ANTenna Blog -- Mobile

Nokia this week announced that it will stop marketing and developing its own software services for business customers. What does that mean for companies using Nokia solutions?

According to BusinessWeek, "the Finnish mobile phone giant says it will now offer business services such as enterprise e-mail and data synchronization from other, more dominant vendors and focus its own efforts on developing ...consumer services."

There's no immediate concern for Nokia's business customers, as the company says it plans to support existing customers for a two-year transition period. Long term, though, you'll have to look elsewhere for "behind-the-firewall business mobility solutions."
Nokia is also abandoning business uses of the mobile data and synchronization technology it obtained wehn it bought Intellisync in 2006.

And while Nokia said it plans to partner with companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco, I'm already hearing from other vendors hoping to step and take some of that business:

"Any time a vendor of Nokia's caliber decides to switch gears and discontinue a product, customers and channel providers can experience a fair amount of strain as they try and find an alternative provider to fill their needs," said Todd Ostrander, CEO of Perlego Systems. "As a competing vendor, we're excited to step in and address the product demand of Nokia's business segment. It may be an opportunity for many Nokia customers and partners to enhance their capabilities..."

Let's hope that Nokia customers get some benefit to make up for all the hassles of switching.