Azaleos Connects iPhone 3G, Exchange

Azaleos, which makes appliances that simplify control of Microsoft Exchange servers and handle e-mail archiving, said July 7 that its OneStop Services now support the soon-to-be-released iPhone 3G to provide seamless integration with Exchange servers.

Seattle-based Azaleos becomes at least the second company to hook iPhones up with Exchange. Synchronica introduced its Mobile Gateway 3.0, which supports over-the-air synchronization between Exchange and the iPhone, almost exactly a year ago. 

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Connecting iPhones and Exchange is good news and bad news for enterprises. The good news is that employees can now use their personal iPhones to check e-mail on a corporate server if necessary; the bad news is that this raises security concerns for IT administrators about employees using personal devices at work.

However, Azaleos is set up to guard against misuse of the iPhone in business situations.

"The mass popularity of the iPhone has created an influx of these unmanaged devices onto business networks, which represents a major support and security challenge for IT departments," said David Ferris, president and senior analyst of Ferris Research.

"The ability to bring these devices under control with Microsoft Exchange and managed services from Azaleos is a significant step forward for organizations."

Azaleos remotely managed services enable organizations to synchronize and centrally control 3G and firmware-upgraded first-generation iPhones using Exchange. Azaleos has a history of managing Windows and non-Windows mobile devices, including the BlackBerry, which is supported by its MobileXchange service.

Last September, Azaleos expanded its OneServer product line to include a managed virtual appliance for Microsoft Exchange 2007 that supports the VMware platform.

OneStop and Exchange include constantly synced e-mail, calendars and contacts; the ability to erase all data from lost or stolen iPhones using the Remote Wipe function; and enhanced IT control not available with IMAP or POP3 accounts.

Azaleos now provides monitoring and management services for mobile devices spanning iPhones, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices. In addition, the Azaleos MobileXchange service continues to provide remote monitoring, management and administration of BlackBerry Enterprise Servers.