First to explain that Lotus Traveler is a product which allows people to read Lotus Notes email from their mobile phone. The product has existed for some time, but only recently added support for the Android platform.
The product itself works very well and while a mobile phone is not an ideal platform for reading and replying to emails, it can occasionally be convenient to be able to check for urgent emails or have a quick glance at my scheduled meetings for tomorrow without having to open my laptop.
The only problem is with the IBM security policy which insists that any device which has access to our email infrastructure is protected by an automatic screen-lock that is secured by a password which is at least 8 characters long and contains a mix of upper-case lower-case characters and non-alphabetic characters. This policy is entirely reasonable and I have no problem in typing such a complex password to unlock my work laptop. However, the logistics of typing such a complex password on a small touch screen phone make it rather annoying - especially when I am simply trying to make a phone call on my own personally owned phone.
In addition I eventually decided that it was better for work/life balance if I didn't have constant access to my work email at all times and so I removed Lotus Traveler and reset my phone to use a simpler unlock pattern which is more appropriate to this type of device.
I am still living with the pain. Not sure why.
ReplyDeleteHaha that's why I bought HTC desire z. Keyboard is key :)
ReplyDeleteYes - the password requirements are easier with a keyboard. My blackberry prove that day in and day out. Still, I'm not fond of having two phones. It will be interesting if a middle ground solution artists. I saw something In the research lab at Lotusphere two years ago working on this issue.
ReplyDeleteIf they forced me to type a complex password to access my work email I could live with that. But I don't think it is reasonable for IBM to determine the password lock on basic features of the phone.
ReplyDeleteThis post seems to have touched a nerve. IBM employees can read the discussion thread on my profile page http://bit.ly/ihLcnm or my Facebook friends can read some of the comments left there too.
ReplyDeleteI removed it too for the same reason. The pwd requirements are just crazy.
ReplyDeleteI have someone in the office claiming to getting it to work with the 9 dots line drawing locking. Still too cumbersome for me.