Analyzing and Comparing Microsoft Lync Mobile Data Consumption

 

Note: The below tests have been conducted in a very informal manner. For implementation planning guidance please reference Microsoft Mobility planning documents.

Microsoft has noted that their new Lync Mobile client has been dramatically optimized to operate in most mobile data network conditions. What exactly does this mean? How much data DOES Lync Mobile client use? How does this compare to the SIP based CoMo (Communicator Mobile for Windows Mobile). We fired up our lab and did some tests.

For our comparison tests we used the same Lync user with with the below profile

• 15 local contacts
• 50 Federated contacts

The compared mobile devices/clients were as follows:

• Windows Phone (Mango) on Samsung Focus, Lync Mobile
• Windows Mobile (6.5) on HTC/ATT 8525, Communicator Mobile

Our test was as follows:

• Open the client
• Send an IM "test test test” to another user
• Have the other reply with “test”
• Close the client

We ran the tests 4 times on each platform and averaged the results. What we found was that Microsoft has truly optimized data consumption: On the data receive side Lync Mobile was 6.33 times more efficient (less data received) than Communicator Mobile. On the send side Lync Mobile was 3.42 more efficient (less data transmitted).

To Summarize, our finding in our informal and very limited lab is that:

• Summary: Lync Mobile is:

• 6.33 Times more efficient on Receive

• 3.42 Times more efficient on Transmit

Below are the exact data amounts in a grid:

	Como	Lync Mobile
RX Data in MB	.19	.03
TX Data in KB	49.46	14.43

 

other

Note 2: These lab tests have not been peer reviewed. If you notice any anomalies, please report them to me via comments or @matthewlandis (twitter).

Lab test details worksheet: click here

Windows Phone 7 Is Cooler Than I Expected!

My ongoing experience with Windows Phone 7. To sum up: Better than I expected.

What I Like:
-Day 1 - text-to-speech search is just plain cool
-Day 1 - The UI is soo simple I think something is missing--but I can do a ton more than my old phone!
-Day 1 - Pinning important people on my home screen makes so much sense.
-Day 1 - Merging of Live, Exchange, Google, Facebook contacts & calendars just works too smooth!
-Day 1 - Single handed adding of appointments has me very impressed.
-Day 2 - Playing podcasts over the speaker phone keeps me legal in Pennsylvania ...
-Day 2 -My iPod nano uneeded.
-Day 3 - Speech Recognition surprises me again: Just say "call" and some phone #!
-Day 4 - Hey! Samsung Focus does tether! click here or click here
-Day 4 - Speech to text is better than I thot: You can say "Call xxx-xxxx" and it will dial any number.

-Day 4 - Ah...I like that number of new emails is number since last checked. Nice
-Day 9 - Nice smooth video with Samsung Focus "no shake" feature turned on
-Day 10 - Virtual keyboard audio feedback is "just right" even in quiet room doesn't annoy others
-Day 10 - Twitter client is better than I thot: Very simple to post a picture. Still a little choppy UI though.
-Day 11 - Wifi works totally without my thinking about it--I like.
-Day 11 - You can use WindowsPhone as a USB drive click here
-Day 12 - Click on a Calendar | Meeting and press "Late": All attendees emailed automatically!
-Day 12 - OneNote integration & Syncronization to skydrive is incredible
-Day 13 - Ah! Kindle app coming! click here
-Day 18 - Your on a call on your mobile and another one comes...Wp7 handles this great!
-Day 19 - NO problem seeing if your wp7 is on Mute, Hold or speakerphone.
-Day 19 - Battery goes all day with 3G and lot of use (Samsung Focus)
-Day 22 - Pinning a OneNote page on Home Screen is cool

Samsung Focs DOES Tether.

-Day 32 - Sync Zune over Wifi is great! No fuss!
-Day 59 - Kindle for Windowsphone is Here. click here

Cons:

-Day 1 - No RDP Client click here There is now. Search Remote Desktop on the Marketplace.

-Day 1 - No VPN click here

-Day 1 - Outlook Tasks Don't Sync click here There is now an app to sync Exchange tasks.

-Day 2 - Only OneNote Office App Syncs with skydrive. That is a big surprise to me. click here

-Day 2 - No simple way to sync desktop files with WP7...hmmm

-Day 3 - No Direct Outlook to Wp7 USB Sync (doesn't bother me--but others)

-Day 3 - Sometimes Samsung Focus screen doesn't respond to touch when lying on soft surface
-Day 9 - Would be nice if camera settings could be saved and screen tap would take picture.
-Day 9 - Would be nice if linkedin, twitter contacts could show in contact list. click here
-Day 23 - Would be nice if you could lock phone screen in portrait mode sometimes.

Features I would like:
-Day 3 - I wish phone could act as a Wifi Hotspot (helpful ATT lady said they will allow it ;-)
-Day 3 - Printing from phone via wifi or 3G. (option) (There is an app coming to do it click here)
-Day 18 - Bluetooth keyboard connectivity. No support for it.
-Day 93 - Folder concept to organize apps and people.
-Day 93 - Internet Explorer - folder concept to organize web shortcuts!
-Day 93 - Synchronize Zune podcasts directly over the air without going through PC
-Day

Quotes of the Day:
-Day 3 - I showed my Samsung Focus to an iPhone toting IT guy I had a meeting with today. His comments "Wow, I like the calendar view...much nicer than my iPhone. A radio is built IN? Zune?! wow! xBOX!! WOW!"

-Day 3 -  "Much lighter than my iPhone..."

-Day 24 - "Faster, easier, better UI, less screen touching to move around, better screen, better keyboard. Build quality might not be as good though..." --iPhone to Samsung Focus User

-Day 28 - "iPhone screen is much better than WindowsPhone. Much higher resolution and much brighter..." after holding iphone side by side with Samsung Focus: "[Silence...]"

Reviews I Thought Were Fair:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/11/windows-phone-7-doom/

Resources:
Also, a great place to get your beginner questions answered:
Windows Phone 7 Forum FAQ
Windows Phone 7 Forum
40 Best Apps (by Addictive Tips)

Even with all the limitations noted I need to admit it does that main things I wanted well. Perhaps not a power user phone--but then I didn't want to mess with my phone.

http://wmpoweruser.com/list-of-microsd-cards-confirmed-working-with-the-samsung-focus/

Date Calculator

Larger Players Weigh in on Mobile SIP Softphones: Counterpath Bria for iPhone!

Well, actually Bria for iPhone.

As I was sitting in a session waiting for it to begin at the SMB Voip 2010 / Channel Partners conference I noticed that the X-Lite soft phone projected on the screen was advertising an iPhone SIP soft phone by Counterpath! (hey, those advertisements work!)

I would expect the Bria iPhone Edition to be of excellent quality if it follows in the foot steps of the Bria for Windows level quality and it comes at a VERY affordable price of $7.99 on the iPhone App Store. G729 is an additional license.  I was disappointed that presence and IM was not in this mobile clint. To go to Counterpath's site click here.

Perhaps Mobile technology has matured to the point that my previous assessment that mobile isn't ready for SIP has been outdated? (Read my article on the state of the mobile SIP client)

We have seen mobile sip soft phones from players like 3CX and others. A very promising, polished, multi-modal, Windows/Mac/Linux SIP client Blink has also hinted they are considering a mobile SIP client here. Perhaps mobile performance and data service have hit critical mass?

THIS JUST IN: Counterpath plans to release an Android SIP phone too! Whoa! Read More...

Our Survey Supports IDC Research on Smartphone Gainners: Android & WindowsPhone

IDC released a 5 year outlook on what the future mobile device O/S marketshare will be. In short Android and WindowsPhone will gain considerable and iPhone will loose a little.

What is interesting is this corresponds to a very unofficial* survey we have going right now. Currently WindowsPhone at 56% and Android at 26% and iPhone/Apple at 7% as the choice for next smartphone. We'd like your input too!

Please vote on our survey and...
 read more about the IDC report here:
http://www.wmexperts.com/idcs-five-year-smartphone-forecast-windows-phone-43-2014

* Don't based your investment future on this very unofficial survey. But interesting numbers. ;-)

Why I Plan to Get a Windows Phone 7

I've been watching the mobile phone market shape up and gave non-Windows phones some serious consideration but after inspecting and playing with Windows Phone 7 (yes, that's right--using the emulator ;-) I am planning to get Windows Phone 7 unit when they are available.

Why?

• I think the UI is elegant and the tile concept is something that my "sum it up" mind will like.
• Tight & elegant Integration to online and social networking services
• Easily handle multiple email and calendar accounts
• Tight integration to live.com which I already use very heavily. (and if you aren't using Office Web Apps immediately get over to my blog article on Office Web Apps and read it--they are a game changer!!)
• Live.com will automatically light up contacts, calenders, photos and email on your Windows Phone 7 device--wow!
• Sharepoint integration (Sharepoint made to use on a mobile device)
• Excellent Podcast player (Zune) built in. I don't listen to a lot of music but podcasts ALL the time.
• Also via the web you can map, ring, lock or erase your WP7 device! Wow! Read More Here.
• WP7 has the best Voice Recognition using TellMe View Video

 In short, I think this phone seems to get work and home mix right.

I just read an excellent review on Windows Phone 7 by a dedicated Android user who after playing with a WP7 device is seriously considering turning in his Android for a WP7!  Read it Here.

  

Who Has Mobile Market Share? My List of Mobile Smart Phone Marketshare Charts

Whose has marketshare? Here are some charts and reports I found. (I can't vouch for them and didn't research further. ;-)

Read More Here:
http://blog.7touchgroup.com/2010/02/apple-iphone-whopping-25-u-s-market-share/

Read More Here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Smartphone_share_2009_full.png

Aha! Windows Mobile is NOT Dead? Motorola Releases WM 6.5.3 Phone

In a move that shows Motorola doesn't feel everyone wants an iPhone (ahem)...they have released a phone based on Windows Embedded Handheld. At the beginning of 2010, Microsoft released an update to Windows Mobile: Version 6.5.3. It has been renamed Windows Embedded Handheld. It appears that Motorola home screen has some of the characteristics of the coming Windows Phone 7.

Take a look:

http://www.motorola.com/web/Business/microsites/US-EN/ES400/index.html

Sorry Everyone That Invested in iPhone and iPhone Server Infrastructure

Windows Phone 7 Series is totally impressive. Check out this video on the new Windows Phone 7 Series. Screenshots don’t do justice. (expect ebay to have low cost iPhones by the barrels shortly ;-)

Microsoft has taken natural use of a handheld device to a new level. Location aware searches, seamless, natural facebook integration, personal and work calendars handled smart...may I presume Communicator will work as slick? ;-) Wow!

Checkout this video. (it takes a moment to load but is worth the wait)
http://ecn.channel9.msdn.com/o9/ch9/5/3/9/8/2/5/FirstLookWindowsPhone7_ch9.wmv

What Do You Think: Are Mobile Phone SIP Clients Ready for Primetime?

I keep testing SIP phones for my Windows Mobile. They all seem either too clunky to use or have some major feature that doesn’t work. Or, there isn’t enough bandwidth (mobile cpu?) to keep a nice conversation going. Or in some cases it just doesn’t work—is the mobile provider blocking it? Here is some of my experience trying to answer the question: Is there an enterprise ready Mobile SIP Voice Solution?

I’ve tried the Windows Mobile 6.1 SIP client that is built into Windows Mobile 6.1 phones. This solution has a lot of potential in my mind because you are using the cell phone software built into the phone so there is not the switching between phone software. Amazingly this solution switches between GSM and WIFI automatically when WIFI is available. That is cool. But this solution requires a “hack” to get it working. Well, kinda working. In my case the voice volume was not acceptable and the ever present issue with the voice/audio coming out the speaker phone instead of the ear piece. So slash that one of the list.



I’ve also tried Ageet phone. This brings up the issue of running 2 phones on your mobile phone which I find a little “geeky” and fiddle prone. But of all the Windows Mobile SIP phones I’ve looked at this seems the most mature and simple to install and get working. But once again the voice came out the wrong speaker.Now that I could actually make a call I noticed that the call audio broke up. Not enough bandwidth? Not enough phone cpu? No sure.

What about iPhone? I’m not a iPhone user but I hear the problem there is that you run 1 application at a time so it is a little tricking to get your calls…but maybe someone can correct me on this?

Another player to think about is Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile. Communicator on mobile does not do Voice/Media. Is this because Microsoft wasn't ready to roll it out? Or because they didn't deem 3G reliable enough to do? Or just because RTaudio would take more cpu than is in any current mobile device?

What do you think? Is Mobile SIP Voice/Media ready for primetime? Do you know a solution that is?

Please vote on our survey about "Is Mobile SIP Ready for Primetime?". Also, I'd be very glad to hear your comments and solutions you think work...comment below!

Outlook 2010 Does SMS

In a move that I think is overdue, Outlook 2010 will be able to send and receive SMS. Everyone but enterprises are benefiting from SMS, but since this is “the year of communications” at Microsoft—some more UC features are making it into Outlook! I’ll let some bloggers speak on my behalf today:

Send SMS Directly from Outlook 2010!
http://www.sarin.mobi/2009/06/exchange-2010-outlook-web-access-send-sms-text-message/

WM 6.5 Along with Exchange 2010 SMS will sync back to Exchange where they can be searched and archived.
http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=4136

It appears the SMS will be sent using ActiveSync and your mobile phone. (How clever!)http://chrislehr.com/2009/11/exchange-2010-outlook-mobile-61-and.htm

Outlook 2010 is shaping up to be a better and better Unified Communication client.

OCS--A Product No Windows PBX Professional Should Overlook

I don’t usually get this excited about a product. But we have been reviewing OCS 2007 R2 and I am blown away. This product is just—WOW. Not only video conferencing but Hi-Def video conferencing. Super high quality screen sharing: Yes, others can control your screen if you allow them. How about MAC screen sharing client? Windows Mobile and Java OCS clients take your communications on the road. Let UC read your email to you and, oh yes, if you want it can turn your voicemails into email also. Hey, want to have a forwarding rule based on an appointment in Outlook? No problem. How about a full featured, full screen Attendent console. And I haven’t mentioned all the little touches that make things go smoother like…Windows Media player being turned down when you get a call, a little indicator for EACH conference attendee to show if they are currently speaking, IM’ing or viewing your screen cast…

If you are a Windows PBX professional you will NOT want to overlook this product. My opinion is that OCS will change the Windows-based communication landscape. If Microsoft makes an OCS edition that is simplified & catered to the small business--I predict it will be devastatingly disruptive in that market.

Windows Mobile is Better Than You Think: Critical Reviewer Gives the Low Down

http://jkontherun.com/2009/11/23/windows-mobile-vs-android-winmo-is-better-than-you-think/