[jcoley2]

I seemed to remember that about a week after the iPhone was released, Jobs indicated they were working with some vendors on beta versions of email software to interface with Outlook Exchange Server for mail. That was more than six months ago, and still nothing. I just figured they gave up on the business segment.

But, in the past 24 hours, rumors are flying that Apple is re-concentrating on the business sector with:

1. IBM to Release Notes Lotus Notes for iPhone

2. AT&T to Adjust Pricing to Entice Business Users

IMHO, though, until they offer seamless integration with Outlook Exchange, this will be all for nothing. Why has not one vendor released something yet?

[Moogs]

iPhone is *already* competing with RIMM, big-time. And of course they'll always try to find ways to enamor their product with the general smart-phone demographic, particularly b'ness users. Fear not, the iPhone will probably grab another 10% share before things stabilize year-to-year. To where you know 70% of the market is going to use either an iPhone or Crackberry and the rest can wallow in obscurity.

[MCQ]

Originally Posted by jcoley2 IMHO, though, until they offer seamless integration with Outlook Exchange, this will be all for nothing. Why has not one vendor released something yet?

If they've been working with companies in the background, it'd probably be announced simultaneously with the SDK release. I'd like to see Apple do a special event for it: Release the SDK, bring up partners to show off Exchange, Lotus Notes connectivity. Update iPhone with a 3G offering.

[Reid]

I've been using Synchronica Mobile Gateway to interface with my company's Outlook/Exchange server since about a month after the iPhone was released. It works great. Basically, it connects through Outlook Web Access somehow, but on your iPhone it looks like any other IMAP e-mail account. Messages read/deleted on the phone are updated automatically on the Exchange server. Works great, and until last week it was a free beta. Now the cost is $60/year, which is still a bargain if you ask me.

[BuonRotto]

Yeah, we have seven people here at my firm that have iPhones now, but we are getting messages kicked back to us when we try to email from our iPhones via Outlook, at least to people outside of our domain. Our IT guy is banging his head on the wall trying to figure out what's not working. At one point, he opened up all ports from to and from our Outlook server and it still didn't work. This kind of frustration is a hindrance to business use. I don't know if it's Outlook being Outlook, AT&T or the iPhone itself, but something's gotta give.

[Yonzie]

When did apple include Wi-Fi in the iPod to compete with the Creative Nomad? Oh... Right... They didn't...
Other than the SDK, the iPhone needs nothing to compete with the crackberries. Mark my words.
I could imagine real (non-IMAP) Exchange support in iPhoneMail.app would be a good thing. On the other hand, I know it will arrive as soon as Mail.app supports it (meaning never)

[PB PM]

Originally Posted by Yonzie When did apple include Wi-Fi in the iPod to compete with the Creative Nomad? Oh... Right... They didn't...

Ummm are we forgetting the iPod Touch?

[Yonzie]

Wait... I just realized the Nomad didn't have Wi-Fi. My Bad. In any case the Touch came out 3 years after the Nomad name was discontinued.

[Mac Donald]

I'm surprised Brad has not jumped in here, but it is RIM not RIMM.

Research in Motion, not Research in Motion Motion.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by Mac Donald I'm surprised Brad has not jumped in here, but it is RIM not RIMM. Research in Motion, not Research in Motion Motion.

RIMM is Research in Motion's NASDAQ symbol, and therefore a perfectly valid abbreviation, just like AAPL is for Apple.

[jcoley2]

Originally Posted by chucker RIMM is Research in Motion's NASDAQ symbol, and therefore a perfectly valid abbreviation, just like AAPL is for Apple.

Chucker, you bet me to it. . .

[Mac Donald]

Originally Posted by chucker RIMM is Research in Motion's NASDAQ symbol, and therefore a perfectly valid abbreviation, just like AAPL is for Apple.

Well, then . . . does anyone have any crow that I can eat?