DALLAS, July 9, 2002 — Speaking today at the Microsoft® .NET Mobility and Wireless Solutions Conference, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer announced Microsoft Mobile Workplace, an initiative designed to simplify large-scale mobile device deployments in the enterprise. Microsoft Mobile Workplace combines the unique experience and expertise of leading systems integrators, including HP Services, Accenture and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Microsoft, and other technology partners, to bring together devices, applications and services. The initiative makes it easy for enterprises to deploy mobile solutions in a comprehensive and cost-efficient manner, and offers high-quality support for ongoing maintenance.
Mobile Messaging, the first implementation of the Microsoft Mobile Workplace initiative, includes all the components a large enterprise needs to deploy a messaging-based solution for Microsoft Windows® Powered devices, such as Pocket PCs and Smartphones. The offering will be available this fall from Microsoft and its technology partners.
“Windows Powered mobile devices are powerful tools for mobile professionals that offer even greater potential when they are deployed by and truly extend enterprises,”
Ballmer said.
“Enterprises that fully utilize devices to keep their information workers in touch with colleagues and customers have increased opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction and extend productivity gains. Microsoft Mobile Workplace will help customers implement these solutions quickly and easily to extend the benefits of mobile devices.”
Microsoft Mobile Workplace simplifies the complicated tasks — planning, deployment, security, infrastructure and type of device — enterprises face when considering the deployment of mobile solutions. It provides enterprise customers with the following:
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Expert consulting and implementation. Enterprise users will receive unprecedented support through a standardized platform for corporate help desks and centralized multivendor support. Enterprises also will be able to have systems integrators host their mobile solutions.
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Simple deployment. Systems integrators can offer customers a complete package of solutions, which will provide a single interface for multivendor solutions, simplify the out-of-box experience and reduce the complexity of implementing enterprise mobile solutions.
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Reduced costs for deployment. Systems integrators can help enterprise customers manage the costs of developing and deploying mobile enterprise solutions by providing them with volume device discounts, centralized systems management and deployment expertise.
Through this initiative, top systems integrators are helping their enterprise customers meet the challenge of deploying mobile solutions.
“HP is committed to providing complete mobility solutions to its customers and is uniquely placed to provide all the components necessary for a successful solution implementation from access devices to mission-critical servers and design and architectural consulting services to customer support,”
said Richard Stone, manager of wireless and eCRM solutions at HP.
“By working with Microsoft to create Microsofts Mobile Workplace Initiative, HP is now able to offer its enterprise customers mobility solutions that will provide the outstanding business value customers expect from HP within a more complete framework of open industry standards.”
“Accenture focuses on providing its clients across all industries with mobile solutions that have a clear return on investment,”
said Roy Loomis, a partner in Accentures Communications and High Tech group.
“Our alliance with Microsoft around the Mobile Workplace initiative will enable Accenture to quickly deliver enterprise-grade mobile solutions both behind and outside the firewall as well as support our clients with a complete set of managed services around those wireless solutions.”
“Cap Gemini Ernst & Young is pleased to take part in the Microsoft Mobile Workplace initiative. This initiative is aligned with CGE & Ys strategy of utilizing mobility in all aspects of the enterprise to improve business processes and reduce costs by making workers more efficient and productive,”
said Chell Smith, global managing director of Business Solutions & Technology at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young.
“Through the use of Microsofts mobile technologies, specifically Windows Powered mobile devices, and development tools, we enable our clients to rapidly increase productivity and revenues with mobile applications that streamline the work of the sales force, the field service employee and the knowledge worker.”
Because communications is a core requirement for todays information workers, Mobile Messaging was chosen as the first implementation of the initiative. It is critical for enterprise IT departments to balance mobile information access to diverse, geographically dispersed workers with protecting sensitive data and company assets, and managing costs. To address these challenges, Mobile Messaging includes the following specifications:
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Deployment and provisioning. The initial deployment experience around device configuration is improved.
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Systems management. Over-the-air device and application management and application recovery are supported.
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Security. Secure access is provided to corporate networks via public Internet connections using PPTP and IPSec VPN clients.
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Windows Powered devices. The full enterprise feature set of Pocket PC and Smartphone devices is leveraged.
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Broad e-mail support. Microsoft Exchange/Mobile Information Server and other cross-platform collaboration environments are supported.
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Bringing it all together. Leading companies that consult on management and IT provide unique expertise and experience to deliver a world-class mobile solution.
Synchrologic Inc. is a key technology contributor to Mobile Messaging, providing systems management, cross-platform and other functionalities.
“We share Microsofts vision for the Microsoft Mobile Workplace as a simple solution designed to mobilize enterprise data,”
said John Dancu, president and COO of Synchrologic.
“We support the Microsoft Mobile Workplace Initiative by providing part of the essential technology components to mobilize this valuable corporate data and provide systems management that will help keep the cost of device ownership down. Synchrologic looks forward to working with Microsoft and the systems integrators by jointly introducing the Microsoft Mobile Workplace Initiative to the corporate market.”
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For more information on Mobile Workplace:
www.microsoft.com/mobile/enterprise/mobileworkplace/default.asp
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