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Analysis: Mobile E-Mail: Page 4 of 12

While we haven't tested Motorola Good's security and policy enforcement features (the company declined to participate in our mobile device management review), based on the RFI and our limited experience in the lab we feel that the feature set is adequate.

Finally, we've long hounded Microsoft for offering a limited set of policy enforcement features in Exchange 2003 and 2007. The company has apparently gotten the message and is slated to drastically expand the breadth and depth of its policy enforcement features with the release of Exchange 2007 SP1 (see sidebar ).

O Device, Where Art Thou?

Until device independence becomes a reality, you'll need to create a shortlist of what smartphones and operating systems you'll support. Yes, employees have strong opinions about what they want to carry. But IT must drive selection or face a management nightmare. Make a list of two or three devices that mesh well with the roles your employees serve, for instance, ruggedized devices for field service workers, and that provide required levels of security and management.
We based our RFI on a company with sites outside the United States. If you won't have clients in Europe or Asia, device selection will be easier. In fact, you may be tempted to jump right in with the company whose products have become synonymous with mobile e-mail. Research in Motion was one of the earliest vendors to enter this market and has used its first-mover status to amass a commanding market share of over 50%, according to Strategy Analytics' latest numbers.

But while you may figure no one ever got fired for buying a BlackBerry, RIM no longer has a lock on innovation.