By default, Wireless Domino Access is available from any wireless device that is equipped with Phone.com's Microbrowser version 2.0 or higher. The default security is similar to a user accessing information via a Web browser, but you can control access more stringently by creating a list of "Trusted Devices" that are allowed to access the server. You can also toggle individual users' access on and off.

Choosing your device
What device you use to stay in touch with your Domino data is a matter of personal preference. For me, my preferred device for long-term use is the PageWriter 2000x, which you can see in Figure F.

FIGURE F


The PageWriter 2000x is my new best friend. Kind of sad, isn't it? Roll over picture for a larger image.

It enables me to send out messages from my Domino inbox to my pager automatically without ever having to check my inbox remotely. It also has a little QWERTY keyboard I can use to type out a message fairly quickly. (I've had a lot of practice.) It's definitely a lot easier to compose and send a message from the PageWriter than it is to compose and send it from a phone.

There's a lot to be said, however, for using the Mitsubishi T250 wireless phone with MSD. Not only does it have a screen larger than most other wireless phones, but also you can get all-you-can-eat service for only $19.99 a month ($5 less if you're also a voice customer and have a OneRate plan). This is a fantastic deal given the amount of data you might be dealing with if you check your email a lot from the road. Also, since you can use the phone to access optimized sites such as Yahoo!, you can stay on top of the latest information from wherever you are for one flat rate.

You can find out more about AT&T's PocketNet service at http://www.att.com/pocketnet. You can find more information about the Mitsubishi T250 from the AT&T site at http://www.attws.com/business/lcorp/explore/plans_phones/pocketnet/mitsubishi_t250.shtml or on Mitsubishi's Web site at http://www.mitsubishiwireless.com/index.info.html.

I didn't do any testing of Mobile Services for Domino with a Palm device. Lotus has demonstrated how you can use MSD to access a Domino Server from a Palm device using the Novatel Minstrel Wireless Modem. You can find more information on this at http://www.corporatewireless.com/min.htm. Be sure to check out OmniSky as well at http://www.omnisky.com. They are on the verge of releasing a wireless modem specifically for the Palm V device. As far as getting access directly from a Palm VII, you're pretty much out of luck for now since Palm uses its own proprietary Web clipping technology. [There might be some workarounds for you Palm VII users out there. Visit http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200005/palmvii001.html for more info.--DA]

System and installer requirements
There are two key requirements to run MSD 1.0: You need Microsoft Windows NT Server with Service Pack 4 or later, and Domino Server Release 4.6.5, 5.0.1 or higher for Windows NT.

For my testing, I installed Mobile Services for Domino on a Domino server running 4.6.5 and it worked just fine. You can find a complete list of the system requirements on the Lotus Mobile Services for Domino Web site at http://www.lotus.com/home.nsf/welcome/mobileservices.