(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — A new licensing agreement between Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) and SmarterTools (www.smartertools.com) has extended Microsoft’s patented Exchange ActiveSync technology to SmarterMail 6.x users, allowing them to synchronize emails, calendars, contacts, and notes between mobile devices in real time.
The partnership will offer more than 15 million end users access to Exchange ActiveSync’s Direct Push technology as an add-on, available on a yearly subscription basis, “priced well below competitive solutions,” according to SmarterTools’ Thursday announcement. In addition, SmarterTools allows customers to add Exchange ActiveSync to only the mailboxes that need the technology, making adoption easy and affordable for small to medium sized businesses and the hosting industry.
“We are pleased to work with SmarterTools to provide Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to SmarterMail users,” Microsoft intellectual property licensing general manager David Kaefer said in a statement. “This technology is being sought out by our partners and competitors alike because it enhances their value proposition to their customers, and we believe that to be a testament to the innovation taking place at Microsoft.”
Microsoft has been licensing the Exchange ActiveSync protocol for mobile devices since 2003. With the new agreement, SmarterTools is joining a growing number of companies licensing the Exchange ActiveSync patents for implementation on a server.
SmarterTools chief executive officer Tim Uzzanti said the wide adoption of Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync compatibility by mobile manufacturers makes the technology somewhat of a de facto standard for mobile synchronization and communication.
“Mobile devices are becoming the primary device for communication and the ability to accept a calendar event, read email immediately, and track tasks from a mobile device while syncing with the server is a necessity,” Uzzanti said in a statement. “The addition of Exchange ActiveSync to the SmarterMail mail server is part of our continuing commitment to provide individuals and businesses the tools necessary to compete in today’s marketplace.”
