Tamta’s blog

If you don’t know what it is, read this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push_e-mail
For more information about how it works, read this: http://www.techatplay.com/2006/10/18/how-does-direct-push-really-work/

In short, it keeps you connected with your corporate mailbox when and where you want, provided you have a DirectPush-enabled device and (you) can access the Internet with it.

The common practice is to keep your emails in the server and your device will synchronize to it all the time, or at least in ‘peak’ hours. So every email will have 2 copies, one in the Exchange server and the other in the handheld device.
It’s quite handy for those who need fast response to emails AND are often on the run. But it also requires a good handheld and costly wireless connection, besides it will drain out your battery very soon. Anyway, it helps they stay on top of the pile.

Being more technical rather than managerial, I spend most of my office hours sitting at the computer if I’m not traveling. And so I’d find receving ALL the emails twice, once at my fingertips and once at my belt, rather inefficient.
Also being a frequent traveller, I often have to spend hours at airports and in transit which are rather unproductive. Reading books is a good choice, however it’ll leave some backlogs of emails to read and reply later. So it worths having my emails with me in those times, ain’t it.

It leaves me with this option: I still keep the emails delivered to my local mailbox, and only use PushMail when I’m offline. When I turn my computer on, the mailbox in Exchange server is emptied and so is my handheld when it is synchronized. Copies of the emails I sent from my handheld will also be moved to the local ‘Sent items’ folder.

It helps using the battery longer and reducing unnecessary GPRS costs, in my case.