Windows Mobile vs. RIM: Platform experiences compared

For IT professionals, deciding which mobile platform to use is a complicated process and involves many important steps -- from the initial decision making process to final deployment. And often the most difficult part is deciding on what platform will work best for the diverse majority of an enterprise's workers.

Currently leading the mobile platform arena, many enterprises select either Research In Motion (RIM) or Microsoft's Windows Mobile platforms to keep their workforce mobile. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of each platform?

To clear the fog around these platforms and facilitate this initial decision processing -- or the initial stage of a vast equipment change -- the editors at SearchMobileComputing.com have created an inclusive checklist that documents the level of support each platforms offers for a wide range of services, features and applications.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Administrator experience

Features and applications

Support

Security

 User experience

Features and applications

Support

Security

ADMINISTRATOR EXPERIENCE

Designed to provide IT administrators with the information they need to make the best decision, this section documents each service offered by the Windows Mobile platform and RIM's platform. It offers input on each platform's support for an individual service, better preparing the IT administrator to develop and maintain a mobile deployment.

FEATURES AND APPLICATIONS
YES	NO	PARTIALLY SUPPORTED	SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Windows Mobile	RIM		Mailbox auto-configuration: Devices include automatic mail client configuration for enduser.
Windows Mobile		RIM	Centralized device configuration: Loading device with software and user data onto multiple devices is centralized.
		Windows Mobile, RIM	Admin application control: Third-party applications managed and approved or denied by administrator.
Windows Mobile		RIM	Third-party app development: Third-party wireless application development supported through software developer's kit (SDK) and framework.
		Windows Mobile, RIM	Intuitive graphical environment: Easy-to-use, intuitive graphical interface for administrative activities.
Windows Mobile		RIM	Line-of-business (LOB) interoperability: Existing framework and tools allow LOB applications on worker devices.
Windows Mobile		RIM	Identifiable total cost of ownership (TCO): All ownership costs for individual devices are identifiable, including management costs, licenses, technical support, hardware costs and maintenance.

SUPPORT
YES	NO	PARTIALLY SUPPORTED	SERVICE DESCRIPTION
		Windows Mobile, RIM	Track and manage device statistics: Administrator has full capability to track device statistics and manage as preferred.
Windows Mobile	RIM		Server deployment: Reduce IT overhead with modular setup and server provisioning.
Windows Mobile		RIM	Admin-controlled diagnostics and monitoring: Device has diagnostic, monitoring and user-assistance tools.
RIM		Windows Mobile	Data replication capabilities: Use of data replication allows systems to have high availability.
Windows Mobile, RIM			Wireless backup/restore: Users can wirelessly backup and restore data and settings.

SECURITY
YES	NO	PARTIALLY SUPPORTED	SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Windows Mobile		RIM	Mailbox security and architecture: Mailbox architecture and support works with existing security architecture and increases mailbox quotas.
Windows Mobile		RIM	Individual device security controls by admin: Administrator has control over individual device and user policies -- ie: attachment allowal, PIN expiration dates.
		Windows Mobile, RIM	Content security contolled by Admin: Administrators have control over all data stored on individual devices.
	RIM	Windows Mobile	Automatic TLS encryption: Auto-encryption between hosts -- transport layer security.
Windows Mobile, RIM			Email and wireless encryption: Automatic intra-organization email encryption; triple data encryption stand (DES) and advanced encryption stand (AES) supported.

USER EXPERIENCE

SUPPORT
YES	NO	PARTIALLY SUPPORTED	SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Windows Mobile	RIM		Remote email access: Remote access to full mailbox capabilities of corporate email, including organizational tools, status tools and subfolder structure.
Windows Mobile, RIM			Call history: Phone history support enabled.
Windows Mobile	RIM		Synchronization: Calendar, contact, task, email account and subfolder synchronization with corporate server enabled.

SECURITY
YES	NO	PARTIALLY SUPPORTED	SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Windows Mobile	RIM		Email security: Email messages, forwards, replies and drafts are protected by Information Rights Management (IRM).
Windows Mobile, RIM			OTA security lockdown: Over-the-air, IT control to lock down or wipe lost or stolen devices.
Windows Mobile, RIM			User controlled security: Device, local document and storage card encryption controlled by user. User can also control communication security on device for compliance and confidentiality.

Mobile managers face a tough choice when weighing which mobile platform or operating system to deploy to mobilize the workforce. To continue finding out more about the wide range of mobile operating systems out there, check out SearchMobileComputing.com's special report Mobile operating systems: Which mobile device platform fits your strategy? which features a panel of experts and their advice on the major mobile OS available.

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