The Windows Mobile RSS (Reed and Steve Stuff) Feed : ROI

Rumors of my Death have been Greatly Exaggerated

hegenderfer — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:51:51 GMT

So, lately, I have been reading a lot about RIM vs Apple vs Android. It's all pretty interesting stuff, really. But people seem to forget that their is one other player out there, us. Google hasn't even made a phone yet. We have WAY more phones out there than either RIM or Apple.

Yes, I realize that we don't do a very good job of branding 'Windows Mobile' right now, but that will change (and soon). I also realize that maybe WM isn't the sexy beast these other platforms can spin up, but I have to tell you, that is changing as well.

How many of you have used the Diamond yet? I've been using it for about 5 days right now, and I must say I am pleasantly surprised by it. There are some things that bother me about it, but for the style of device that it is, I am pretty happy with it. And this is essentially a V1 of the type of device that we will be seeing on the market.

How many of you have seen the Experia or the Omnia? I have...they rock! And the form and function is REALLY nice. I think you'll start seeing a trend towards these types of devices moving forward as we keep innovating on the platform side...I guess in some ways we have Apple to think for really spurring some innovation on design, so thanks Steve Jobs :)

As a marketing org, yes, we need to really start pushing the WM brand...more so than every before. And from a partner aspect, you guys need to help me scream from the roof tops that there is a solid platform out there that exists in many different form factors, that has great functionality, that is equipped to do MS Office natively, that has an AMAZING TCO story when compared to RIM, and that has an AWESOME enterprise DM and Security story compared to iPhone and Android. And let's not forget the ROI for applications on devices; apps that almost every company has the talent to create with the toolsets and languages that they already know.

If you guys could see what Reed and I get to every day, I think you would agree that the short and long term future of the WM platform is very bright...and we'll even throw in some love for the non-business consumers out there VERY soon :)

Hegenderfer

Don't forget the WM for Business webcasts!

hegenderfer — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:53:44 GMT

These are coming up soon...go ahead and register for them!

Webcasts listed here.

Series Title: Windows Mobile for Business Webcast Series

Abstract: Learn how Microsoft® Windows Mobile® smartphones/PDAs and Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager can help improve mobile workforce productivity, enhance mobile device security, simplify management and lower costs. The Windows Mobile platform builds on your existing IT infrastructure and utilizes familiar management tools to provide a highly scalable solution with a low total cost of ownership.

Join our technical experts as they provide comprehensive insight into how to centrally and efficiently deploy and manage mobile devices and applications like you do PCs and how to effectively safeguard corporate data. This webcast series will cover why Windows Mobile for your business and IT, delivering advanced messaging and collaboration, taking business applications and processes mobile, and securing and managing mobile devices.

Windows Mobile - alive and well in the mid-market!

hegenderfer — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:29:56 GMT

Well, I am about to get on a plane back to cheery old Seattle (and by that, I mean typical rainy spring in the great Northwest). I just finished up a nice trip to Orlando for the 2008 US Convergence show, and it was cool.

It was great to see and talk to so many customers and partners about the thriving ecosystem around MS Dynamics. But it was equally as cool as talk to them about mobility. No doubt about it, all of these folks wanted to know more about mobility and how they could take advantage of it.

We keep hearing about how the smartphone/converged device space will take off, but it's really nice to see it for yourself first-hand. And we're only looking at the tip of the ice berg. I have said this before, this space is exploding...we should all be happy to be a part of it!

On another note, I wanted to remind you all of some very coo ROI and TCO tools that we have available around Windows Mobile. If you are a certified or Gold Microsoft Partner, you can get access to these tools here.

I expect that the presence of Windows Mobile at the Convergence shows will definitely increase over time, as will our penetration into small, medium, and large businesses.

On a totally unrelated note, I was walking through Downtown Disney (yes, it deserves it's own special name with capital letters, evidently) and saw this in the window of the Virgin Megastore display. Yes, American Hair Metal!

Although I was unable to find the book in the actual store, I have since found the bugger on eBay...it should be arriving in about 5-10 business days :)

Cheers,

Steve

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PS: Almost forgot...most of you, if you go to any of the trade shows where we have the WM booth, will recognize Erik Helgerson. He's a big dude...but evidently, when he's not tramping around in his home state, he REALLY like the Minnie Mouse Princess stuff :)

Windows Mobile Business Value Assessment and ROI Calculator

hegenderfer — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:23:37 GMT

I'm not sure how many of you ever need to create a business case for a Windows Mobile deployment, but if you do, we have created a GREAT tool for you.

If you are a Certified or Gold MSPP Partner, you can get access to the Windows Mobile Business Value Assessment.

The Windows Mobile Business Value Assessment tool gives you immediate visibility into the impact of deploying mobile business solutions for your clients. Using a company’s unique information, such as number of mobile workers or types of applications to be mobilized, and summary data from IDC, the tool allows you to quantify the benefits and the direct and indirect costs of deploying mobile line-of-business applications. These benefits and costs include measurable impact on revenue and income, operating expense savings, productivity enhancements, and other strategic business improvements. These metrics can then help you create the business justification for a Windows Mobile solution for your customers.

So, just how much of an impact can Windows Mobile have on your clients’ business? The answer is just a few clicks away.

The tool even creates a Power Point preso for you, and also Word docs that you can leave behind with the customer (with you own logo that you can upload intot eh tool via the settings).

This tool focuses on Line of Business application deployment, but we will be adding another module around messaging/unified communications in the coming months.

So, if you are in MSPP and want a tool to help you sell Windows Mobile to you customers, this is it!

Steve