Our Microsoft Subnet has a case study about a New Hampshire company, Globe Manufacturing, that has enthusiastically embraced Windows Mobile 6.0 for its employees on the move.
That link brings you to part 2 of the story (focusing on Windows Mobile and the Samsung SCH-i760 smartphone used by Globe). In part 1, Julie looked at Globe's decision to opt for a Linux-based email system, PostPath, but Microsoft Outlook as its email/contacts client.
What drew Globe to Windows Mobile was its familiarity, practicality, and affordability. Microsoft just recently release Windows Mobile 6.1, a minor update with one big exception: some hooks to link 6.1 devices with just-released Windows System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 (MDM), a new server application that is the first major effort by the company to make handhelds as manageable and secure as PCs.
Globe IT Specialist Nick Bonnet sees a near-perfect marriage between the OS and with the Samsung SCH-i760. They chose the Samsung phone because they judged it a good combination of voice and computing features, and a design that is focused on business requirements (eg, no MP3 player).
He mentions that the Windows Mobile versions of Word, Excel etc. "look like" the originals and that was a plus because Globe's road warriors were already familiar with these. I've heard, and read, that some endusers are very aware of, and frustrated by, the differences between the two.
The company did consider RIM's BlackBerry solution. But they saw additional costs and complexities to BlackBerry's approach -- adding the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) layer, and training and supporting users.
Are you using Windows Mobile? What's your assessment of the 6.0 and 6.1 for enterprise users?
Cox is a senior editor at Network World.
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