Sevens E-Mail Server Gets Behind the Firewall

Seven Networks Inc. has unveiled a behind-the-firewall mobile e-mail server that competes directly with Research In Motion Ltd.s BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

The Seven Server supports a wide array of devices and requires no desktop software or cradle synchronization, said officials at Seven, in Redwood City, Calif. It supports Microsoft Corp.s Exchange e-mail platform, with support for IBM Lotus Software divisions Domino, due within a few months, officials said.

Seven traditionally offers hosted solutions and did not plan the server edition, but officials said there has been enough demand to warrant it.

"Some companies are just fundamentally opposed to having anything hosted outside the firewall," Seven President Bill Nguyen said.

Sprint PCS Group, a unit of Sprint Corp., will be the first carrier to sell the Seven server software, which will be sold as PCS Business Connection Enterprise Edition Server Solution. It will be available next month through the carriers direct business sales force and will support several data-enabled phones from Sprint, including the new Treo 600.

Customers will not be charged for the software, which runs on Microsoft Windows NT Server operating system, but they will have to own the hardware to run it. There is also no fee for user licensing.

As with its hosted e-mail offering, Sprint, of Overland Park, Kan., will charge $10 per month for Business Connection Enterprise Edition Server Solution, on top of existing data fees. This should average about $20 to $25 per user for unlimited service, company officials said.

Sprint will continue to offer the carrier-hosted edition as well.

In addition to the server software, Sprint this week will announce enhancements to its Business Connection services, both for the hosted and enterprise server editions, which are based on Seven technology. New features include the ability to preview and open attachments, a new Pocket PC client, and multiple in-boxes that let customers view their corporate and personal e-mail accounts.