Users of future wireless devices based on Windows Mobile and Research In Motion (RIM) BlackBerry OS platforms will get new software to let them exchange instant messages while mobile with other users of Live Communications Server 2005, Microsoft's product for corporate instant messaging (IM) and presence. However, neither Microsoft nor RIM would say whether their new clients will run on current devices.

Specifically, Microsoft will deliver an IM client that enables Windows-powered phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to connect to Microsoft's Live Communications Server (LCS) 2005, the latest version of Microsoft's IM and presence product. Separately, RIM announced that it will work with Microsoft to create a similar LCS 2005 client that will run on its popular BlackBerry mobile e-mail devices. Together, these deals expand the reach of corporate IM to include users of mobile devices and further position Microsoft as the premier vendor in the burgeoning corporate IM market.

LCS Client for Windows Mobile

Although the current Windows Mobile platform includes a client for the MSN Messenger public IM service, heretofore there has been no Windows Mobile or Windows CE client for LCS. The new client, which will be modeled after the upcoming Office Communicator desktop client but tailored for the particular characteristics and demands of mobile devices, will allow users to send and receive instant messages with other LCS 2005 users. Microsoft says that this will be possible either when users are connected to their corporate networks over Wi-Fi or over the Internet using a cellular data service (no VPN connection is needed with LCS 2005). However, Microsoft has not said whether the new client will also support Voice-over-IP (VoIP) communications.

The new Windows Mobile client will also provide a new API to allow Windows Mobile developers to write mobile applications that leverage LCS 2005's IM and presence capabilities, such as a business application that automatically sends notification instant messages to designated coworkers when they arrive at a customer site.

Microsoft did not say whether the new client will be installable on today's Windows Mobile 2003 devices or will require the new version of the Windows Mobile 2005 platform, code-named Magneto, expected to ship on mobile devices later this year. The new client will go into beta testing in the second half of 2005.

RIM to Offer LCS Client

RIM announced that it is working with Microsoft to develop a client that will provide LCS connectivity from its popular BlackBerry devices. Although the look and feel of this client will differ from that of the mobile client for Windows Mobile devices, it should provide similar functionality. However, RIM did not state whether the new client will run on current BlackBerry devices or just on future versions.

The announcement is especially interesting in that Microsoft is competing head-on with RIM in the mobile Exchange e-mail access market, an area where RIM has been the market leader but is threatened by devices running Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform.

RIM expects the product to be available by the end of the year, with a trial in Sept. 2005.

Resources

Microsoft's IM solutions are detailed in "LCS 2005 Takes Corporate IM Beyond the Firewall" on page 3 of the Jan. 2005 Update and in "IM, VoIP, Conferencing Roadmap Unveiled" on page 10 of the Apr. 2005 Update.