Marks & Spencer to Pilot Windows Mobile Smartphones

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2005/07/27/211106/MSgetstasterofsmartphonesystem.htm

"Retailer Marks & Spencer is to pilot a Microsoft smart phone system to deliver wireless e-mail and store performance data to its executives. The pilot scheme will see the company’s senior staff using Microsoft Windows Mobile-based Smartphones, running Microsoft Outlook. The Smartphone will also include a prototype version of business technology firm Conchango’s Retail KPI Dashboard application, which can deliver information on store performance to the handheld devices so executives can make informed decisions on the move. The full version of the application can deliver real-time data covering sales, stock and orders for individual stores on demand. Users will also be able to get access to corporate information whether their device is on or offline."

I wonder what type of phones Marks & Spencer will be using. I would guess that it's the Audiovox SMT5600 as it is becoming extremely popular, and is fairly stable. Anyway, regardless of the hardware, this is a nice win for Microsoft and Windows Mobile.

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2005/07/27/211106/MSgetstasterofsmartphonesystem.htm

"Retailer Marks & Spencer is to pilot a Microsoft smart phone system to deliver wireless e-mail and store performance data to its executives. The pilot scheme will see the company’s senior staff using Microsoft Windows Mobile-based Smartphones, running Microsoft Outlook. The Smartphone will also include a prototype version of business technology firm Conchango’s Retail KPI Dashboard application, which can deliver information on store performance to the handheld devices so executives can make informed decisions on the move. The full version of the application can deliver real-time data covering sales, stock and orders for individual stores on demand. Users will also be able to get access to corporate information whether their device is on or offline."

I wonder what type of phones Marks & Spencer will be using. I would guess that it's the Audiovox SMT5600 as it is becoming extremely popular, and is fairly stable. Anyway, regardless of the hardware, this is a nice win for Microsoft and Windows Mobile.

[Stinger]

Well, the MPx220 isn't widely available in the UK so it's likely to be the Orange SPV C500/C550 or T-Mobile SDA/SDA Music.

I'd reckon the C500 (aka SMT5600) too, since it's cheap, small and available in large numbers.