Windows Mobile

Forwarding your text messages to your email

Paul Mah — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:13:04 -0500

I came across txtForward earlier today, which I thought was worth a mention here. As its name suggests, txtForward automatically forwards incoming or outgoing text messages to a specified email address. This could be a boon for the heavy text user who might just want a simple and reliable way to archive their messages. And in case you didn't realize, text messaging is apparently being used by teens to avoid taking phone calls by their parents.

Anyway, the unfortunate state of affair is that most smartphones simply do not treat text messages as important, and hence are generally limited in terms of message-level searching, as well as in their backup and archival.

Available for the BlackBerry and Windows Mobile, the BlackBerry version of the software worked flawlessly for me. Of course, the trial is limited to only 10 forwarded messages, so my experience with it is limited. One downside for privacy advocates is that the emails are sent out via Electric Pocket's servers, though the company gave assurance on its website that no logging, recording, or monitoring of messages takes place.

To read more on the article:
- check out this product from Electric Pocket

Nokia launches touchscreen smartphone; Hackers boot Linux on the iPhone;

Paul Mah — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:00:12 -0500

> Nokia launches touchscreen smartphone, the N97. Article
> Hackers boot Linux on the iPhone. Article
> MSI unveils new netbooks sporting Intel Atom processors. Article
> QiGi i6 runs either Android or Windows Mobile operating system. Article
> Palm warns that last quarter's revenues will be "well below expectations." Article

And Finally... An editorial on how to protect yourself from telemarketers. Article

Open-sourced Symbian questioned

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:52:50 -0400

Richard Windsor, a research analyst for technology and communication equipment at Nomura International, questioned whether Nokia's move to open source the Symbian platform a "win" for everyone involved. In the wake of Nokia's acquisition of Symbian Limited, the Finnish phone giant announced its plans to open source the venerable Symbian operating system.

While the move bodes well for the Symbian platform, non-Nokia licensees like Sony Ericsson will have "a massive disadvantage against Nokia," noted Windsor. One of the reasons is that its sheer volume allows Nokia to sell S60-based hardware at a staggering 40 percent lower price than its competitors. This may be the reason Sony Ericsson came up with phones based on Windows Mobile, such as the Xperia X1 Smartphone, which was unveiled earlier this year.

To read more on the issue of open sourcing the Symbian platform:
- check out this EETimes.com article

The rise of application stores for mobile software

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:05:23 -0400

Probably as a result of pressure from Apple's highly successful application store, the maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, Research In Motion (RIM), has unveiled an application storefront for the BlackBerry operating system. Indeed, Google also announced an Android Market earlier, which will serve as an online center for its open-source operating system. Not to be outdone, Microsoft has also been spotted posting job advertisements for new staff for a Windows Mobile related "Skymarket" service. As expected, carriers are not keen to give application developers free reign on this lucrative front. At this point however, there appears to be nothing much they can do against this inexorable trend. Principal analyst Charles Golvin at Forrester Research believes that wireless carriers can already "see the writing on the wall." The upside, of course, is carriers will still make money on their data plans.

To read more about mobile application stores:
- check out this article from CNET News

Microsoft reiterates that it will not make handsets

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:13:10 -0400

Even as the first Google G1 Android phone launched and Apple looked set to sell between 10 to 12 million iPhones this year, Microsoft's group product manager for Windows Mobile, Scott Rockfeld, remained adamant that Microsoft there are "no plans to build our own phone." He added that, "Right now we're happy to share the limelight." So far, Microsoft's strategy has worked well. Fiscal year 2008 saw Microsoft's partners shipping 18 million units, up from 11 million the year before. Still, competitors like RIM are certainly ratcheting up the pressure by releasing more consumer-centric headsets. Barely two years into the market, Apple too, has managed to garner an incredible momentum, if not in absolute numbers, certainly in mindshare. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will attempt to tweak its strategy in the near future.

To read more on this topic:
- check out this article from Silicon Alley Insider

RIM jumps past Windows Mobile in 2Q 2008

Paul Mah — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:21:15 -0400

The latest numbers from Gartner are out, and though almost every platform saw increased sales for devices, the big winner here appears to be RIM. While Windows Mobile increased its share slightly, RIM has almost doubled its share to 17.4 percent since this time last year. This represents an almost 5 percent lead on Windows Mobile, which is surprising given the enhancements that Microsoft has put into it. In addition, handset manufacturers such as HTC have provided some pretty outstanding phone designs based on Windows Mobile. Certainly, support for non-work related usage, such as support for audio and video content, is surely helping the previously enterprise-centric only device along. It remains to be seen how the second half of 2008 will go, with the launch of the Bold as well as a slew of other improved devices from RIM.

For more on the story:
- check out this jkOnTheRun article

InterNoded IMDM manages multiple messaging platforms

Paul Mah — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:43:21 -0400

If you ever have a problem with managing multiple smartphones that users demand be allowed to connect to your corporate email server, then perhaps you should consider taking a look at the InterNoded Mobile Device Manager (IMDM). The IMDM is the only solution on the market that can manage devices based on the BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Good Messaging platforms, all from within the same system. While I have not yet had the chance to actually try out the software, the slides and screenshots I've seen have shown a comprehensive administrative interface where the user is able to provision their device of choice via a simple self-service portal. While other features, such as password resets and device wipes, can be found on the latest versions of Windows Mobile and server-side software for the BlackBerry, IMDM offers a consistent interface and platform to do it. On the administrative end, the consistent interface also makes defining IT policies across various smartphone platforms a breeze.

To find out more about the InterNoded Mobile Device Manager:
- check out the InterNoded website

Microsoft readying application store for Windows Mobile

Paul Mah — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:34:41 -0400

It appears that Microsoft is gearing up to join the application store market with a "Skymarket" for Windows Mobile software. The revelation came to light on Sunday in a Computerjob.com job listing advertising for the position of product manager. Among other criteria, job scope involves heading a team to "drive the launch of a v1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile." Initial launch of this marketplace service looks set to take place as early as this fall to the developer community. Other details that were unwittingly revealed leaked that the commercial launch of the marketplace service will coincide with the next major revision of Windows Mobile, known as WM7.

For more on the story:
- check out this article at CNET News.com

Curtain goes down on Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:10:02 -0400

It was with some nostalgia that I read of the decision by the publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine to suspend publication after 11 years in operation. The reason appears to be a lack of advertisers, as Microsoft steered its Windows Mobile operating system from being a PDA-only platform. The paradigm is different in mobile land, it seems, and advertising revenues from phone companies and OEMs are just not forthcoming despite coverage of their products.

Beyond the confirmation of just how mobile technology has changed the rules of the game, I think this is a somber reminder that information technology, and mobile technologies in particular, is in a constant state of flux. Indeed, just like how the affordability of the once exorbitantly expensive personal computer created a society where utilizing IT is no longer a competitive advantage, but something that is completely necessary; so too is the pervasiveness of always-on, high-speed mobile data access shifting the landscape.

Already, software makers like Intuit are offering online and smartphone-accessible features. Traditional newspapers like the Washington Post have not just embraced the web, but recently released a free BlackBerry application to access its content.

Of course, FierceMobileIT does owe its existence to the advent of mobile devices. Hopefully, we have added value with our enterprise-centric view of mobile devices and technologies, specifically on how to leverage wireless to benefit your organization.

In the meantime, we will continue to serve you by keeping an eye out for the latest mobile-centric developments. As the old saying goes, change is the only constant. - Paul

Smartphone & Pocket PC suspends publication

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:07:06 -0400

I originally planned for another story here until I came across the sad news that the publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine will be suspending publication after 11 years. The news was just announced in a blog posting by Executive Editor Hal Goldstein on Tuesday. While the door will be left open, there are no current plans to publish future Windows Mobile issues. The reason: a dwindling number of advertisers as Windows Mobile transited from PDAs to smartphones. The irony, of course, is that there are almost 20 million Windows Mobile devices sold in this fiscal year alone for Microsoft. Goldstein ended by suggesting that opportunities might exist for a more sophisticated publishing company, or a better funded entrepreneur. The Smartphone & Pocket PC website will remain in operation.

For more on the decision to end Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine:
- check out the blog entry