Windows Live Services Coming to Blackberry

A Web Exclusive from WinInfo
Paul Thurrott
WinInfo
InstantDoc #99114
WinInfo

On Monday, Microsoft and Research in Motion (RIM) announced that the two companies will collaborate to bring popular Windows Live services to RIM's popular Blackberry smart phone devices. The first two services to make the transition to the Blackberry platform are Windows Live Hotmail (email) and Windows Live Messenger (instant messaging).

"RIM continues to look for ways to provide customers with a wide range of communications options and the best possible mobile experience," says RIM vice president of marketing Mark Guibert. "Our relationship with Microsoft and the addition of Windows Live services to BlackBerry smartphones help us build on that strategy for our customers."

Specifically, Blackberry customers will be able to access Hotmail-based email using so-called push technologies, which provide automatic message delivery and inbox synchronization. Blackberry users will also be able to view Hotmail email alongside email from other accounts via a single inbox and ready HTML-based email messages.

In related news, RIM also announced a new generation of its Blackberry devices that work with high-speed 3G data networks. The first 3G-enabled Blackberry device, the Blackberry Bold, will be rolled out globally this summer, according to RIM, but won't be sold in the US until later in the year. AT&T will be the exclusive carrier for the Bold at least temporarily, RIM says.

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Strange - I have been able to do with with WiMo for years...

sx4sport@hotmail.com May 12, 2008 (Article Rating:

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"Strange - I have been able to do with with WiMo for years..."

ya, me too!

ok so they've added support for WL services for their consumer market, so how about adding Exchange ActiveSync?! you know, for their primary market: BUSINESS CUSTOMERS!!

i really hate seeing the wasted money that companies put into the platform because they also have to pay for BlackBerry Enterprise Server ON TOP OF their purchase of Exchange, AND the devices are more expensive than better-equipped Windows Mobile smartphones, AND deployment is a pain-in-the-a$$, AND the system is still routed through a central NOC for no apparent reason whatsoever....

Windows Mobile phones just work. a corporate IT department only needs to have a proper AD setup with Exchange, and then just buy devices for the users from their carrier and there is no real initial deployment setup for the devices - the users just plug them into their desktops for a one-time initial wired sync, and then everything is set up automatically. further management can be done "manually" through AD GPO's, or automated by Exchange ActiveSync Mobile Administration Web Tool (ya, that's a mouthful), or the superior System Center Mobile Device Manager. Exchange has Windows Mobile support built-in so no extra software is required. the hardest part of it all is choosing a phone, since there are many choices of form factors and feature-sets available. i've personally deployed Windows Mobile devices to a few local small businesses that need portable data availability (such as email and Office document support) where a laptop is just not feasible, and they find working with them a joy....well, that's a bit of hyperbole - it is *work* after all - but they do find them very handy, and much easier to stick in their pocket or on their belt than a laptop. ;)

XP

Waethorn May 13, 2008 (Article Rating:

)

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