Are You Ready for Push Email?

Well it sure looks like Push Email from Microsoft is on the way and it's really close. This week HP officially announced the hw6900 iPaq which will include the new Microsoft Windows Mobile 5 Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) that will allow push email from a Small Business Server installed with Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2.

I've tested a couple of devices and all I can tell you is wow, cool! Will the hw6900 be the first in the US to have the functionality? It sure appears that way what with the way the US carriers drag their feet to get new mobile products here. At any rate it appears that several will arrive before June 06.

With the hw6900 having the push email and integrated GPRS I might have to drop my currently lovable iMate k-Jam for that unless I get a free upgrade to my phone from iMate. Another thing that does look good on the hw6900 is the ability to do one touch dialing on the phone. It just doesn't happen very easily on my current k-Jam. I know this is the reason the Treo 700W has been such a big seller. Add in push email and RIM/Blackberry will definitely have a hard time keeping up.

One other thing to remember is that the MSFP doesn't just give you the ability to get push email but the Security part is being able to remote wipe the device. And all I can say is yep it sure works good. Being able to remotely wipe a device 30 seconds after you find it has turned up missing will definitely ease the security conscious CEO's out there that know that their data is their business and having it in other people's hands isn't what you want.

UPDATE: Looks like this phone will indeed be the first in the US with the MSFP and it will be released in April according to reports out of Redmond. Can you wait?