FAQ - Mobile / PDA Issues

Frequently asked questions about PDAs. If you have any suggestions on adding an item to this list, please contact Student Computing Support Desk by filling out an online form.

Mobile / PDA
Does HMS offer medical applications for PDAs or smartphones?
Does the HMS Network provide Exchange 2007 services for the Blackberry?
Does the HMS Network provide Exchange 2007 services for the iPhone?
I don't want to upgrade to the Blackberry Enterprise Data plan through Verizon. Can I still send/receive emails from HMS to my Blackberry?
I just bought a Palm Pre. Can I get Exchange and wireless email services to work on it?
Are there any applications for my Blackberry?
How do I access MyCourses via my PDA's native web browser?

Mobile / PDA FAQ

Does HMS offer medical applications for PDAs?

Yes. Log into your MyCourses account. Click on Applications in the upper left corner of the frame. Then, click on Go Mobile to view the available medical applications for PDAs.

[Return to top]

Does the HMS Network provide Exchange 2007 services for the Blackberry?

Currently, the HMS Network provides email services using MS Exchange 2007 for the Blackberry to only HMS, HSDM, and HST students. Visit the HMS IT Website for more information on email services for your smartphone.


*DMS students who do not have an HMS email account must speak with the FAS IT Help Desk to see what type of service they can get with their device.

Interested students must buy/upgrade to the "Blackberry Enterprise Service Data plan" with Verizon to receive the following services: Synchronization of your emails, contacts, and the calendar. Call Verizon regarding this data plan. Then, after you have the Enterprise Data plan, follow the instructions below:

NOTE: You *cannot* use this service if you are forwarding your emails from your HMS email account to another email account. e.g., @gmail

1. Request an HMS email service for your Blackberry by emailing the Student Computing Support Desk at support@student.hms.harvard.edu. Please include your HUID, eCommons username, and your official HMS email address (firstname_lastname@[school].harvard.edu)
2. You will receive a password that will expire in 4 days from the HMS Messaging Team.
3. Make sure that your Blackberry is fully charged.
4. Turn your Wireless Icon on on your Blackberry interface. You should receive email notifications through your service carrier (Verizon, Cingular, etc.).
5. Verify the Options settings:
• Date/Time: Eastern Time
• Owner: Your eCommons username
6. Select Enterprise Activation on the menu and enter: • Your official HMS email address (firstname_lastname@[school].harvard.edu)
• The password - sent to you by the HMS Messaging Team
• Select Activate.
NOTE: Synchronization may take a while depending on how much information is stored in your HMS email account on the Exchange mailserver.

[Return to top]

Does the HMS Network provide Exchange 2007 services for the iPhone?

Currently, the HMS Network provides email services using MS Exchange 2007 for the iPhone to only HMS, HSDM, and HST students. Visit the HMS IT Website for more information on email services for your smartphone.

For iPhone settings, please read the following documentation at the HMS IT website: http://it.hms.harvard.edu/pg.asp?pn=email_iphonesetup


*DMS students who do not have an HMS email account must speak with the FAS IT Help Desk to see what type of service they can get with their device.

[Return to top]

I don't want to upgrade to the Blackberry Enterprise Data plan through Verizon. Can I still send/receive emails from HMS to my Blackberry?

If you do not upgrade your Verizon data plan, you can still send and receive emails from your HMS email account. Configure your Blackberry settings through the Verizon website using the HMS email configuration settings for sPOP or sIMAP.

See our HMS email settings by reading Configuring Desktop Email Clients.

Note: You can retrieve your Verizon Blackberry account by using your PIN and ESN numbers. Navigate through your Blackberry settings: Settings>Options>Status>. Enter the decimal ESN number instead of the hexidecimal ESN number.

If you want to set up your Blackberry native email client by using your Blackberry instead of going through Verizon's website, do the following:
• Navigate to Email Settings on your Blackberry interface.
• Check the EULA by saying yes to the agreements.
• Then, just follow our HMS online email configuration settings as you enter the information into the provided text fields on your Blackberry. Go to the link, Configuring Desktop Email Clients.
• You should be good-to-go with your Blackberry email client.

[Return to top]

I just bought a Palm Pre. Can I get Exchange and wireless email services to work on it?

Although the HMS IT Department does not officially support the Palm Pre with wireless email service, you can configure your Palm Pre to receive emails.
1. You need to make sure that your data plan supports Exchange.
2. You need to make sure that you have Active Sync on your Palm Pre.
3. Disable any forwarding service via your HMS email account, which will take about 15 minutes for it to completely disable. See MyCourses>Preferences>Messaging to disable forwarding.
4. Enter in the following information to your Palm Pre:

- Mailtype: EAS
- Incoming mail server: https://email.med.harvard.edu
- Domain: MED
- Username: MyCourses/eCommons username
- Password: MyCourses/eCommons case-sensitive password

[Return to top]

Are there any applications for my Blackberry?

The only mobile application currently available for the Blackberry is the ePocrates "lite" version. Please check each product's website to see if any of them become compatible for the Blackberry.

[Return to top]

How do I access MyCourses via my PDA's native web browser?

You can access a limited edition of your MyCourses account using your PDA's native web browser by going to the following URL:

http://mycourses.med.harvard.edu/mobile

[Return to top]