One thing you learn over the years of running a business is to know your competitors as well as you know your own business. In this case, I think Nokia’s off their rocker. Their latest campaign is geared at the BlackBerry user, so let’s compare, shall we?

Now, in all fairness to Nokia, I am a Nokia E71 user – it’s a sexy, versatile phone. I monitor two Exchange accounts using Mail for Exchange and Roadsync. I use the VOIP client frequently, the podcasting application is a lifesaver, Widsets keep me up to date and I like viewing rich media with Skyfire.

… but to have Nokia purport that there are no hidden costs, I think they may have misunderstood the ultimate cost – people’s time. Some comparisons, after the jump.

For the purpose of this test, we’ll talk about connecting the mobile to Microsoft Exchange Server.

Software installation test:

Nokia E71 – you must install either Mail for Exchange or RoadSync
BlackBerry Handheld – software is included on the server

Server configuration test:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange and RoadSync connect to Exchange natively
BlackBerry Handheld – BlackBerry Enterprise Server is required

Cost per unit test:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange, free. RoadSync, $40
BlackBerry Handheld – Built in client, free. BES license, $99

Activation test:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange and RoadSync, must know all the details of your Exchange server, at least five different settings have to be entered into the device
BlackBerry Handheld – User only needs to know their email and activation password

Automatic retrieval test:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange, will automatically retrieve the rest of a message. RoadSync, must manually download the rest of a message
BlackBerry Handheld – Messages automatically retrieve

Server side management test:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange and RoadSync, limited configuration and management of the device from the server
BlackBerry Handheld – dozens of configuration options from access rules to signatures on the server

Subfolder test:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange, no subfolders. RoadSync, only folders below the Inbox
BlackBerry Handheld – Subfolders anywhere and everywhere

Note: when I queries the RoadSync people about this issue, they stated that this is a limitation of the ActiveSync protocol. With the release of the iPhone and it’s ability to connect with subfolders regardless of where they may be (same level as Inbox, for example), I’m calling bullshit.

Search test:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange, built in plugin for internal search. RoadSync, server-based search works only with Exchange 2007
BlackBerry – fast handheld search

Name resolution test:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange, will resolve names in the device’s addressbook, you can use a tool to find names on the server. Roadsync, no automatic resolution, you can use a tool to find names in the device’s addressbook or on the server
BlackBerry – will resolve accounts on the server and the device automatically

Flags, followup, reminders:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange, no dice. RoadSync, flagging and reminders on messages for Exchange 2007 only
BlackBerry – no dice

One button composition:

Nokia E71 – Mail for Exchange, hold down the e-mail key. RoadSync, one button composition broken, you have to go through several menus to compose an email
BlackBerry – Quick composition from the home screen

So in the end, both devices read email, once you get to know your device, you’ll probably get along well with it. The most confounding aspect of the Nokia device is the configuration and management of the device. Not as smooth as the BlackBerry yet and costly as a result. If you count your labour as free, then maybe there’s an ROI justification to look at it. If not, then it’s gotta be BlackBerry.

In all fairness, I haven’t mentioned Nokia’s Intellisync which is supposedly a contender for the BlackBerry Enterprise space. The client which is also the same client used for the free Nokia Email service (similar to BlackBerry’s BIS) is a piece of junk. Slow, clunky and poorly laid out at best.

Apparently someone at Nokia had the brilliance to decide that the partnership between Blackberry and Nokia was not worthwhile.

According to Mobile Industry Review, Nokia’s UK MD, Simon Ainslie, said:

RIM are a competitor and have done a reasonable job in a space that is traditionally ours, so it’s no great surprise that we see this as an opportunity to give consumers a proper choice on what email solution they want.

‘Our approach is to make email a mass-market proposition for everybody, not just for the corporate boardroom group of individuals where BlackBerry has established itself.’

I’ve got a perfectly good E61i connected to a Blackberry Enterprise on Exchange server via Blackberry Connect – I can see subfolders and take advantage of the features and functionality of BES which is pretty extensive. It runs smoothly and outside of not being able to send PIN messages to others or being able to use BB Messenger, it’s pretty robust. In short, it’s a pretty good push email solution for a hardcore roadwarrior (like me). With the features of the E61i, I can have a couple of Exchange accounts, a BlackBerry BES account, WIFI connectivity, VOIP telephony and even Push to Talk.

With my shiny new E71, I can have almost every feature listed above but I can’t download Blackberry Connect. It won’t install and as per the above, there’s no planned support. The current prescribed alternatives to BlackBerry Connect (without throwing the baby out with the bathwater) include Mail for Exchange 2.7 and RoadSync 4. Neither appear to let me file messages the way I would want to and both are licensed ActiveSync (inferior) clients. ActiveSync ain’t bad except for the fact that Microsoft appears to have kept the good stuff to themselves which is evidenced by how Microsoft Smartphones and Nokia Smartphones (with either MFE or RoadSync) perform differently. The Nokia solution is simply OK for the job. Meanwhile, I’m either better off owning Windows Mobile or getting a BlackBerry Handheld.

Oh.. and then there’s Nokia Mail – it’s supposed to be some form of BlackBerry BIS alternative. I’ve got the latest and greatest from Nokia – the E71 yet the mail application runs like shit. It’s slow, it sometimes doesn’t work (usually due to an outage on the Nokia network) and it’s basically a glorified Nokia Intellisync client. Speaking of Intellisync, Nokia likely wants you to throw out your BES and install the Intellisync server to get ‘BlackBerry like’ functionality.

So, if EVERYBODY is able to throw out current infrastructure, perhaps Nokia will be able to ‘make email a mass-market proposition for everybody’. While you’re at it, murder your family too since the prescribed Nokia solution will replace them. It’s the Nokia way. Yay Nokia.