4-page Case Study - Posted 2/27/2008

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DataViz

Licensing Exchange ActiveSync Attracts Mobile Manufacturers and Customers

DataViz® is an industry leader in developing Microsoft® Office compatibility and productivity solutions across many platforms. In late 2004, the company wanted to bring synchronization of Microsoft Exchange Server e-mail, calendars, and contacts to as many of the world’s mobile phones as possible. In early 2005, DataViz became the first software company to license the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® protocol from Microsoft. This was facilitated by the Microsoft Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing group. By licensing this technology, DataViz was able to create RoadSync®, which provides wireless, Direct Push synchronization of corporate e-mail, calendar, and contacts for more than 100 smartphones across six mobile platforms. Licensing the Exchange ActiveSync protocol helped DataViz to bring its product to market quickly, while conferring RoadSync with maximum industry credibility.

Situation

DataViz was able to develop an innovative, enterprise-grade mobile solution and become a key player in a market it would not have had access to otherwise. This is thanks to the IP Licensing group.  Ilya Eliashevsky Product Manager DataViz

For nearly a decade, DataViz has focused on extending its Microsoft Office compatibility expertise to the mobile market. Its award-winning flagship solution, Documents To Go®, has remained the highest-selling Microsoft Office suite for Palm OS handheld computers and smartphones since its introduction in 1999. As part of its commitment to being first to market with outstanding technologies and high-quality products, DataViz maintains licensing partnerships with software and hardware vendors large and small, including Microsoft, Palm, Sony Ericsson, and Motorola.

In October 2004, the company became interested in licensing Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® technology from Microsoft by working with the Microsoft Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing group. The IP Licensing group consists of: a Technology Licensing team, which licenses component technologies, research, protocols, standards, and file formats; and an IP Ventures program, which spins out a wide range of technologies to entrepreneurs and start-ups. Exchange ActiveSync is a communication protocol that provides mobile, “over-the-air” access to e-mail messages, schedules, contacts, task lists, and other Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox data. Exchange ActiveSync features Direct Push Technology to ensure devices automatically receive new e-mail from a company's Exchange Server.

“Our interest in licensing the technology was to bring Exchange ActiveSync to as many of the world’s mobile phones as possible,” says Ilya Eliashevsky, Product Manager at DataViz.

Solution

Microsoft was already licensing the Exchange ActiveSync protocol to mobile hardware manufacturers. “At that time, though, there was still no precedent for licensing Exchange ActiveSync to a software company,” says Bonnie Boyle, Product and Business Manager at DataViz. “We thought this would be mutually beneficial for both companies. DataViz would be able to bring a solution to market faster than hardware manufacturers, and users would be able to add functionality to their devices immediately, without having to purchase new hardware or wait for new devices.”

Employees at DataViz pitched their business vision to several Microsoft contacts. “Within a few months, we found a product manager who also wanted to extend the reach of Exchange ActiveSync to more device users,” says Eliashevsky. In October 2004, DataViz became the first software company to license the Exchange ActiveSync protocol, which it used to create RoadSync, released in July 2005.

RoadSync helps provide wireless, Direct Push synchronization of corporate e-mail, calendar, and contacts for more than 100 smartphones across six mobile platforms, including Windows Mobile 2003 software for Smartphones, Symbian UIQ, Symbian S80 and S60, Palm OS, and Java MIDP 2.0. The product includes support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 and Exchange Server 2007, and it offers key mobility features such as Direct Push, Global Address List (GAL) lookup, remote device wipe, and IT policy enforcement.

RoadSync comes preloaded on several popular handset models from leading manufacturers including Sony Ericsson, Nokia, and others. RoadSync is also available for purchase and trial directly from the DataViz Web site and its network of worldwide resellers.

Benefits

The IP Licensing group helped us to bring RoadSync to market much faster than if we had needed to create a completely new technology.  Rob Hoxie Business Development Manager DataViz

Creation of RoadSync

By licensing existing Microsoft technology, “DataViz was able to develop an innovative, enterprise-grade mobile solution, and become a key player in a market it would not have had access to otherwise. This is thanks to the IP Licensing group,” says Eliashevsky. “Our partnership with the IP Licensing group makes it possible for customers to purchase a phone that was never intended to be an Exchange ActiveSync–capable phone, install RoadSync from our Web site, and start synchronizing e-mail, contacts, and calendars with Exchange Server using Direct Push Technology,” says Rob Hoxie, Business Development Manager at DataViz.

Fast Time-to-Market

DataViz brought its solution to market swiftly. “Our working knowledge of the technology helped us to lay down a lot of groundwork before receiving the Exchange ActiveSync protocol—which expedited our time-to-market,” says Boyle. Hoxie adds, “The IP Licensing group helped us to bring RoadSync to market much faster than if we had needed to create a completely new technology.” Because Microsoft is coming from the software development world itself, says Eliashevsky, “Microsoft knows what developers need in terms of documentation and open communication.”

Maximum Industry Credibility

After licensing Exchange ActiveSync, DataViz worked toward certification as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. Competencies include Mobility Solutions, ISV Solutions, and Information Worker Solutions. These credentials reflect the company’s expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. “Licensing Exchange ActiveSync directly from Microsoft and being a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner give DataViz a lot of credibility. It lets people know that they can trust our company and rely on our products,” says Eliashevsky.

The IP Licensing group has also provided DataViz with a lot of exposure that it would not have received otherwise, including press opportunities, white papers, trade shows, and customer referrals and leads from the Microsoft Web site. Says Eliashevsky, “We’ve ended up with relationships with three of the top five handset manufacturers in the world, which we probably would not have achieved without licensing this technology from Microsoft.”

For More Information

For more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in the United States or (905) 568-9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to:
www.microsoft.com

For more information about DataViz products and services, call (203) 874-0085 or visit the Web site at:
www.dataviz.com

Microsoft Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing group

The Microsoft Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing group consists of: a Technology Licensing team, which licenses component technologies, research, protocols, standards, and file formats; and an IP Ventures program, which spins out a wide range of technologies to entrepreneurs and start-ups. For more information, go to:
www.microsoft.com/ip

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published February 2008