Good updates handheld software
Published: 07 Oct 2002 13:51 BST
Good Technology will announce new versions of its handheld software, additional customers and another round of funding as the start-up continues to target large businesses.
The handheld-software developer will make the announcements on Monday at the Microsoft Exchange Conference in California. Version 1.5 of its GoodLink application, which consists of server and client software, will target large businesses looking to let its workers wirelessly access email and corporate data while still making the process easy for IT managers.
Version 1.5 supports Microsoft's Exchange 2002, is more secure and scalable than 1.0, and allows owners of devices using the client software to sort messages by date, subject and better view Excel attachments.
"This new version of GoodLink is easier to deploy and more secure than the previous generation," said Andrea Cook Fleming, spokeswoman for Good. "IT managers are the decision makers for these large fleet deployments and we continue to enhance our product for that audience."
Good has set out to differentiate itself from its main rival, Research In Motion, by making synchronization with information on a company's server wireless. Good is also looking to make its software as widely available as possible by signing agreements with the leading mobile device's operating system developers. Good has struck an agreement with PalmSource, and the company is working with Microsoft to make its software available on the Pocket PC 2002 OS, sources said.
Good has also been shipping its own device -- the G10 -- and formally announced the device on Monday. The GoodLink software runs on a server and on a device and synchronises data with a company's Exchange server with a handheld allowing a worker to access information from a desktop Outlook application. Good also announced the shipment of its GoodInfo application that gives people access to corporate data and sends the data to the person using GoodLink.
Version 1.5 will replace 1.0, which Cingular Wireless has been selling to businesses as the Xpress Mail GoodLink Edition for $2,000 (£1,193). Monthly service for wireless access costs $34.99 (£21). Cingular will ship the new version of the software and the device and set pricing by the end of the year.
Good has been testing the software with large businesses and is now shipping the final version to those customers. The company has shipped version 1.5 to more than 350 customers, such as Electronic Arts, Crowley Maritime, Subway and Freshpoint, which is a subsidiary of Sysco. Good has shipped thousands of devices using the GoodLink software.
The new security features in version 1.5 allow IT managers to remotely erase data in case a device is lost, and improved scalability means that IT managers can support multiple Exchange servers in different locations with one server using the GoodLink application, which saves cost and launch time.
The company also announced an additional $14m in funding by strategic partners. In May, Good Technology announced $60m in funding.
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