Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Home-based business - best solution for?

May 20, 2015 7:02AM PDT

Looking for some guidance on what set of software/subscriptions would be best for my home-based business. Here's what I have now:

-- My website hosted with squarespace
-- My email is currently a free POP service offered by my domain registrar
-- My calendar and contacts in Google
-- Laptop (PC)
-- My tablet is ipad
-- Blackberry Curve 9320 (go ahead, mock it - yes it's a creaky dinosaur but I love the small size and durability)

My primary objectives: 1) Real-time seamless syncing of e-mail (IMAP) and same for my calendar and contacts across all devices above. 2) Will work with my blackberry 9320 (google seems to have stopped blackberry support, so assuming signing up for google apps for business would not work out well for me...). 3) Price. But don't mind paying for solution that works and dependable though.

Here's what I am considering: 1). Buy Microsoft Office 365 University edition, as my partner is student and it is less than $100 for 4 years. 2) Given 365 University does not include custom domain support/can't connect my current custom domain e-mail address, was going to also buy the standalone Microsoft Exchange "Online Plan 1" (approx $4/month). 3) Point my laptop/ipad/blackberry mail and calendar settings to the Exchange server.

Given the above, any problems you foresee? Any other options/vendors I am missing? Thanks so much!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
You need a IT or CTO to fix this.
May 20, 2015 7:13AM PDT

That's part of your company system. Without CTO, IT staff you may be nonplussed about solving this on your own.
Bob

- Collapse -
PS.
May 21, 2015 12:26AM PDT

Sorry but the forums are in a change mode so more to your issues.

What you noted might work but it's up to you or your support to make it do what you want. Only your newest of CTO's would accept keeping older gear since getting it to work may involve a software development cycle. That is, YES, it can be done but it may take a year of a programmer's time. Around here these programmers are 150K+ USD a year so saving a BB must be worth it to you.
Bob