In a move to grab market share in the BlackBerry segment, Good Technology today announced partnerships with Sprint, Microsoft and IBM.
Good Technology provides wireless hand-held computing software and services in competition with Research in Motion. Good peddles GoodLink wireless corporate e-mail service and develops support software applications and back-end server software.
Industry analysts said the new deals add power to the company’s wireless punch. But just because Good has the technology in place doesn’t mean enterprises will automatically begin flocking to its software. That said, the deals have to be in place before migration could occur.
Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg told TechNewsWorld that today’s deals put the company in good stead with a number of different carriers and handset vendors. “This is definitely good news for Good because it increases the company’s overall viability in the marketplace and, of course, focuses on supporting the very popular Microsoft technology,” Gartenberg said.
Making Deals With Microsoft
Good announced GoodLink 4.5 for Microsoft Windows mobile-based smartphones. The new version will be available in August. IDC forecasts 8.6 million Windows mobile smartphones by year-end 2006.
GoodLink 4.5 for Windows mobile-based smartphones will initially be available on the Motorola MPx220 and Audiovox SMT5600 and supported through global carriers including Cingular Wireless in the U.S.
“Good is clearly targeting Research in Motion,” Gartenberg said. “Now the question is convincing enterprises that this is a company to go after. They need to make enterprises comfortable using their technology.”
Sprinting for Market Share
Good’s agreement with Sprint will make GoodLink available directly to business customers through Sprint’s nationwide direct sales force and gives the company access to the five major carriers in the U.S. Good CEO Danny Shader called the deal an “important milestone.”
Tim Donahue, vice president of Enterprise Marketing at Sprint Business Solution, said the company forged a relationship with Good because it wants to make it as easy as possible for its business customers to take advantage of time and cost-saving tools.
“Adding the GoodLink solution to Sprint’s remote access portfolio provides business customers with a simplified buying process and the ability to receive charges for Sprint PCS voice service and GoodLink on a single bill from Sprint,” Donahue said.
In Tune With IBM
Good also announced plans to bring GoodLink to IBM Lotus Notes and Domino. The GoodLink Lotus Domino Edition will be available in the first half of 2006. Good said today it acquired JP Mobile’s technology and engineers to accelerate the company’s push into IBM markets.
Kevin Burden, program manager, Mobile Devices at IDC said enterprises investing in wireless hand-held computing look for vendors that align with their business requirements both broadly — across multiple hand-helds, platforms and enterprise application back ends — and deeply with rich end user, IT management and security capabilities.
“Good Technology strengthened its alignment with wireless enterprise needs by providing a roadmap to support IBM Lotus Notes and Domino — a critical backend platform for many enterprises,” Burden said.
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