Chateau Yellow Park

If you read this blog and post a good comment, we'll mail you a bottle of our limited edition Chateau YellowPark Rose Wine.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Yellow Park.

By the way, this offer comes on a strictly while stocks last basis. And they are running out fast!

Orange SPV C600 Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone Review Part 1

I have been given this phone for review, and quite honestly I don’t want to give it back.

Its got a great screen. Although kinda resembling the classic Nokia, this phone is sleeker and more stylish. With Windows Mobile 5 for Smartphone, it got a great operating system.

When you think Windows, you think nice wallpaper, icons and screensavers. Well this phone is exactly the same. The main functions of the phone are available to scroll over on the desktop. This allows you to get an instant snapshot of missed calls, text messages, outlook calendar etc. So in real terms, when synchronised with your desktop computer, this phone can tell you what your schedule is for the next day and keep you in-communicado 24/7.

Accessories in the Box

There’s nothing outstanding about the accessories in the box for the C600. Pretty standard stuff really and nothing special. Handsfree kit (wired variety), USB cable, mains charger and CD for installing the software on your PC.

There are a whole host of accessories that can be used with this device, because it has Bluetooth connectivity.

Windows Mobile 5

Initially Windows Mobile 5 was a bit clunky and hard to get used to. It has its own quirks like any OS. But after a couple of days, as usual, you find your way around. It’s a nice system, but seems a bit buggy and doesn’t always respond the way you expect it to. Roll on SP1! That said, I still think Windows Mobile 5 is the best system on a phone.


Synchronisation

Active Sync 4 is used to synchronise the majority of office documents between the phone and pc/laptop. This is great when you have 1 phone and a pc, but if you try and synchronise between a Smartphone, pda, home pc, laptop and office pc, you got a lot of synchronising going on! So plan your mobile communication policy.


Windows Mobile 5 and Messaging

When Microsoft released Service Pack 2 for Exchange 2003, they unleashed a whole host of features designed specially for Windows Mobile 5 Users. This allows easy connection to mail and security features like being able to remotely delete data if you loose your phone.


Negative Points

The most annoying thing about this phone is the centre joystick used to control scrolling around the menu functions. This has a multi-directional and click action which is about as useful as a handbrake on a canoe. I hear this is an ill advised hang-up from the C550. What this means is that when you scroll through the menu options and then try to select an option, you jump up and down the menu options randomly and can’t actually select anything that you want. This is really annoying and I can’t believe they’ve stuck with this system. Apart from that, please let me keep this phon

Live meeting 2005 is Live

We are now actively selling Live Meeting. And wow, Live meeting just gets better and better. Especially when you start combining it with some of the other RTC elements.

For anyone that regularly needs to conduct meetings with people, for training or for special events, Live Meeting is a must.

We could simply not have done this without the help of many people along the way. Richard Abbott from Intercall has been an inspiration. I have never experienced such a structured, personal and thorough partner channel programme. He has put hours into our rollout programme and I am utterly stunned by the way they have helped us along the way - lookout McAffee, this beats a dumb 5% rebate programme!

Microsoft have also surpassed their tag as "The best Vendor Partner Programme". Again we have received personal attention from Neil Laver, Head of Sales & Marketing, Real Time Collaboration Group Microsoft UK. Its nice to know the big guys think of the little guys.

James Governor of Red Monk is a constant source of inspiration and we are lucky to have the insightful ear of one of the best analysts in the business.

If you want to exerience Live Metting, post a comment on this blog with your email, and I'll send you an invitation.

Batten down the hatches

Yes, it's that time of year again. Prepare yourself through the rough ride that is Christmas. A great time of year and a wonderful break from work. But it always turns out to be a cash flow drought. We'll make it on the retail sales, but my sixth Christmas being my own boss is the same as the last 5.

PHP programmer neded

We need to find a PHP programmer. If you can do PHP, drop me an email on chris@yellowpark.net. It would be handy if you know action scripting for Flash also.