Computer Sights

author:  Todd

“I’ve lost my iPhone!” ,” I’ve lost my Android!”

Have you said that before? If you have, then you know what a sinking feeling it is to lose your cell phone. Making it even worse, you also lose all of your contacts, calendar and e-mail items and perhaps those items are now in the hands of a thief!!!  Many people create Outlook contacts to store credit card information or passwords for websites.

If your office e-mail system is controlled with Microsoft Exchange then you’re in luck. Starting with Microsoft Exchange 2007, there’s a “wipe” feature that allows you or your network administrator to remotely clear all of the information from your lost or stolen cell phone.  If you want to perform a device “wipe,” login to your Outlook Web Access (OWA) webmail. If you don’t know the Internet address, you can get it from your network administrator. When you are in your e-mail box, click on ‘options’ and you’ll see a ‘devices’ link. Choose your handheld device and then click “wipe”. Be sure you choose the device that was lost or stolen as once you click the wipe button the process starts and cannot be stopped. The next time your lost phone attaches to the Internet, it immediately starts factory defaulting and your data is cleared from the device!

Also, if you’re using a Microsoft Exchange server, then re-populating your contacts, calendar and e-mail is easy.  Simply get your new phone, enter your e-mail server information and “poof”… all of your information is restored back to your device, without plugging it into your computer!  The mobile synchronize feature is instantaneous and extremely easy to use.

If you or your company don’t use Microsoft Exchange for your e-mail messaging, then you’re missing out on some GREAT features that not only keeps your data secure, but keeps your email communication at peak efficiency.

There are hosted services such as Veddio that offer both business (http://exchange.veddio.com) and personal Exchange (http://www.veddio.mobi) accounts so you or your company don’t need to buy any special software or server equipment.