Captivate in the IT field

[Fastblack]

I'm in IT and plan on most likely getting a Captivate from work for my job. I will be using VPN to connect to my work network (ipsec) and then using a remote desktop app to support people remotly when I am not in front of a computer. (No WiFi at work)

I currently have an iPhone 4 as a personal phone, and I know that I can use the logmein app to connect to computers and use the phone at the same time. I'm assuming I can do this on the captivate also. I was hoping to get the fascinate for the flash, and the fact that Verizon works much better at one of my remote offices, but the fascinate will not be able to do voice + data at the same time right? Also from what I read it has less RAM available.

Does anyone else work in IT and use this phone? What are your experiences with it as far as helping you on the job?

 

[malibu_rapper]

I have logmein ignition and if you plan to do anything remotely you better get yourself a notebook with a broadband card. Yes, you can use logmein to do remote administration but that's like steering a car with your feet.

Honestly, screensize is everything for me. I run my own consulting company. The only thing I use this phone for is keeping track of my passwords, taking photos of bluescreens, and storing information about software and configuration.

 

[t-readyroc]

but the fascinate will not be able to do voice + data at the same time right?

Correct.

Check out 5VPN, Android VNC viewer, ConnectBot, & PocketCloud.

MR has a point, though. A hardware keyboard would make something like remote support much easier.

 

[RavenFox]

Pocket Cloud works for me but Malibu as mentioned has a point. This is just for basic stuff. A notebook for serious work is mandatory.

 

[Fastblack]

Oh I have a laptop, and I will be tethering the phone to it if I ever plan on being away from the office. I just want the feature on the phone just in case something comes up. Like if I dont have my laptop with me, and I am somewhere where there is not a computer available and my CEO calls me with some kind of software computer issue, I wont have to go home to see what is probably an easy fix or user error.

 

[gybryant]

Yeah, like the others have said, remoting to machines works in a pinch but there are few situations for which I don't have a better alternative handy. Remote Rdp lite works very well. Only problem I've had with my captivate in my shop is having to set up a static lease on the dhcp server and static ip on the phone to make wifi work. Apparently, it just can't handle multiple APs.

 

[Fastblack]

I actually do not have Wifi at work. It would have to be through VPN over 3g. We use cisco ipsec here at work for our vpn. Android can connect to a vpn correct?

 

[jza]

I actually do not have Wifi at work. It would have to be through VPN over 3g. We use cisco ipsec here at work for our vpn. Android can connect to a vpn correct?

IPSEC VPN to Cisco devices is touchy at best. Support is not native, requires rooting the device and loading openVPN binaries, configuration apps, and a custom compiled tun.ko file. Most people report being able to get it working, but others (such as myself) have not had much luck. The problem stems from android's lack of group authentication support on the Cisco devices.

Don't get me wrong, it's possible (as others have shown), but it's not native and can be a pain.

 

[Fastblack]

Interesting. It's native on my iphone, I thought it would be on the android device as well. I'll have to look a little more into that. Thanks.

 

[jza]

Interesting. It's native on my iphone, I thought it would be on the android device as well. I'll have to look a little more into that. Thanks.

Android does have native VPN... just not native support that works for Cisco IPSEC group auth.

 

[BoulderGeek]

I'm a sysadmin, and I use the Wyse vCloud app to access VNC, RDP and PCoIP VMs.

I wish that there was an Android app for RSA soft Token. I have to use my iPod Touch as my VPN token. You'd think that RSA technologies would have one available for Android, since they support Windoze and iOS (not to be confused with Cisco IOS).

 

[el frugalista]

I love my Captivate, no problems with Exchange. Great battery life if I'm not constantly playing with it.

I don't use LogMeIn due to security policies; I have a netbook with a broadband card and go in via our Citrix connection for server or user issues.