On Mobile Email

I went to a Microsoft partner training session a week ago that offered a lab/training for hands on to the Microsoft version of untethered email.

I am not impressed.

• Inbox synchronization is one way, as opposed to full blown sync for RIMM/BB (if you open a message on the HH, it will not show opened in your inbox)
• Provisioning is done manually, with settings having to be entered into the handheld, either by you or the hapless user.
• The Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP), the software part that makes it all work, is to be released by individual mobile operators, and I suspect (did not get confirmation) on a per device model basis
  

Essentially, it is pretty rudimentary when compared to Blackberry. The rudimentery features of the initial release of this functionality is consistent with how Microsoft introduces them, which is something along the lines of upon initial release, 30% of a feature set is implemented. It will probably take 2 or 3 more releases of this feature to get it as a winning, compettitive solution. This assumption will, in my opinion, mean that sometime in 2007 (Exchange 12/SP1 perhaps?) this may be a serious competittor to RIMM/BB.

I still find Windows Mobile devices awkward and clunky, and this still has not changed with WM5.0. Last year I bought a Blue Angel device, that had the wonderful feature that if you let the battery remain uncharged and depleted for over 72 hours, you forced to restore the entire device. OUTSTANDING! Where do I sign up to buy hundreds of these units for my "tech savvy" users, who don't know how to tie their Technology Shoelaces, so to speak? I want ALL of my users calling me, often.

The beauty of the BB solution is that it minimizes and protects you from the greatest vulnerability and risk that daunts and confounds the success of any IT solution: The User. Personally, I can't see this displacing Blackberry. What I do see this as is an attempt to broaden the number of people that can get "real-time, untethered" email.

As the Pre-req's for this are X2K03 and SP2, The MSFP, and a Windows Mobile 5.0 handheld (the cell phone/wi-fi ones are around $500/pop), I don't see this having a tremendous impact on mobile computing. Can you imagine running an International Corporation, with users with mobile devices spread across several Mobile Service providers, and trying to implement this? NOT!

I think a lot of people/companies will believe the MS Marketing Hype, believe the FUD about a blackberry shutdown, and adopt it. It will then, subsequently, become a great source of income for Consultants Who Actually Know What They Are Doing, a bane and source of further alcoholism/drug abuse, high blood pressure and elevated cholestoral levels for every day admins and support people.