Microsoft takes on RIM to supply mobile email

By Steve Malone

Posted on 8 Jun 2005 at 10:58

Under the cover of Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 - which is due to be released later this year - Microsoft has embarked on a full frontal assault on RIM's core market. Microsoft has revealed a range of enhancements to Exchange Server that connects with Windows Mobile 5.0 to provide many of the features associated with RIM's best selling Blackberry device.

Microsoft says that Windows Mobile 5.0 will be able to provide a direct connection to Exchange Server while providing users with the familiar Outlook Mobile look and feel. Going beyond simple email exchange, the new service will also include other Outlook data such as calendar, phone, contacts and support for Tasks. Users also get direct access to global address list information stored on Exchange Server.

What's more, for those companies already running Exchange Server, as Microsoft delicately points out, there is also no 'need for an additional and costly server infrastructure required by other solutions on the market.'

RIM might be feeling aggrieved. It was only recently that RIM and Microsoft signed a deal improving the interoperability between Office Live Communications Server 2005 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server. while on the one hand seemingly endorsing the BlackBerry platform, Microsoft has now come up with a directly competing product.

Certainly RIM's investors are nervous. The company's shares lost over 2.5 per cent of their value on the news.

In addition to the mobile connectivity options, Microsoft will also be upgrading Exchange Server with a range of security-based enhancements. IT managers can now remotely manage and enforce corporate IT policy over wireless communications. Managers can also choose for the rules to be mandatory, optional or set exceptions.

Whenever a mobile device is either lost or stolen there is now an option whereby the data can be wiped from its storage remotely. In addition, repeated incorrect passwords can also set a trigger to destroy all the information held on the device. Finally, certificate based authentication can allow access to centralised data sources without the need for separate passwords.

More info on Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 can be found at the Microsoft website.