Microsoft and Telstra release business mobile solution

SYDNEY - Microsoft and Telstra today announced the availability of the Microsoft® Mobile Enterprise Solution (MMES), an enhanced mobile email and fleet management solution for businesses and organisations using handsets with Windows Mobile (6.1 or higher) software (Windows Mobile smartphones).

Through Telstra, businesses and organisations will be able to buy the Microsoft® Mobile Enterprise Solution (MMES), covering push email and data plans with Windows Mobile smartphones and helpdesk support to ensure they have a great experience with their smartphones.

Mr Ross Fielding, Executive Director, Telstra Product Management, said customers are set to benefit from the solution which has been designed to make customers’ lives easier.

"Small and medium businesses will benefit from access to mobile ActiveSync email, calendar and contacts through Microsoft Exchange without having to purchase a full management layer. Larger business and government customers will be able to take advantage of the advanced System Center Mobile Device Manager management and VPN option, providing their IT departments with a new level of control over their mobile phone fleet.

“This new solution brings together the best of both worlds from two of Australia’s leading brands - world leading applications from Microsoft, delivered over Telstra’s work class Next G™ network, Australia’s largest and fastest mobile broadband network,” he said.

The solution will be available from Telstra as either the Microsoft Mobile Email Plan (MMEP), an ActiveSync plan with easy phone fleet management for a monthly fee^* starting at AUD$39.95 1 or the Microsoft Mobile Services Plan (MMSP) with advanced System Center Mobile Device Manager management and VPN capabilities for a monthly fee starting^* at AUD$49.95 2.

The MMEP ActiveSync email-only plan will be priced per user and includes a single monthly fixed price for ActiveSync email, calendar and contacts and 100 megabytes of data per month for Internet browsing while the device is on the Telstra network in Australia^*. The MMSP advanced management capability plan will feature Microsoft’s System Center Mobile Device Manager and includes a single monthly fixed price for email and other data through the System Center Mobile Device Manager VPN while the device is on the Telstra Next G™ network in Australia^* and a client access licence for the System Center Mobile Device Manager. The MMEP and MMSP plans include helpdesk support.

Mr Kevin Brough, Communications Sector Director, Microsoft, said the new plans will provide Telstra Business and Enterprise customers with a mobile email option that maximises their existing investments in Microsoft software and infrastructure.

“With the solution, mobile email traffic is delivered by the company’s own Microsoft Exchange e-mail server using Telstra’s Next G™ network. Customers will experience improved simplicity and will be able to leverage their existing Microsoft software assets,” Mr Brough said.

According to Mr Brough, “The advanced System Center Mobile Device Manager management option will provide IT departments with control over their mobile phone fleet. If, for example, a company wants to bar its employees from downloading pictures or music into their Windows Mobile smartphones for copyright reasons, these functions can be easily disabled remotely.”

The alliance was announced by Microsoft and Telstra in November 2008, with the partnership set to encompass hosted business applications and unified communications in addition to mobile devices and services.

Telstra customers can purchase the Microsoft Mobile Enterprise Solution plans detailed above by contacting their Telstra Account Executive or by visiting a Telstra dealer.

The Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager software and licences, are not available as part of this offer.

For further information on MMES visit: www.telstra.com/enterprise/microsoftmobile

About Telstra

Telstra is Australia’s leading telecommunications and information services company, with one of the best known brands in the country. Telstra offers a full range of services and competes in all telecommunications markets throughout Australia, providing more than 9.1 million Australian fixed line and 9.7 million mobile services, including 5.2 million 3G services.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

^ The speed for a service under the MMEP is reduced to 100kbps after 1GB of such data usage by that service in the month. The speed for a service under the MMSP is reduced to 100kbps after 2GB of such data usage by that service in the month. *Monthly fee only covers issue of the device on the Telstra NEXTG network in Australia. Additional charges apply for use of the handset while roaming internationally. Customers must have the necessary hardware and software as advised by Telstra and Microsoft and each service must be connected to an eligible mobile voice plan.

1 Total min cost over 24 months $958.80 plus excess usage charges, international roaming charges and voice plan charges. The minimum cost does not include smartphone or third party software costs.

2 Total min cost over 24 months $1198.80 plus excess usage charges, international roaming charges and voice plan charges. The minimum cost does not include smartphone or third party software costs.