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TechEd 2004 Europe coverage : Sybase (iAnywhere) effectively is boycotting Microsoft Smartphone July 02, 2004 [MS Smartphone] | By Edward J. R. Microsoft has allowed Sybase to rent a stand at Windows Mobile section of the Exhibition at the TechEd conference - at a very cheap rates. Microsoft also is placing links to AvantGo service (made by iAnywhere - fully owned subsidiary of Sybase) in all Pocket PC devices. Shortly speaking: Microsoft supports Sybase to a big extend. With no reciprocity though: Sybase is effectively boycotting Microsoft Smartphone and actively is working against Microsoft! Microsoft should at last flex muscle to force Sybase (iAnywhere) to stop hurting Microsoft Smartphone platform! Read on... We have just visited stand of Sybase at TechEd 2004 and observed that the only application they presented was "Afaria" (remote device management - some half-ready porting from Pocket PC - it didn't even work) from another subsidiary of Sybase - Xcellenet (company that Sybase took over):
"Where is AvantGo client for Microsoft Smartphone" we asked, and got answer of type "bugger off, loser!". What is going on here? Let's explain: Sybase and its iAnywhere are relasing AvantGo client for Pocket PC, Palm and Symbian devices, but still, about 2 years after launch of Microsoft Smartphone they refuse to help Microsoft a little by releasing AvantGo client for Microsoft Smartphone! Why it is important? Well, in some countries (in whole Europe for example) the cell phone based Internet connection (like GPRS, EDGE or UMTS) is very expensive, with no possibility to purchase flat rate cell phone plan (like it is possible in USA), and users like to sync, at home or at office, latest news with off-line service like AvantGo and then read them on the way. It saves a lot of money and stress. So Sybase by deliberately not-releasing a version for Microsoft Smartphone is effectively acting against Microsoft because it offers such version for long time already for other platforms, including main competition of Microsoft in cell phone industry: Symbian. Earth to Microsoft: wake up and flex muscle against Sybase or you will continue losing market share to Symbian! How to flex muscle? Well: remove AvantGo link from Pocket PC platform, and reduce any support and contacts with Sybase. It is not in Microsoft's interest to support Sybase anymore. AvantGo client for Microsoft Smartphone should be released in October 2002 - when first massive deployments of Microsoft Smarpthone phones started. We have July 2004 and still no AvantGo client for Microsoft Smartphone in sight.
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