Hoping to grab market share from its rivals,
mobile platform maker Good Technology Tuesday aligned itself closer
to Microsoft , while
updating its GoodLink platform.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based startup said it is
again working with the Redmond, Wash.-based software
giant to let customers get access to their Windows
applications using a Good G100, the Treo 600 or a
Pocket PC device. The two companies have worked
together before on a backend solution:
GoodLink and GoodInfo support for Microsoft Exchange
Server 2003 and its ActiveSync environment.
Microsoft said the enhanced relationship gives
Good/Windows users an e-mail experience similar to
that of accessing Microsoft Exchange on the desktop, as
well as the ability to view native, rich attachments
on Pocket PCs, including Pocket Word and Excel files.
“A lot of business takes place in short bursts
between phone calls and meetings,” Sue Forbes, Good’s
vice president of marketing and product management,
said in a statement. “By leveraging GoodLink’s
integration with the broad range of devices and
applications available for Windows Mobile, users can
access the information they need to respond to a
request, schedule a meeting, check a price, view a fax
or give a presentation.”
In concert with the Windows alliance, Good updated
its GoodLink platform to version 3.0. Analysts say the
improvements bring Good up to speed in security, user
interface, attachment handling and management areas.
The upgrade also is designed to address the growing
number of smartphones on 2.5G networks. But more than
an upgrade and a partnership, Good’s progress is
taking the wind out of the sails of chief rival
Research In Motion (RIM) .
IDC senior analyst Alex Slawsby said more and more enterprises are picking up the
Good solution. This trend has been helped by the
company’s strong relationships with the likes of
palmOne, PalmSource, Microsoft and Dell.
“Those relationships are particularly important as
Good strives to build momentum opposite RIM,” Slawsby
told internetnews.com. “RIM continues to
dominate in terms of brandshare and mindshare worldwide
and is seeking its own relationships on a licensing
side. Those same relationships exist with platform and
device vendors, but have received less press attention
recently from RIM. So, Good is making progress and
continues to target RIM as its main competitor in
specific and in its announcements, while RIM continues
to take the high road, as it remains significantly
ahead in terms of deployments and implementations.”
Adding to its momentum, Good also launched its Good
Alliance Partner Program, which will serve as an
on-line resource where mobile users can find
applications. Charter members include Macromedia, DataViz, Mobility Electronics,
PrinterOn, RedMercury and Timetag.
“We believe that 2004 is the year of the mobile
enterprise. The standards are in place, the networks
are ready, and a variety of compelling devices based
on standard operating systems are shipping,” Good
Technology CEO Danny Shader said in a statement.
“What’s been missing is the software and services
required to glue these components together. GoodLink
3.0 fills this gap.”
