Vodafone launches push email to Microsoft handhelds

Stuart Corner
Monday, 13 March 2006 15:57

Your IT - Home IT

Vodafone has launched  Windows Mobile Email, delivering 'push' email from Microsoft Exchange email servers to PDAs using the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and incorporating the Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP).

The service has launched with three i-mate devices: the 3G-enabled i-mate JASJAR and the new i-mate SP5 and i-mate KJam. Vodafone plans to introduce, in April, the i-mate JAMin and bring two HP devices into the range - the first of which will be the HP iPAQ 6965 Pocket PC (the second is still under wraps).

Vodafone says it will also bring other well-known handset brands into its Windows Mobile Email product portfolio later in the year.

The service competes head on with the Blackberry push email service, also  offered by Vodafone. However it has the advantage of offering synchronisation and integration with other applications in the Office suite. According to Vodafone, "Emails and tasks are synchronised directly from Outlook, and Microsoft Office Excel Mobile and Word Mobile allow attachments to be viewed, edited and e-mailed using Pocket PC devices from anywhere within Vodafone coverage areas.  An Exchange 2003 Server running Service Pack 2 is required.

Mark Iles, general manager Business Markets at Vodafone Australia said: 'Our experience and those of our customers on BlackBerry from Vodafone is proof that mobile email is the next 'killer app'. We've developed a thriving customer base on BlackBerry and it's a technology that we'll continue to offer and support. Windows Mobile Email from Vodafone broadens our product portfolio and is another compelling reason for any business to switch to Vodafone.'

The service has two plans: Lite at $29.95 per month for 100Mbytes and 0.02 cents per kb thereafter (Vodafone says this should equate to around 500 emails); and Heavy at $49.95 per month which equates to around 1500 average emails.