How2Day: Outlook Guidelines on Windows Mobile

Sync your Windows mobile-enabled phone with your computer to access Microsoft Outlook. email image by Hao Wang from Fotolia.com
Windows Mobile-enabled phones allow users to access most of the same Windows programs that can be found on their desktop computers, including Microsoft Outlook. With this program, mobile users can access documents, emails, files and other information while on the go. There are, however, rules that accompany the use of the program on Windows Mobile phones.

In order to use Microsoft Outlook on a Windows Mobile device, you must synchronize your phone with your laptop or desktop using one of Microsoft's sync programs. The programs vary according to the Windows operating system that your computer runs on. For Windows XP computers, users must download Microsoft ActiveSync. For Windows Vista and later systems, users must download Windows Mobile Device System.

In order to download the synchronization programs, go to the Microsoft website and download the appropriate program for your operating system. (See Resources for download link.) Once the program is downloaded, connect your phone to your computer using a USB extension (that should be included in your phone's equipment package). Then, you can begin transferring data between your phone and the computer.

Windows Mobile features the Tasks function of Microsoft Outlook. The Task function allows you to assign tasks to emails that you receive with your phone. You must establish categories on Outlook for how these emails are to be organized. For example, set up a Financial category and assign all bank and credit card emails to that category. Older Windows Mobile phones (such as Windows Mobile 5), do not have the same task capabilities as newer versions (such as Windows Mobile 6.5).

Notes is another feature of the Microsoft Outlook program that allows the user to organize important information directly on the phone. However, the Notes feature is only available to sync with the Windows Mobile 6 Professional phone. For other phones, you must use a third-party source that allows access to the Notes function.

Once the phone has been synced with the Microsoft Outlook program, your phone contacts can be exchanged from your computer to the phone. The feature that allows for this is called SmartDial and it lets you see your contacts directly with Outlook by simply typing in the name you wish to retrieve. You can also access your Outlook Calendar through the phone. This feature allows you to organize important dates and set reminders. Lastly, you can also access and organize your email, text and video messages through Outlook using your Windows Mobile phone.

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