Microsoft and its various mobile operator and device partners announced a range of services and Windows Mobile-based devices for businesses at the 3GSM World Congress 2006. According to the Microsoft, the services and devices were designed to allow businesses to cost-effectively deploy mobile messaging solutions. Additionally, the services and devices all take advantage of the integration between Direct Push technology in Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2, which Microsoft stated allows businesses to mobilize their employees on a unified infrastructure without paying for additional e-mail servers. The same technology is now also available for Microsoft Windows Small Business Server.

Today, all Windows Mobile devices can already communicate directly with Exchange Server 2003. Direct Push technology simply provides customers with another choice on how to get their e-mail.



Cingular Wireless, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone have announced free upgrades to the Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) for all their Windows Mobile 5.0 customers, which enables Direct Push functionality and provides enhanced device management and security for messaging applications. Additionally, Palm and i-Mate also confirmed their commitments to free MSFP upgrades.



Microsoft also announced new Windows Mobile-based devices that will ship with Direct Push technology -- the HP iPAQ hw6900 Mobile Messenger, the Gigabyte Communications g-Smart (offered by Chunghwa Telecom in Taiwan), the Asus P305 3G-enabled smartphone, and the Fujitsu Siemens FS Pocket Loox. HTC also showed off a new product portfolio of Windows Mobile-based devices that are Direct Push-enabled that will be available to T-Mobile and other operators beginning in the second quarter of this year.



"Windows Mobile enables end-users to move beyond e-mail. For example, with Windows Mobile 5.0, users have access to all their Office Outlook information, including e-mail, tasks, calendars alongside the ability to view and edit Word and Excel documents and review a PowerPoint presentation while on the go. Further, for customers who want to access entertainment, Windows Mobile 5.0 comes with Windows Media Player Mobile, which means you can transfer music from your desktop computer to your device to store and play music," Sommer said.

According to Microsoft, Direct Push technology in Windows Mobile 5.0 gives customers faster access to all of their Microsoft Office Outlook information. Windows Mobile also supports devices from 47 device-makers and 102 mobile operators in 55 countries.



By enabling a Direct Push implementation, customers are not required to manage an additional e-mail server and the related costs. With so many enterprises and SMBs already using Exchange Server 2003, why do they need to manage an additional server or pay extra to give users mobile access to applications they're already using on PCs? With Windows Mobile and Exchange Server, businesses can offer their employees a wide range of device choices ... but only have to manage a single, unified software platform and server infrastructure.

The first device featuring Direct Push is already on the market (the Gigabyte g-Smart), and more devices will begin shipping this quarter.