i-mate, the specialist in Microsoft Windows Mobile devices and applications, has announced the availability of a push e-mail upgrade for all its Windows Mobile 5.0 devices.
The upgrade is available locally from the Leaf Wireless Web site (www.leaf.co.za), as part the new ROM upgrade, which is downloadable from the site.
The upgrade - in connection with Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server Pack 2 - delivers the same experience as other push e-mail systems but without the expense of an additional relay server and extra client licences required by many third-party systems. This quick upgrade is available for i-mate SP5, i-mate K-JAM, i-mate JASJAR and the new i-mate JAMin.
Says Quinton Leigh, Managing Director of Leaf Wireless, the exclusive distributor of i-mate products for Sub-Saharan Africa: "There is an increasing demand for 24/7 availability and faster response time to customer demands, and as such companies are looking for cost-effective ways in which their workforce can access data while on-the-go."
He adds: "The new feature pack for Windows Mobile 5.0 increases efficiency while providing peace of mind for IT managers through an easy upgrade to the existing business IT infrastructure."
Microsoft Direct Push Technology allows business users to access their e-mail anywhere, anytime through real-time synchronisation between i-mate devices and Microsoft Office Outlook. The service provides users with a very familiar e-mail environment to access not only new e-mail messages, pushed directly to the user`s i-mate device as soon as they reach the server, but also their calendar, contacts and tasks.
The new Messaging & Security Feature Pack (MSFP) means businesses can now securely mobilise their workforce with no extra investment in their existing infrastructure. Newly manufactured i-mate devices are now shipping with this embedded upgrade.
i-mate Windows Mobile powered devices give users an edge when opening and editing Microsoft Office Mobile documents such as Word and Excel Mobile and viewing important PowerPoint Mobile presentations on the move.
"Push e-mail addresses critical business needs while delivering mobile professionals with access anywhere anytime. In alliance with i-mate, we have an opportunity to enable business customers to enjoy secure messaging, greater flexibility, and an even richer mobile experience," says Jonathan Hatchuel, Windows Client business group manager at Microsoft South Africa.
"Successfully addressing the mobility demands of today`s business market requires a combination of breadth and choice of applications, and clear answers to business issues of security, return on investment and systems integration. Push e-mail is an innovative move forward towards making the mobile enterprise a reality," he concludes.
According to the Radicati Group*, Microsoft Exchange Server is forecast to increase its market share by a further 20% globally by 2009 due to its increasing scalability and hosted licensing model. This will position Exchange as the de-facto industry standard.
Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0 will work with the company`s existing e-mail provider on all i-mate form factors - Smartphones such as the i-mate SP5 , slider keyboard messaging devices such as the i-mate K-JAM and Pocket PCs such as the i-mate JAMin and i-mate JASJAR - to suit the personal preferences of different individuals within the company.
The technology explained
Enhanced Outlook mobile experience
End-users will have access to a wide range of business information through the following new features:
* Windows Mobile direct push technology. Outlook data - including e-mail messages, calendar and contact information, and new support for tasks - is pushed directly from Exchanger Server 2003 to the i-mate, providing users with immediate access to Outlook information. There is no need for the additional server infrastructure required by other solutions on the market.
* Wireless support for contact information. Support for the ability to look up global address list (GAL) information stored on Exchange Server 2003 over the air, enables business users to access full contact details of co-workers on their i-mate. The feature is broadly integrated throughout the phone dialler, contacts, calendar and inbox applications, providing users with a consistent, productive messaging experience.
* The Radicati Group Inc - "Microsoft Exchange and Outlook Analysis, 2005-2009"
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Leaf Wireless, based in Johannesburg, is a global convergence technology company. It develops and maintains fully integrated end-to-end mobile solutions and services which include context-based applications, platform design, hosting and mobile media content creation. Leaf Wireless is a company which leads through innovation and it is with this that it is able to deliver solutions which provide key customer retention strategies, excellent return on investment - while at the same time enhancing the lives of the client`s extended customer community.
Founded in 1999, Leaf Wireless continues to deliver products, solutions and strategies and its client base extends all vertical markets as well as some of South Africa`s most respected corporate, media and entertainment organisations.
The Leaf Wireless platform touches over one million people each and every day.
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