Can Windows Mobile *really* compete with Blackberry?

[Philip Colmer]

Let me start by saying that I really like the WM5 platform. I've been trialling the QTek 9100 with Direct Push email and I really like it. We are currently undergoing a review of our corporate mobile strategy, which includes a review of our use of Blackberrys. I'm all in favour of moving over to WM5, primarily because of the simplification for IT it would bring but also because I think it is a better platform for the end-user. More powerful, easier to understand.

Then I read this: http://msmobiles.com/news.php/5474.html

Nothing in there shocks me too much, but it does make the valid point that software developers need to take security much more seriously if the platform is going to win friends in corporate land. MS need to step up to the plate themselves and deliver enhancements like encrypted storage, etc.

--Philip

[Janak Parekh]

Does RIM deliver encrypted storage? Remember we have limited processor cycles on a mobile platform, so we want to limit the overhead.

Anyway - as you may note, that article focuses on Pocket PC applications. While there are a few points for the platform in general, that's not what the article is primarily targeting.

--janak

[Sven Johannsen]

I'm sure that there are many legitimate concerns on the security of PPCs...or RIM, or Palm, or laptops of whatever OS. As Janak points out though, much of the concern is over third party software, and at least some human issues. I'm always a bit sceptical of threat analysis done by companies selling a solution.

[salem]

I haven't used Blackberry, so it's hard to compare, but if you talk about pushing email, i'm using some other way to do it with my Gmail account.

My telco operator offers a free email account to all GPRS subscribers ( US$16/Month for unlimited access) and it will notify users via SMS when there's a new email.
http://www.peoples.com.hk/p_mobilemail_default_iso.jsp_

I've forwarded all Gmail email to this address. When I get a notifying SMS, I simply click IE, go to http://m.gmail.com and check my email. Considering there's no extra payment for this service, I feel it pretty cool for me.

Of course it's not exclusive to Pocket PC. Symbian and Treo users can be benefited too.

[salem]

Let me start by saying that I really like the WM5 platform. I've been trialling the QTek 9100 with Direct Push email and I really like it. We are currently undergoing a review of our corporate mobile strategy, which includes a review of our use of Blackberrys. I'm all in favour of moving over to WM5, primarily because of the simplification for IT it would bring but also because I think it is a better platform for the end-user. More powerful, easier to understand.

Then I read this: http://msmobiles.com/news.php/5474.html

Nothing in there shocks me too much, but it does make the valid point that software developers need to take security much more seriously if the platform is going to win friends in corporate land. MS need to step up to the plate themselves and deliver enhancements like encrypted storage, etc.

--Philip

another concern is that as Pocket PC becomes small PC, hackers will target it sooner or later. Microsoft never make a vulnerability-free Windows Mobile. Though blackberry and palm have similar problems, hackers love Microsoft more than their counterparts. At this moment, symbian is main target over mobile virus threat, but it's only a matter of time for microsoft.