BARCELONA, Spain — Feb. 13, 2006 — Today at 3GSM World Congress 2006, Vodafone and Microsoft Corp. announced the European launch of Windows Mobile Email from Vodafone. This solution is based on Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 5.0 and incorporates the Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP), which includes Direct Push technology and enhanced security features.
From March, Vodafone will deploy a range of Windows Mobile 5.0-powered devices with Direct Push Technology to corporate and small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers in France, Germany and the U.K. The service will also be available to corporate and SMB customers in other countries during 2006.
Windows Mobile Email from Vodafone enables customers to enjoy a Direct Push e-mail service on the move in a format that anyone familiar with Microsoft Office will recognize. E-mails and tasks are synchronized directly from Outlook®, and Microsoft Office Excel® Mobile and Word Mobile attachments can be viewed, edited and returned. Having a common e-mail experience across the PC and Vodafone Windows Mobile-powered device makes service adoption simple and accelerates delivery of the benefits that mobile e-mail brings to business customers.
As well as delivering a great user experience across a range of the latest Vodafone Windows Mobile-powered devices, Windows Mobile Email from Vodafone easily integrates with customers’ Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 software, making Windows Mobile Email a highly cost-effective, scalable and security-enhanced way to deliver the benefits of e-mail on the move without the need for investment in additional servers or hardware.
“Windows Mobile Email is a simple, security-enhanced and easy to set up service which enables customers to remain productive, responsive and organized when out of the office,” said Peter Bamford, chief marketing officer at Vodafone. “Windows Mobile Email from Vodafone delivers a mobile e-mail service which seamlessly extends the Microsoft Office desktop environment and rapidly captures the benefits for business that mobile e-mail brings.”
“We are delighted to be working with Vodafone to deliver a mobile messaging solution for a diverse range of business customers,” said Pieter Knook, senior vice president, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division and Communications Sector, Microsoft Corp. “It’s an exciting time for companies that are now realizing the true business potential of mobile solutions for both the business and for their employees. Our combined teams are focused on delivering the most compelling and innovative mobile solutions to meet these customer demands.”
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world’s largest mobile community with more than 179 million proportionate customers, equity interests in 27 countries and Partner Networks in a further 31countries. For further information about Vodafone, visit: www.vodafone.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
* Windows Mobile Email from Vodafone will be available across a range of devices including the Vodafone v1240 and Vodafone v1640. Additional handsets will be made available at the local level.
Microsoft, Windows Mobile, Outlook and Excel are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
© Vodafone Group 2006. VODAFONE and the Vodafone logos are trade marks of the Vodafone Group.
Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
