Orange pushes Microsoft email with low cost deployment tool

 Orange innovations speed roll out and reduce data usage
 Coventry University Enterprises Ltd complete successful trial 
 Newham Council claim technology will enable new business processes

22nd March 2006; Orange Business Solutions today announced the availability of Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 5.0 direct push email and unveiled a deployment tool to speed the mass roll-out of push email across businesses. The Orange solution aims to bring mobile email within reach of a more diverse range of business users. Coventry University Enterprises Ltd has completed a successful trial and alongside Newham Council, who claim that the technology has further enhanced their mobile workforces' productivity when away from the office.

From 3rd April, all businesses will be able to benefit from the Windows Mobile® 5.0 solution which incorporates the Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) and includes Direct Push technology and enhanced security features. The solution is supported by Orange Mobile Manager, a web-based tool that allows IT departments to set up Windows Mobile® Email across hundreds of devices without manually configuring each one. The Orange software offers the flexibility to apply a range of pre-set configurations to different groups of users, depending on their requirements.

"We have been trialling the new push email feature with our Windows Mobile 5.0 powered devices from Orange and it has further enhanced our mobile workforce's productivity when away from the office by allowing them to react instantly to changes in their mailbox," said Matt Knowles, ICT Analyst Advisor, Coventry University Enterprises Ltd. "I'm particularly impressed with the new security features and I'm now a lot happier about the whole corporate data security issue as these features give me the essential control I need."

Windows Mobile Email from Orange offers a direct push email service to Windows Mobile® 5.0 devices using the familiar Outlook format. It allows users to receive, edit and send Microsoft Office® Excel®, and Word® attachments as well as open and view PowerPoint® presentations. The solution provides an up to date Outlook calendar, tasks and inbox. Windows Mobile® Email requires minimal upfront investment in hardware or software for those organisations using Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003.

"Live push email is being deployed to mobile workers fulfilling a variety of roles from street based workers, to social workers and executive management," said Geoff Connell, Deputy Head of ICT, Newham Council. "This technology is exciting because it enables innovative new business processes, particularly when combined with the ability to quickly deploy custom applications across a wide variety of handsets. The start-up costs are very low as the solution leverages our existing investment in Exchange 2003 SP2 and Windows Mobile 5.0 handsets."

The Orange Windows Mobile Email service will be offered in a range of three bundles covering light to heavy users and will be available as an extension to both existing data-only and voice and data contracts. Customers will benefit from the application of Orange technology that reduces the minimum data usages required by Windows Mobile Email*.

Orange will offer Windows Mobile® Email on the Orange SPV C600 and Orange SPV M5000, as well as the Orange SPV M600, which will be made available in April. All devices will come loaded with the required Messaging Security Feature Pack (MSFP). For users with pre MSFP Windows Mobile® 5.0 devices, Orange provides a free download at www.orange.co.uk/business/corporate

*Orange will minimise user costs by reducing the need for open connection 'heartbeats' by a factor of 20 times. Required every three minutes to maintain an open link between user and mail server, these data heavy heartbeats push up costs regardless of whether email is exchanged. By reducing heartbeat frequency to once per hour, Orange will save Windows Mobile email customers unnecessary data consumption.