Mobility

June 14, 2007
A Window to the world!

NEW DELHI -- Windows Mobile, available in India since January 2006, is a significant innovation from Microsoft to empower the global mobile workforce. It is a powerful yet flexible platform for operators to bring new services to the market and a platform that enables people to prioritise and organise their work and personal lifestyle - digital lifestyle and work style.

Today Windows Mobile is the number one player in the smart phone category in India, according to IDC, it leads with a 17.2 percent market share v/s Blackberry which has a 11.6 percent market share for the year 2006. Also in a short span of a year Windows Mobile has given consumers the widest range of  Smartphones and Touchscreen phones to select from with over 25+ models, including 17 Stylus/PDA Phones .

In a freewheeling interview, Sumeet Gugnani, India Business head, Windows Mobile and Mobility, Microsoft India, spoke to the Convergence Plus team on why IDC believes that Windows mobile will be experiencing the largest growth among mobile operating system worldwide at 75.6 percent thorugh 2010! Excerpts:

Convergence Plus: What is Windows Mobile? How does it work?

Sumeet Gugnani: Windows Mobile provides a comprehensive mobile experience that is far beyond merely sending and receiving e-mail. The best part about Windows mobile is that it synchronises directly between the Microsoft Exchange 2003 (SP2) and Exchange server 2007 and does not require an additional middleware e-mail server. Thus it provides end-users with up-to-date information at the lowest possible TCO (total cost of ownership) and minimum time. It offers a richer, better integrated, more secure, and more cost-effective solution by any measurement and is a powerful yet flexible platform for operators to bring new services to the market.

Windows Mobile software creates new opportunities for industry partners, allows greater productivity for mobile professionals, and provides industry-leading multimedia integration for end users across a range of form factors, including Smartphones, Pocket PCs and PDAs.

Benefits of Windows Mobile are currently available on a wide range of devices from partners like HP, iMate, Dopod/HTC and O2 in India. Windows Mobile phones offer customers the greatest variety and range of features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS support, FM Radio, Windows Media player, mp3 stereo and Digital Camera.

CP: What is Windows mobile value proposition and how different is it from competition?

SG: The 4 pillar value proposition of Windows Mobile include:

Speed and cost effectiveness of email services (Push mail messaging) - E-mail and other information (Contacts, Tasks, Calendar) is pushed and synchronised directly between the Microsoft Exchange 2003 (SP2) and Exchange server 2007  providing end-users with up-to-date information at the lowest possible TCO(total cost of ownership). Microsoft’s messaging solution provides a unified device and server platform which eliminates the need for enterprises to pay for additional Middleware servers, hardware and software, and means IT have just a single platform to manage.

Complete Microsoft Office available on the move - whereby all features of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Pocket MSN, Outlook, Internet explorer and PDF viewers can now be accessed while on the move. 

Multimedia functionality and stylish form factor which combine functionality of multiple devices in one - Phone, PC, digital camera, MP3 Player, video recorder and Windows Media Player.
 
Supports development of new business applications "As Windows Mobile is based on the .NET framework, Windows Mobile supports a wide range of line of business applications such as sales force enablement (SFA), Mobile CRM etc. Currently, there are about 18,000 3rd party applications designed for Windows Mobile worldwide! In fact, more than 650,000 developers worldwide are developing Windows Mobile based 3rd party solutions.

Unlike some other operating systems, Windows mobile is available across a wide range of form factors. It is more cost-effective, offers enterprise-class security and can be customised to the needs of the business which makes it better than any of its competitors.

CP: Which market sector does it cater to? What is the scope of such an application in India? Share your plans for the upcoming year.

SG: Windows mobile caters to both normal consumers as well as prosumers/business executives. In effect, all consumers, enterprises and SMEs can use Windows Mobile devices for entertainment, enhancing their productivity, reducing costs, improving lead times and efficiiencies. In the consumer domain, users find the convergence of digital lifestyle and work style a huge benefit.

For business executives/prosumers and enterprises, seamless communication is a paramount need. It offers a line of business applications which can be customised according to various business needs. The scope of such applications in India is visible from the rapid growth of the smart phone market in the country in the last one year itself.

More models, choices and form factors and lower price points from device partners will drive our growth. We have already grown 4 times in 2007, and we are looking at 150,000-200,000 units in 2008 to continue being the preeminent messaging solution in India.

CP: Can it be customised to varied business or industry needs?

SG: Yes the USP of windows mobile is that it can be customised to various business needs. It provides a platform for the developers to develop a wide range of business applications. Also we have alliances with companies like HP, iMate, Dopod and O2 to provide range of solutions catering to different business needs. Depending upon his needs and the price factor, an information worker can go for any form factor.

CP: How affordable is it in the Indian market, considering it is a price sensitive nation? 

SG: The prices of smart phones have decreased substantially in the last two years. Non-Touch screen Windows Mobile phones today start at around INR 12,000 with entry level touch-screen phones being available for as low as Rs. 19,500. Prices have dropped significantly over the last 2 years and we would expect the trend to continue.

CP: How secure is the application for the data saved in the device?

SG: Microsoft Windows Mobile has been designed with enterprise-class security in mind. The combination of Windows Mobile and Exchange Server includes the security features most requested by customers such as data protection, password protection, remote and local wipe and allows them to have control of their vital information. The entire data stream between the device and Exchange Server is encrypted. Architecturally, the direct connection between Exchange Server and a Windows Mobile device is more secure than solutions using a middleware email server as the data is not being routed through additional servers or a centralised network operations center (NOC) somewhere in the world.

Windows Mobile offers a richer better integrated, more secure, and more cost-effective solution than any other mobile operating system by any measurement. It offers a range of security and systems management options. It is thus an ‘all in one’ best of breed solution

CP: Are there any tie-ups with multiple form factor providers?

SG: Yes, in India, we have tie-ups with companies like HP, iMate, O2 and Dopod to provide us with multiple form factors.