Microsoft launching smartphone server software

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 23 Oct 2007 at 10:49

Microsoft is gearing up to unveil new server software for smartphones, which will allow companies to manage their employee's smartphones just as they do their desktop PCs.

The Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 will allow technology administrators to send applications to multiple phones simultaneously, control security and generally simplify management of increasingly complex devices.

"The IT folks don't want to roll out 10,000 devices. They want roll out one device 10,000 times," says Michael Gartenberg, analyst at Jupiter Research.

"Microsoft is hoping to replicate the success and the model of the PC."

Microsoft is hoping the software will accelerate enterprise adoption of Windows Mobile smartphones, a market currently dominated by RIM's BlackBerry.

"The market for smart phones is still largely under penetrated," comments Rob Enderle, industry analyst at the Enderle Group. "RIM has a number of reasons to be concerned, it's not just Microsoft."

Microsoft, which has declined to comment on persistent rumours that it is interested in acquiring RIM to tap into the company's corporate customers, says reaching out to large organisations is a critical part of its goal to sell over 20 million Windows Mobile licenses in fiscal year 2008, which ends next June.

"This is a key part of accelerating our business," says Scott Horn, general manager of marketing at Microsoft's Windows Mobile business. "You're going to see [Mobile Device Manager] really ramp up in fiscal 2009 starting 1 July."

Microsoft will release the software in the first half of next year.