If you've ever used a BlackBerry or a Good Mobile Messaging–equipped Treo, you know how it can change your life. Push e-mail is one of the "holy grail" applications that seriously revolutionizes the way people use their handhelds. DataViz RoadSync 2.0 brings this level of e-mail empowerment to Symbian and Windows Mobile 2003 devices. Since RoadSync doesn't require a separate server license, you can get push e-mail at a cost that's lower than that of many of its rivals.

I tested RoadSync on a Nokia E62 over Cingular's EDGE network, though I also saw the app in action on a Nokia E70 and an unlocked Sony Ericsson W950. There are less expensive, non-push clients available for Palm OS and Java-based regular cell phones such as the RAZR and PEBL. DataViz has versions of RoadSync available for a total of six different platforms, though strangely, you won't find Palm OS or Windows Mobile 5 on the list, at least for the push-enabled version. Check DataViz's Web site for a comprehensive list of supported handhelds.

Installing RoadSync is easy as long as you have Nokia PC Suite installed on your PC (I used PC Suite version 6.81 for this review). To install the app, download the trial version from the DataViz Web site, transfer it over to the phone using Nokia PC Suite, and then finish the installation on the phone itself when prompted. Setting up your account is a matter of simply entering in your Exchange username, password, and server name.

RoadSync's icons at the top of the screen may not immediately make sense, but they're simple to figure out. New e-mail messages appear under "RoadSync," whereas "Inbox" is reserved for SMS text messages and application downloads. During my tests, I had no trouble composing, sending, and receiving messages, as well as creating appointments and adding contacts to the address book. As with Good Mobile Messaging, changes I made on a test desktop PC appeared on the EDGE-equipped E62 within seconds, though Good on an EV-DO–based Treo 700p felt considerably faster.

With Good, you can set vacation reminders directly from the handheld, and you can access your subfolders, too, not just your main inbox. Good also replaces the entire Palm suite with its own PIM applications that look and operate more like Microsoft Outlook than RoadSync's do. The RoadSync e-mail interface is less complete, and it leaves you to use the existing Palm suite for most functions. Even though the RoadSync and Symbian combination doesn't feel quite as polished, it downloads and syncs messages, calendar, and contact updates just as reliably.

DataViz includes a number of enterprise-friendly features, such as the ability to create a clone RoadSync configuration for distribution to multiple handhelds, and the option to wipe devices remotely in the event that they're lost or stolen. You can also access your company's Global Address List over the air. (Some of these features will work only if the Exchange 2003 server has Windows SP2 installed.) But RoadSync doesn't approach Good Mobile Messaging's sophisticated IT management system, which lets you push new versions of Good (or even other) applications, monitor active devices, and check device firmware remotely.

The new RoadSync 3.0 beta is already available, but if you're connecting to an Exchange 2003 server, you won't see much of an improvement. When Exchange 2007 is finally released, RoadSync 3.0 will really come into its own, with support for remote vacation responses, sophisticated message flagging tied to Outlook tasks, access to subfolders, vastly more powerful search, full HTML e-mail message support even when the message is forwarded from a handheld, and faster synchronization.

Until then, RoadSync 2.0 is a clean push e-mail solution that makes the most sense if you're buying new Symbian handhelds, or if you have older Windows Mobile 2003 devices in the field. RoadSync works reliably, syncs directly with Exchange Server without additional software, and gets the job done at a lower total cost.