Dave Grannan, general manager of Nokia's Enterprise Solutions Mobile Email group says the Nokia Business Center is designed to expand the universe of potential mobile users by leveraging the broad availability of standard mobile phones and by providing a two-tier client strategy.
The standard client will be licensed on an unlimited basis with each Nokia Business Center server. A more richly featured professional client will be available for a minimal upgrade fee.
The product is a Java-based solution that can be deployed on any Java MIDPI 2.0-capable phone, once certified by Nokia. Initially, Nokia Business Center will support mobile email over the Nokia 9300 smartphone, Nokia 9500 Communicator, as well as the Nokia 6630, Nokia 6680, Nokia 6681, and Nokia 6682 integrating with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, followed shortly by support for Lotus Notes and Domino, and an expanded range of Nokia certified devices.
Grannan says: "Company management and IT departments face pressure from all sides when it comes to selecting an appropriate mobile email application, such as being easy to use, easy to integrate with existing infrastructure and cost savings.
"With Nokia Business Center, these issues are easily addressed to give companies a scalable solution that fits their needs. Nokia Business Center allows users to connect with their corporate email while on the go, and allows businesses to implement strict security measures while delivering mobile applications in a cost-effective manner."
The standard Nokia Business Center client offers the ability to compose, read and delete email, manage local folders, and provides support for working offline, in addition to push-email and state-of-the-art security.
"Today's mobile professionals require constant access to their email and corporate networks and ensuring that they have the best capabilities to do this is part of our job," says Jorge Reis, senior vice president of operations at Telstra International.
"This latest initiative from Nokia further demonstrates their capability to provide state-of the-art wireless technology applications."
Nokia Business Center can be purchased from select carriers and accredited resellers and will be available in the Americas and EMEA in the fourth quarter of 2005. Pilots will begin in other markets during the fourth quarter.
For features and technical information about Nokia Business Center, visit http://www.nokia.com/business.
