Palm Canada today announced availability of Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync(R) Update for Palm OS(R) devices for the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 680 and Treo 700p smartphones. Palm OS based Treo smartphones have long been able to use Exchange ActiveSync(R) to access Microsoft Exchange Server information using Palm’s VersaMail(R) email client. The new update enhances VersaMail by adding Microsoft’s Direct Push Technology, which gives users connected to an Exchange Server fast, automatic wireless updates of email, calendar and contact information.(1) “Extending Microsoft’s Direct Push Technology to the Palm OS based line of Treo smartphones gives business customers a powerful new choice for wireless email, security and manageability,” said Michael Moskowitz, vice president, Americas International, Palm, Inc. “This combination delivers the benefits of business-class email without the cost of additional infrastructure required by other middleware-based solutions, ensuring a fast return on investment as well as a great end-user experience.” Deploying wireless email continues to be a key initiative for companies around the world. By 2008, research firm Radicati Group estimates that nearly 90 percent of professionals will carry mobile devices capable of receiving email, and Gartner predicts that 50 percent of organizations with an Exchange Server in place will use its native support for mobile push email.Also according to Gartner, Microsoft Exchange Server makes up more than 60 percent of the enterprise email server market. As such, there is a tremendous opportunity for companies to adopt Direct Push Technology and empower their mobile workforces with wireless email. In addition to providing a powerful email solution, the Exchange ActiveSync Update for Palm OS devices offers the following benefits: << - Adds Direct Push Technology - Direct Push Technology gives users connected to an Exchange Server fast, automatic wireless updates of email, calendar and contact information (Exchange Server 2003 with SP2 or Exchange Server 2007). - Extends existing software and infrastructure - Wireless email using Direct Push Technology reduces the need for third-party software and infrastructure, thereby reducing cost, maintenance requirements and staffing needs. Companies now can use their existing infrastructures and servers to deliver Exchange Server information wirelessly simply by adding Treo smartphones. - Offers security and central management - Security features for IT administrators include over-the-air password policy enforcement and remote wipe for lost or stolen devices. Users also have the benefit of accessing their company's Global Address List (GAL) over-the-air, providing them with quick access to colleagues' contact information. - Installs easily - The update can be downloaded over-the-air for Treo 700p and Treo 680 customers, making it very easy for IT to deploy. >> “While many Canadian workers need fast, automatic updates to their mobile email, calendar, and contacts, the onus falls upon IT departments to offer this productivity-enhancing capability in a cost-effective and secure manner,” said Bryan Rusche, Exchange product manager, Microsoft Canada. “The addition of Direct Push will help Palm Canada’s customers meet this growing demand by extending their highly scalable Exchange infrastructure to the Palm, Windows Mobile 5.0 based devices, resulting in a secure and cost-effective solution.”Exchange ActiveSync Update for Palm OS for the Treo 680 and Treo 700p complements Palm’s Windows Mobile based Treo products which also offer the benefits noted above. Now businesses that run a mixture of Windows Mobile and Palm OS Treo smartphones can deliver the same Direct Push Technology experience to their users around the world.Availability————The Exchange ActiveSync Update for Palm OS will be available Monday, January 29, as a download at www.palm.com/easdownload.(2)About Palm, Inc.—————-Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people’s hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company’s products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm(R) Treo(TM) smartphones, Palm handheld computers, and Palm LifeDrive(TM) mobile managers, as well as software, services and accessories.Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com.(1) Requires Exchange Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 or Exchange Server2007 and access enabled by IT administrator. Within wireless servicecoverage area only. Availability and coverage depends upon carrier andthe geographic scope of international roaming agreements. Email,messaging and web access requires data services from a mobile serviceprovider at an additional cost.(2) Not currently available for Cingular Wireless customers.Palm, Palm OS, Treo, VersaMail and LifeDrive are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.SOURCE: Palm, Inc.
TMobile to release its version of HTC Athena
According to Pocketinfo.nl, HTC Athena communicator will be released by T-Mobile operator and called T-Mobile AMEO. I’d remind you that this is the very device with unusual form-factor and a 5” display, making an impression of a UMPC and PDA hybrid. The release is expected to take place soon, especially taking into account the images of the AMEO (probably, official).
In all, these specs confirm the earlier info with minor exceptions. For example, the device will be equipped with a 3-megapixel camera (not 2-megapixel).
The specs of T-Mobile AMEO:
Operating system – Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone Edition
5” display VGA (640×480 pixels)
3-megapixel camera
CPU – Intel XScale 624 MHz
64/128 MB RAM and 128/256 MB ROM
HDD – 8 GB
Slot for miniSD cards
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and UMTS/HSDPA (2100 MHz)
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and Bluetooth 2.0
GPS-module
Battery 2100 mAh
Dimensions – 133.1x97x20 mm
Weight – 355 g
