Outlook 2007 BCM ... custom fields, windows mobile 5.0

[crm8484]

My boss currently uses ACT for contact management/sales tracking. It
seems that it might make sense to migrate to BCM, however there are a
couple issues in the way: custom fields and windows mobile 5.0 support.
I shall explain ...

He has lots of custom fields in ACT. From what I understand, Outlook
'03 w/ BCM does not support custom fields for Business Contacts. This
would end the discussion of using BCM (custom fields are needed) except
that I've heard that Outlook '07 w/ BCM will indeed support custom
fields. Is this true? If it is, will there be a working function to
import data into these custom fields? I suppose if Outlook doesn't
directly support importing custom field data, i'm sure there would be a
way to custom code a routine to import custom data into Business
Contacts?

If the hurdles of custom fields can be overcome in BCM (previous
paragraph), there is a desire to get off of ACT ASAP, even before
Outlook 2007 is out. Why? Well, he has a new Pocket PC Phone running
Windows Mobile 5.0. There does not seem to be software to sync his ACT
data with the new PPC. So, he carries his new PPC phone and an older
PPC that does sync w/ ACT. He can live without the sales/management
functions of BCM/ACT for a while if it means he can just carry the 1
device.

So here is what I am thinking, tell me if you think this works/makes
sense.

1. we get all ACT contact data dumped into Outlook 2003 Contacts (not
Business Contacts). This would involve finding/writing some code to
bring in the custom fields. This would get his new phone access to
contact data (and he could stop carrying 2 PDAs).
2. when Outlook 2007 comes out, we move Contacts to Business Contacts.
is it reasonable to think we could updgrade from 2003 to 2007 ... then
export Contacts to Business Contacts and retain all custom fields
through the process?
3. hopefully by then, support for Windows Mobile 5.0 will be out such
that he could then sync BCM functions (business contacts, opportunites,
etc.) with his PPC phone. is it possible that when WM 5.0 support is
out ... that BCM functions will sync via Direct Push (i.e. realtime,
over his cell internet connection).

The end result we are looking for is that his new PPC has his contact
data available (preferrably via Direct Push) and he doesn't have to
maintain 2 databases to do so (be it Contacts/Business Contacts,
ACT/Contacts).

Ok, sorry for the long multi-part questions there. I really appreciate
any advice anyone has.

Thanks!

 

[Leonid S. Knyshov]

My boss currently uses ACT for contact management/sales tracking. It
seems that it might make sense to migrate to BCM, however there are a
couple issues in the way: custom fields and windows mobile 5.0 support.
I shall explain ...

He has lots of custom fields in ACT. From what I understand, Outlook
'03 w/ BCM does not support custom fields for Business Contacts. This
would end the discussion of using BCM (custom fields are needed) except
that I've heard that Outlook '07 w/ BCM will indeed support custom
fields. Is this true? If it is, will there be a working function to
import data into these custom fields? I suppose if Outlook doesn't
directly support importing custom field data, i'm sure there would be a
way to custom code a routine to import custom data into Business
Contacts?

If the hurdles of custom fields can be overcome in BCM (previous
paragraph), there is a desire to get off of ACT ASAP, even before
Outlook 2007 is out. Why? Well, he has a new Pocket PC Phone running
Windows Mobile 5.0. There does not seem to be software to sync his ACT
data with the new PPC. So, he carries his new PPC phone and an older
PPC that does sync w/ ACT. He can live without the sales/management
functions of BCM/ACT for a while if it means he can just carry the 1
device.

So here is what I am thinking, tell me if you think this works/makes
sense.

1. we get all ACT contact data dumped into Outlook 2003 Contacts (not
Business Contacts). This would involve finding/writing some code to
bring in the custom fields. This would get his new phone access to
contact data (and he could stop carrying 2 PDAs).
2. when Outlook 2007 comes out, we move Contacts to Business Contacts.
is it reasonable to think we could updgrade from 2003 to 2007 ... then
export Contacts to Business Contacts and retain all custom fields
through the process?
3. hopefully by then, support for Windows Mobile 5.0 will be out such
that he could then sync BCM functions (business contacts, opportunites,
etc.) with his PPC phone. is it possible that when WM 5.0 support is
out ... that BCM functions will sync via Direct Push (i.e. realtime,
over his cell internet connection).

The end result we are looking for is that his new PPC has his contact
data available (preferrably via Direct Push) and he doesn't have to
maintain 2 databases to do so (be it Contacts/Business Contacts,
ACT/Contacts).

BCM 2007 does support custom fields.
If lack of support for custom fields on the mobile device is not a
show-stopper, then your proposal should work.

On the day of your posting, Microsoft announced the availability of BCM V3
Mobile, which supports Windows Mobile 5.0. It's a beta release and I am
currently testing it. You have your contact data, a comment field, and a
subset of history.

I will be submitting some feedback as to what this product should really be
like, but don't hold your breath for this release I am very happy they
finally released even the most basic support for WM 5.0 so I can tell my
clients that their toys are usable again.

Export/Import from ACT to BCM with custom fields will not be a one-click
affair. My company is working on some solutions in that area, but we are
nowhere near a release point yet. At the very least, we can use the BCM API
to iterate through each record and thus repopulate Act data in native form.
A more expedient way would be to simply dump the data between the two SQL
databases. On the other hand, who really cares that it takes 10 hours if it
only has to be done once. So many options... I do know how to access BCM
data through Outlook from other data sources now and so does any Outlook
programmer. Thankfully, we can reach it via the standard Folder (formerly
known as MAPIFolder) object.

Direct Push will not be possible, unless someone does something really
clever... hmm ;-)... because BCM is not integrated with Exchange in any way
at this time. One can always simply enter the new contact in regular
contacts, which will sync via Direct Push, and then import that contact into
BCM while at the desktop.

My routine is this:
1. Receive phone call
2. Save to contacts (no direct way to save to BCM mobile yet)
3. That gets synced to my Exchange server via wireless ActiveSync
4. When I get in my office, drag and drop the new contact form "Contacts"
into "Business Contacts"
5. Confirm the contact is in my Business Contacts

This works except inbound callerid won't look up data in business contacts.
At least I don't think that it does, we'll be testing that. I suppose that's
something that can be fixed.

The scenario you should be thinking of instead - bypass Outlook 2003 and go
straight to Outlook/BCM 2007.
--
Leonid S. Knyshov, CEO
Crashproof Solutions, LLC - http://www.crashproofsolutions.com
MCP Exchange 2003/Small Business Server 2003
Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partner
See the tips and tricks section on my website for video tutorials on BCM
Send a smile to Microsoft (Office 2007 Beta feedback tool)!
http://tinyurl.com/m4omy