The deal looks set to be the first of a number of similar tie-ups for Nokia as it attempts to establish itself as a preferred device platform provider for enterprise mobile applications.
Nokia said it intends to support all the key components of Smartner’s Duality Always-On mail product on its Communicator 9500 and 9300 devices, both powered by Symbian OS and Nokia’s Series 80 user interface. This will provide these devices with push-based access to and synchronization with email, calendar and other personal data from Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes as well as to POP3 and IMAP mail accounts.
Nokia’s alliance with Smartner represents the latest development in its multi-vendor mobile email strategy, which to date supports Oracle, IBM and Research In Motion’s BlackBerry service. It also appears to pave the way for similar tie-ups with other smaller mobile email software developers as it seeks to further the enterprise credentials of its mobile devices and platforms.
We want to be the platform of choice for deployment of different solutions. We want to be the agnostic platform player, Panu Kuusisto, director for alliance development at Nokia Enterprise Solutions told ComputerWire.
When it comes to enterprise mobility we believe [most businesses] will start with email and PIM. It’s the most horizontal application and the one most employees would have need for.
Smartner’s Duality is already available for a number of mobile devices and platforms through its mobile operator partners, including Vodafone, Swisscom Mobile, E-Plus, O2, and Elisa. Nokia follows fellow Symbian licensee Sony Ericsson in offering direct hardware manufacturer support for the software.
