News

Microsoft Licenses Exchange Sync Technology to Palm OS Smartphone Maker

Treo, a maker of Palm OS-based smartphones, entered a licensing agreement with Microsoft to allow the next generation of its phones to link up with the ActiveSync technology in Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, the companies said Tuesday.

The deal marks the first time Microsoft has licensed its ActiveSync technology, which was formerly part of Mobile Information Server, to an outside vendor. Other companies are in discussions with Microsoft about licensing the technology, said Chuck Sabin, senior technical product manager for the Exchange Server product group.

ActiveSynch is designed to allow a smartphone to synchronize e-mail directly with an Exchange server. Using the technology, a smartphone user can keep a synchronized copy of the entire mailbox on the mobile device.

In the Exchange-Treo combination, users will not need to load any additional software onto the phone or the Exchange Server 2003 system to take advantage of the integration, Sabin said.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

Featured

  • Report: Cost, Sustainability Drive DaaS Adoption Beyond Remote Work

    Gartner's 2025 Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service reveals that while secure remote access remains a key driver of DaaS adoption, a growing number of deployments now focus on broader efficiency goals.

  • Windows 365 Reserve, Microsoft's Cloud PC Rental Service, Hits Preview

    Microsoft has launched a limited public preview of its new "Windows 365 Reserve" service, which lets organizations rent cloud PC instances in the event their Windows devices are stolen, lost or damaged.

  • Hands-On AI Skills Now Outshine Certs in Salary Stakes

    For AI-related roles, employers are prioritizing verifiable, hands-on abilities over framed certificates -- and they're paying a premium for it.

  • Roadblocks in Enterprise AI: Data and Skills Shortfalls Could Cost Millions

    Businesses risk losing up to $87 million a year if they fail to catch up with AI innovation, according to the Couchbase FY 2026 CIO AI Survey released this month.