vB Easy Archive - Will the release of Exchange 2003 SP2 affect BlackBerry Sales?

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Will the release of Exchange 2003 SP2 affect BlackBerry Sales?
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Posted by: RIMarkable

Microsoft today released Service Pack 2 for Exchange Server 2003. The new update offers push based email, similar to BlackBerry, to Windows Mobile 5 devices for free. How do you think that this will affect RIM?

I think that RIM is going to have to get more BlackBerry Connect deals inked with U.S. carriers for use on Windows Mobile 5 devices. I know that die-hard BlackBerry Users would never defect, however, I think that battle will be one with new subscribers.

Posted by: NetGuyR

I think it will have a big impact on the market for corporate users - but, on the other hand, no personal users (which the base is growing). Like others have said, CFO's dont get fired for buying Microsoft. With the NTP lawsuit as well, I'm sure it will move some customers - not all, but some.

Posted by: jase88

Microsoft estimates that there are approximately 10 million wireless email users in the world--a mere fraction of a percent of the overall email users in the world. The wireless email market is therefore no where near mature.

In other words: There's room for more players.

I personally welcome the added competition. I doubt it'll "kill" Blackberry. If anything it will bring new innovation with this technology to users faster.

Posted by: cchatagnier

Generally speaking, competition is good as it keeps everyone honest and innovative. Unfortunately, Microsoft does not like to have "friendly competition", they prefer to destroy and take no prisoners. And this is generally how they start...giving products away for free or very close to free. Fast forward 5 years, and you'll be paying Microsoft a seperate license fee for each windows mobile user. That's my only concern. Should it become popular enough, MS could very well destroy RIM. Remember two companies called WordPerfect and Lotus? Once the competitors are gone, innovation generally slows down and gets more expensive.

I'm a huge BlackBerry fan, but I do think the competition is good. RIM finally started to get creative once GoodLink arrived on the scene. Now that there are only 4 carriers in the US, I'm glad there is competition at least somewhere, as the carriers competition is slowing down.

Posted by: GregGebhardt

Only time will tell. Security will be the biggest question and MicroSoft has not fared well with security.

Posted by: juwaack68

Don't forget about stability! Although Microsoft has improved over the years (I no longer see the blue screen of death on WinXP), applications like to die or lock up all the time. My Blackberry doesn't spontaneously reboot/lock up/drop applications on a daily basis like my PC does!

Posted by: GregGebhardt

Quote:

Originally Posted by juwaack68

Don't forget about stability! Although Microsoft has improved over the years (I no longer see the blue screen of death on WinXP), applications like to die or lock up all the time. My Blackberry doesn't spontaneously reboot/lock up/drop applications on a daily basis like my PC does!

I have to agree. I have been using BBs for a while now and have never just seen it go "wacko". I owned a Pocket PC, it was not even a phone and had to reboot it all the time and that was before adding any software.

Stability is a good point, maybe because the Blackberry does nothing spectacular and world shattering. What it does do, it does well and with few if any problems.

Posted by: mas90guru

Microsoft does exceptionally well over TIME. They do not do well at entering a market and conquering it immediately. I do believe they will be a dominant player within 2 years. I think RIM is going to be bought out.

Posted by: NetGuyR

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregGebhardt

Good point! The BB is ultra-stable...and I can't say that about Windows Mobile devices yet.