Synchronica connects iPhone to Exchange servers
The iPhone may be the answer to what many people want in a smart phone, but it's unlikely to end the scourge known as CrackBerry addiction anytime soon: unless e-mail software like Synchronica's takes off.
Synchronica, based in the U.K., announced Wednesday that its Mobile Gateway 3.0 software will allow companies to deliver corporate e-mail to the iPhone without having to open the firewall or otherwise meddle with their security settings. It allows the iPhone's e-mail client to talk directly to Microsoft's Exchange e-mail servers through Outlook Web Access and doesn't require companies to install software on their end of the connection.
The problem is the software needs to be installed by a mobile operator, leaving it up to AT&T to support Synchronica's software to make the iPhone work like a corporate smart phone in the U.S. There's no indication that either Apple or AT&T is too concerned about the corporate market right now. Although most smart phone users--at least in the U.S.--use their phones to make sure they never miss a nauseating e-mail thread on project requirements, Apple has concentrated its iPhone marketing on consumers by playing up the video iPod and mobile Web browsing capabilities of the device.
The iPhone will likely remain a consumer smart phone until Research In Motion--the dominant mobile e-mail provider in the U.S.--and Apple decide whether they want to support the iPhone. Two weeks ago Visto said its push e-mail software would support the iPhone, but it's also a small player in the U.S. market. However, both Visto and Synchronica could be eying the European market, which is expected to receive its iPhones later this year.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
Apple making $300+ profit per iphone, skim some of that for a licensing fee and buy in, I think the iphone is pretty great with the exception of the missing corporate email function and the inability to wirelessly sync contacts/calender items. Until then i wont allow my users to touch the iphone with a 10 foot pole.
the iPhone. Anyone who has ever spent a minute of time in
manufacturing would know that. So where in the hell did you
come up with your bull-feces?
You won't allow what?! How is
it up to you?!
Who do you work for?!
(customer svc is pathetic, and calls drop in metro areas crazy),
but
you got my money if I can get blackberry 'type' (without cingular
mail client) email access on an iphone. I have used an unlocked
Nokia 9300i bought from Nokia for way well above iphone cost,
and will switch if YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN. Service is key, cost of
hardware is not important. (And make it a user replaceable
battery, what were you thinking, cost/convenience factor
forgotten?)
-GJ
Blackberries and Windows mobile devices will work on several phone provider networks. Palm has switched to windows mobile for their new phones. Yes, it will browse the web, too. One of my favorite new features is the ability to remote desktop into another computer. It does not give you the resolution, but when you're in the middle of nowhere and all you have is your phone, it's great. Pricewise... I won't even go there, you already know.
If you're looking for a personal phone, then it's your choice. I give the iphone credit for having a screen with greater resolution for the web. If you are an IT manager, and your employees need corporate email on their phones, you will go with blackberry or windows mobile as the iphone does not yet have this feature.
- Say what?
- by ewelch July 11, 2007 2:20 PM PDT
- The author wrote:
- Like this Reply to this comment
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- Tons of companies already use RIM's software
- by Tom Krazit July 11, 2007 5:37 PM PDT
- That's what it means.
- Like this
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- Support needed for synchronizing email
- by Seaspray0 July 11, 2007 8:44 PM PDT
- "What does that even mean? Why should Apple agree with, or wait for, RIM to support the iPhone?"
- Like this View reply
Processing -
(11 Comments)"The iPhone will likely remain a consumer smart phone until
Research In Motion--the dominant mobile e-mail provider in
the U.S.--and Apple decide whether they want to support the
iPhone. "
What does that even mean? Why should Apple agree with, or
wait for, RIM to support the iPhone? As for Apple supporting it,
the best response would be, "No duh."
Because the author seems to be completely unaware that Steve
Jobs recently said Apple is working on several solutions to the
Exchange problem. What does RIM have to do with that? Squat
would be my guess. RIM's CEO couldn't wait to see the iPhone
before proclaiming it a failure. Now there's some objectivity.
There were some other parts of the story that could have used
the touch of a copy editor.
As for another commenter saying he would not let his users
anywhere near an iPhone until it does exactly what he thinks it
should, all I can say is, yeah, I've known tail-wag-the-dog IT
people like you for over a decade. And your arrogance is just as
lame now as it was back in the day when it was actually hard to
do your job.
If Apple decides they want to be a corporate smart phone player, and they don't bring RIM (or someone else) into the privileged few who get access to the iPhone's application layer, then they'll have to first convince a lot of businesses to buy iPhones, and then to buy new software to send corporate e-mail to the iPhones. If they worked out a deal with RIM to let the iPhone use the BlackBerry software, they'd only have to pitch the iPhone itself, not a whole new suite of software and devices.
There are, of course, other choices. Motorola's got the Good Mobile Messaging software, and Microsoft has push e-mail software, but those two aren't exactly known as huge friends of Apple.
Or Apple could just do what they are doing, and not worry about becoming a corporate player anytime soon. There's no shame in that, and they could still reach their 2008 sales goals without worrying about the corporate e-mail market.
Your copy-editing suggestions are certainly welcome.
1. It would provide the means for the iphone to synch with corporate email through the blackberry service.
2. It would provide a wedge into an existing "synchronize email" market rather than create their own mechanism from scratch.
3. The alternative to partnering with blackberry, an existing "synchronize email" provider, is partnering with microsoft, an existing "synchronize email" provider, and I don't see that happening.