CANNES, France, Feb. 24, 2004 — Today at 3GSM World Congress 2004, Microsoft Corp. and industry partners announced new solutions to address the needs of businesses and their mobile work forces, including these:
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Two new devices from Motorola Inc., featuring Microsoft®
Windows Mobile (TM) software, were announced as part of the Motorola MotoPro series of handsets designed for mobile professionals. -
To answer the growing demand from corporations to mobilize their businesses, mobile operator TIM, Italy’s largest mobile operator, has announced plans to ship Windows Mobile-based Smartphones later this summer.
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In the interests of serving the needs of an increasing base of enterprise customers using Windows Mobile-based devices, Microsoft will publish a Windows Mobile security white paper addressing the key security concerns of businesses and mobile professionals.
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Fenestrae, an enterprise-class software solutions company, and Microsoft have announced their collaboration to provide end-to-end hosted messaging and mobility for telecommunications service providers.
“For over 25 years Microsoft has worked with enterprise customers and partners to provide powerful solutions to both large and small businesses,” said Pieter Knook, senior vice president of the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft. “We recognize the important role software has to play in unlocking the potential of mobility for the enterprise. We’re excited to see that Windows Mobile software has again today been selected to provide the platform that partners can trust to meet the detailed demands of the enterprise.”
With its familiar interface and powerful features, Windows Mobile software is recognized as increasing productivity and flexibility in the work life of professionals. Through synchronization with the Outlook® messaging and collaboration client, Windows Mobile benefits customers by providing them with access to their most relevant personal information and a rich messaging user experience while they are on the go. Up-to-date, over-the-air synchronization of e-mail, calendar, contacts and corporate data is made possible through integration with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 utilizing Server ActiveSync®
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Microsoft and Motorola Make Traction in the Enterprise
Microsoft and Motorola’s alliance to address the needs of mobile professionals gathered momentum today with two new Motorola devices with Windows Mobile software.
Convergence without compromise is delivered in this revolutionary Motorola mobile device combining always-on connectivity in a never-before-seen form factor. The Motorola MPx, featuring Microsoft’s Windows Mobile software, brings real-time assistance to mobile professionals — at work, on the road, at home and at play. The device delivers the power of the office desktop and the ultimate e-mail experience through a unique and compact dual-hinge design. This design allows people to access information via a QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode or touch screen with stylus while in portrait mode — making the MPx a legitimate “one of a kind.”
The second new device, the Motorola MPx 100, helps busy professionals manage work and personal demands with one amazing device. Combining a familiar user interface and radically enhanced candy bar design, the Motorola tri-band GSM-GPRS device helps “detox the inbox” with easy-to-use e-mail, messaging, media and Bluetooth®
connectivity.
Leading Mobile Operator Chooses Windows Mobile for the Enterprise
TIM’s enlistment adds to the groundswell of support for Windows Mobile software, bringing the number of operators and service providers delivering Windows Mobile-based devices to a total of 50 mobile operators and service providers in 26 countries.
TIM, whose extensive enterprise reach makes it Italy’s largest mobile operator, has announced its plans to deploy Windows Mobile-based Smartphones; the first one is to be launched this summer. Devices also will be available to the professional customer through the “Il Telefonino” stores across Italy. TIM has 44.5 million lines (as of Dec. 31, 2003).
“Windows Mobile-based Smartphones are seen to be instrumental in TIM’s continued lead to bring mobility to life in the enterprise. TIM is focused on bringing market-leading services and products to our customers,” said Roberto Pellegrini, executive vice president of the Business Customers Division at TIM. “The adoption of the Windows Mobile platform is another step in our continued effort to create the most advanced and rich user experience possible. We look forward to bringing Windows Mobile-based phones to market during 2004.”
Security Remains a Priority
Given the unique challenges faced by the enterprise, Windows Mobile software for Pocket PCs and for Smartphones has been built with the business customer in mind, offering a range of security options helping business customers to protect sensitive data and their networks. Microsoft has released its second security white paper, titled “Windows Mobile-based Devices & Security — Protecting Sensitive Business Information.” The paper explains how Windows Mobile software together with solutions from Microsoft’s extensive partner community can help address the key security management concerns of today’s business customer.
Enterprise-Class Windows Mobile-Based Solution
Fenestrae, an enterprise-class software provider, and Microsoft today unveiled plans to deliver outsourced Exchange-based solutions that will enable telecom and enterprise customers to deliver a range of communications tools. One example of the benefits provided by the solution is a short message service (SMS) module enabling customers to send and receive text messages from their desktops through Outlook. This hosted solution brings a variety of different functionalities and control, providing opportunities to cut costs and maximize return on existing investments.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Windows Mobile, Outlook and ActiveSync are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The Bluetooth trademarks are owned by its proprietors and used by Microsoft under license.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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