically launched. The configuration requires a user id, password and TCP/IP port number. These will be used by the Windows Mobile device to access the desktop.

    The FilePoint Exchange Mobility Server status window. The Configure Server button displays the previously discussed Mobility Server configuration. The Configure Service button defines the directory to which files will be uploaded from the Windows Mobile device. When the status window is minimized, an icon appears in the system tray. The Mobility Server must be running to perform a search and to transfer files.

The Windows Mobile 5.0 installation screen. The FilePoint Exchange client is only 130KB.

The first time the FilePoint Exchange client is executed a wizard will perform the initial configuration.

The FilePoint Mobility Server configuration created previously in the Mobility Server must be entered along with the host name or IP address of the Windows workstation.

A user must be selected under the user tab by clicking on the Select User button. If no users are found on the Mobility Server, one must be created by clicking yes.

The creation of a user requires a user id and a password.

Once a user is created, it must be selected and is then displayed in the user tab.

The completion of the FilePoint configuration is complete. The well guided configuration is somewhat involved but only has to be performed once.

PRODUCT FEATURES

    The beauty of the FilePoint Wireless Exchange application is it’s simplicity. FilePoint provides a search (based on Google Desktop), file download and file upload capability.

    The Tools menu provide the key functions of the FilePoint Exchange client. The binocular icon provides a search capability; the networked pc icon allows for the navigation of available drives on the workstation; the heart icon displays the favorite file list; and the page up icon displays the upload dialog.

    The search option allows you to search via Google Desktop for items on your desktop and on the web. The Google Desktop must also be installed on the connected Windows workstation to use this feature. The results can be selected for download.

The Google web search feature uses the search engine’s desktop web site.

    The navigation of files on the desktop is performed by traversing the directory structure. FilePoint Wireless Exchange does not support the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) for accessing shared networked files, it uses mapped drives.

The favorite list is automatically populated with files that have been downloaded to the Windows Mobile device.

The upload file feature allows you to select which files to send to the Windows workstation. The files are uploaded into a directory configured in the Mobility Server.

    Bachman Software and Services has built a basic search and file transfer mechanism that is easy to install and use. It is designed for point to point TCP/IP connections and does provide high end features such as automatic file synchronization.

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HELP SUPPORT

    Support is handled via the Bachmann Software & Services web site here. Access to the support forum can be found here. I had no installation, configuration or operations issues and did not contact support. The installation is well documented and the .pdf user manual is well written. However, it does not contain an index or a linked table of content.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

    FilePoint Wireless Exchange contains two components. A workstation component which is compatible with Windows 2000/XP and a Pocket PC component compatible with Pocket PC 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 and 5.0. The workstation component requires 744K of storage and the Pocket PC component requires 130KB of storage memory.

BUGS AND WISHES

    FilePoint Wireless Exchange is a basic search and file transfer application for a Pocket PC or Palm device with a Windows workstation. Every command that is sent from the Pocket PC initiates a connection. I found that sometimes the Mobility Server would not respond to an initial request. Stopping and starting the Mobility Server resolved the problem every time. I have two wishes for this software:

• The ability to use Universal Naming Convention (UNC) filename rather than being forced to map a drive
• Allowing the Mobility Server to run as a Windows service

PURCHASING

    FilePoint Wireless Exchange for Pocket PC can be purchased directly from Bachmann Software & Services here. The retail price is $49.99. The web site is currently offering a special $10.00 discount. A 10 day trial version is available here.

PROS

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  Small Pocket PC memory footprint

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  Works over WiFi

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  Great desktop and web search feature via Google

CONS

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  Does not use Google Mobile search web site

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  No automatic file synchronization feature

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  No embedded file transfer encryption

Value
Ease of Use
Features
Overall

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OVERALL IMPRESSION

    Why not use just use an FTP client and server. FTP setup and configuration is for techies and FilePoint will walk a moderately advanced user through the installation process. It also has a nifty search feature, as long as you install Google Desktop search on your workstation. This is an excellent solution for those who need to transfer files over WIFI on a regular basis and don’t want the hassles of configuring an FTP environment. However I do not believe it is worth $39.99, much less $49.99. This is a high price point in the Pocket PC world for a basic application, but if you need the functionality the price is not outrageous. Adding some depth to the functions and creating a Windows service would go a long way to justifying the price point.