'Good' Move by Cingular Seen Pressing Research In Motion

[Jerry Raia]

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Itw0ivV8SlLcI8/Good-Move-by-Cingular-Seen-Pressing-Research-In-Motion.xhtml

"Cingular Wireless Latest News about Cingular has launched a business-focused always-on e-mail service that will compete alongside the popular BlackBerry standard from Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) Latest News about Research In Motion and could portend additional offerings from carriers eager to lock in corporate users. Cingular, the largest mobile carrier in the U.S., said it would link with Good Technology to provide e-mail and other services that could be accessed over its mobile network with smartphones and other hand-held devices that operate on the Palm and Windows Mobile operating systems."



Some interesting points are made in this news story that make it worth reading even though most of us won't be using this kind of service (just wait till you see how much it costs). The part I found interesting was why the carriers are reluctant to support widespread email usage on their networks. I also like this because I hate Blackberry!

[Jerry Raia]

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Itw0ivV8SlLcI8/Good-Move-by-Cingular-Seen-Pressing-Research-In-Motion.xhtml

"Cingular Wireless Latest News about Cingular has launched a business-focused always-on e-mail service that will compete alongside the popular BlackBerry standard from Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) Latest News about Research In Motion and could portend additional offerings from carriers eager to lock in corporate users. Cingular, the largest mobile carrier in the U.S., said it would link with Good Technology to provide e-mail and other services that could be accessed over its mobile network with smartphones and other hand-held devices that operate on the Palm and Windows Mobile operating systems."



Some interesting points are made in this news story that make it worth reading even though most of us won't be using this kind of service (just wait till you see how much it costs). The part I found interesting was why the carriers are reluctant to support widespread email usage on their networks. I also like this because I hate Blackberry!

[Mike Temporale]

$1600 Setup Fee 8O 8O :twak: Ouch!

The $45 per month isn't too bad if it's full unlimited data. However I think they are saying that it's just unlimited email and not unlimited data.

[possmann]

startup fee :lol: please....

How can they think they are going to make a big dent in RIM with costs like that?

[HalM]

Originally Posted by possmann

startup fee :lol: please....

How can they think they are going to make a big dent in RIM with costs like that?

Blackberry for the enterprise is very expensive. You have to install a server (hardware and Windows) plus the Blackberry server. That piece goes for about $5000 last time I looked. So depending on what you buy, look for a "setup" cost for Blackberry to be in the $8,000 range. Plus, you have to support it with your IT group.

So the Goodmail program could end up saving lots of $$$, especially if you factor in the support issue.

[seaflipper]

Originally Posted by Mike Temporale

$1600 Setup Fee 8O 8O :twak: Ouch!

The $45 per month isn't too bad if it's full unlimited data. However I think they are saying that it's just unlimited email and not unlimited data.

It's cheaper than Blackberry service. Remember, this is enterprise level stuff here. Blackberry server is like $5,000 for 20 users, $80 for each additional user.

The $1600 is for "startup" no setup. It includes license fees for Goodlink.

[possmann]

I forgot - enterprise - you are right in that move - it does cost less than RIM. I was naturally thinking of the individual mode - :roll:

[Mike Temporale]

I realize BB are expensive, I've been down this road more than a couple times with clients. Oh, and last time I looked into it, it was $100 per user not $80. However, the difference could be related to volume.

Regardless, my point is that "Setup" doesn't take very long. At the most it would be 2 hours work. So Cingular has you paying $800 an hour to be added to their system. In reality, it would be more like an hour, max. That's expensive.

You're not going to attract the small or medium sized customer with $1600 setup fees. So this is squarely aimed at the big guys who don't mind having there own servers and staff maintaining them. :?

[rdecker]

I use Cingular's Express Mail system. There is no charge for it (other than data charges; I have unlimited data for $20/mo). I have to run a client application on my Windows box at work but with that I get full access to outlook email and appointments.

Works well..

[HalM]

Originally Posted by Mike Temporale

Regardless, my point is that "Setup" doesn't take very long. At the most it would be 2 hours work. So Cingular has you paying $800 an hour to be added to their system. In reality, it would be more like an hour, max. That's expensive.

You're not going to attract the small or medium sized customer with $1600 setup fees. So this is squarely aimed at the big guys who don't mind having there own servers and staff maintaining them. :?

I have to ask "who cares?" if it cost $1,600 for setup? That is still a lot less than initial BB setup. And it is probably less than ongoing support for BB if it is already installed.

And I also have to disagree on small and medium businesses buying mobile messaging / unified messaging. At least here in NC it is THE hot ticket for consultants with Exchange expertise.

[dollardr]

After evaulating Treo's and MS devices we rolled out 35 Blackberry's to key executives. You can not believe how much easier life is and the big reduction in support costs.

The Blackberry solution is not much more than many of the other Enterprise class wireless e-mail solutions. We actually negotiated and got some of the software at no cost. I've seen CALS priced anywhere from $60 to $100.

The big advantage with a BES server is very good security and the ability to use policies to keep the devices healthy. Also, if a device is lost or stolen we can wipe the data off of it remotely. The system is fully integrated with our e-mail system and behind our firewall which is a big selling point for me. I have 15 more users wanting devices and only expect this solution to keep growing.

In the future a better solution may come along but for now you can't argue against the reliability and success that RIM has developed.