XP Lives, Handheld Mobility Increases

The pending retirement of Microsoft Corp. Windows XP has been elongated yet again, allowing hardware vendors to continue installing the operating system until July 31^st of next year. Elsewhere, new applications for handheld devices allow enhanced enterprise application connectivity.

Focal Points:

• Windows XP has proven to be the operating system that refuses to die as consumer and enterprise desire for the older, but less power hungry, platform remains strong. Microsoft has been pressured, yet again, to delay the operating system's discontinuation, which now will be available until July 31, 2009. So-called "factory downgrades" of Windows Vista to Windows XP were to be cut off on January 31, 2009; however, the grant of an additional six-month extension will instead be offered from vendors during select new PC purchases. Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer reports that over 180 million copies of Vista have been sold worldwide, but acknowledges that business demand has been far lower than expected. Current aim is for the general availability of company's forthcoming Windows 7 operating system to launch in early 2010, though the company is notorious for delays.
• The latest version of Apple, Inc. iPhone, launched on June 29^th of this year, delivered Microsoft Exchange connectivity natively via a license of Microsoft's ActiveSync technology. One major complaint about the relatively new handheld platform's compatibility was its inability to interface with IBM Corp.'s Lotus Domino/Notes collaboration platform. Now, IBM is making its iNotes ultralight software available for customers by way of a free download or an upgrade to Lotus Notes software 8.0.2. The iNotes ultralight software uses the phone's native Safari Web browser to connect to Domino servers and can be additionally secured using Lotus Mobile Connect virtual private network (VPN). Users can leverage the iNotes ultralight Web-based application to access calendar, contacts, and e-mail from Domino servers in a user-friendly interface that conforms to the look and feel seen throughout the iPhone. Domino/Notes currently claim over 140 million licensed users worldwide.
• Sybase, Inc. announced a new version of its XTNDConnect PC-to-mobile synchronization software with improved support for Windows Vista. XTNDConnect PC 7.0 adds support for Windows Vista contacts, calendar and tasks, and Google calendar synchronization. Users running handheld platforms including Windows Mobile and Symbian can take advantage of the software to connect to PC applications including those mentioned above, as well as Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, Lotus Notes and Organizer, and Novell Inc. GroupWise. Available now, pricing for Sybase XTNDConnect PC 7.0 is $59.95 per user license, or $39.95 for customers upgrading from previous versions.

Experton Group believes Microsoft's decision to keep Windows XP availability ongoing comes as little surprise given the company's changing attitude towards the platform. Microsoft reluctantly acknowledges that Vista is not a significant enough upgrade above Windows XP, and its hunger for memory, processor power, and hard drive space comes at too great a cost. Windows XP overwhelmingly remains the dominant choice for enterprises either rolling out new systems or upgrading existing ones, as the platform's application and hardware compatibility, security capabilities, and stability are either on par or better than Windows Vista. Business and consumer shunning of Vista has kept demand for Windows XP strong while forcing Microsoft to both rethink and speed up development of its next desktop operating system, Windows 7. Despite only limited elongations of Windows XP, IT executives should feel confident that the operating system will be available for as long as corporations wish to maintain the standard.

IBM's iNotes ultralight provides an acceptable interface to Domino/Notes servers by blending its appearance and functionality with standard iPhone applications. However, the Web application does not support offline usage or synchronization for anything other than Notes contacts. The rationale for this is easier development and lower cost for IBM, though some corporations will think this an incomplete alternative. IBM is quick to point out that this provides an added level of security as data is only available once an authenticated online connection is established. IT executives can consider iNotes ultralight as a low-cost way to providing Domino users with iPhone capabilities, although IT executives are still cautioned to delay iPhone rollouts until maturity issues, security flaws, and platform openness are sufficiently addressed to match enterprise business and security requirements.

Sybase's XTNDConnect upgrade offers new enhancements for those corporations requiring PC-to-mobile synchronization without the need for IT-supported management applications.

Experton Group believes the requirement for this form of connectivity are, and should be, waning as corporations increasingly turn to centralized development, management, and support platforms with consistent support methodologies.