Microsoft Announces Exchange ActiveSync Licensing Agreement With Sony Ericsson

Microsoft Corp. today announced that Sony Ericsson has licensed the Exchange ActiveSync protocol to enable more secure, wireless direct synchronization between Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and Sony Ericsson’s P990 and M600 phones.This solution will help provide mobile workers with anywhere access to their complete Exchange Server 2003 information, including e-mail, calendar and contacts. For organizations that have deployed Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2, additional mobile enhancements such as Direct Push are also supported, providing instant access to newly received e-mail messages. Both of the new phones will be available in the second quarter of 2006.

Microsoft is experiencing significant momentum with Exchange Server with a five-year compound annual growth rate of more than 20 percent. According to analyst firm Gartner Dataquest, Microsoft Exchange is the 2004 market share leader in enterprise e-mail and calendaring software, based on new license revenue, with a share of 48 percent (“Market Share: Enterprise E-Mail and Calendaring, Worldwide, 2002–2004," Gartner Dataquest, June 2005). By licensing Exchange ActiveSync, Sony Ericsson is now able to deliver a comprehensive mobile messaging solution to these customers.

“Organizations today require a more secure wireless solution for their mobile workers that is easy to manage and supported by a variety of devices," said Jeff Ressler, director of Product Management and Planning for Exchange Server at Microsoft. “Sony Ericsson’s enterprise mobile devices will provide a cost-effective solution, offering easy access to their Exchange Server data."

Exchange Server 2003 provides broad mobile device support on Microsoft Windows Mobile based and other Exchange ActiveSync-enabled devices. The licensing agreement with Sony Ericsson continues Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to expand its IP licensing efforts, making it easier for others to license the company’s growing IP portfolio based on its significant R&D efforts. Today’s announcement builds on the growing industry adoption of Exchange ActiveSync by licensees such as DataViz Inc., Motorola Inc., Nokia, Palm Inc. and Symbian Ltd.

“Mobile workers are increasingly looking for ways to stay connected on the move. The powerful combination of our recently announced P990 and M600 phones together with the Exchange ActiveSync protocol, allows customers to easily manage their Exchange e-mail, calendar and contacts on the move," said Brendan Press, head of Enterprise Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “Sony Ericsson is committed to working with industry partners such as Microsoft to provide empowering mobile solutions for business customers."

More information can be found online at: Microsoft Exchange