In a move that can only be summed up as the boys in Redmond have decided that they would rather Mac owners buy iPhones than buy BlackBerrys, Microsoft has removed BlackBerry support from Entourage 2008 for the Mac.
Not only has Microsoft removed native BlackBerry support, but they’ve removed it for third party applications like the Missing Synch.
Say what you want about Microsoft, they generally make good business decisions for the most part. I have to admit, however, that I have no idea what they are thinking here.
Microsoft has to know that Mac users overwhelmingly aren’t going to purchase Windows Mobile devices so long as the iPhone exists. A few of them, however, may purchase BlackBerrys. Does Redmond really want to push even more Mac users to the iPhone?
I will be the first one to tell you that I don’t think the iPhone is ready to be a prime-time corporate smartphone, however, it will be and I believe that when Apple makes it secure, sticks a keyboard on it, and allows a means for centralized management, the iPhone will eat into Microsoft’s share a lot quicker than it will into RIM’s.
Bill, I know that you are about to retire. You may want to rethink this one before you do.
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Zander 01.29.08 at 10:44 am
Are there really enough BlackBerry users on macintosh computers for this to really matter? It seems like everyone that I know that has a Mac and used to have some other PDA now has an iPhone.
hellyes 01.29.08 at 11:03 am
Don’t let the FUD and the anti-consumer practices of Apple fool you into believing that Microsoft is at fault here. The Macintosh is a closed proprietary system not compatible with almost 90% of all desktop computers and if Apple really had consumers interests at heart, they would create a native synchronization solution for the BlackBerry.
Shame on you Apple.
David Hoff 01.29.08 at 12:35 pm
I suspect this was more of simple math decision. How much does it cost to build and support this product vs. potential user base * price. Everyone was quick to point out the low number of people it would effect, and from there the cost probably wasn’t in the cards.
bluehorseshoe 01.29.08 at 12:37 pm
@ Zander
I think there’s enough of them out there to be pissed off, myself included. But in my situation, I run Vista on a bootcamp partition and pull it up via Paralles when in MAC mode and synch to Outlook (as well as just running Vista alone). I’m not a fan of Entourage, and don’t think I’ll ever use it. Would be nice as an option, and I’m sure others would like it. From a corporate standpoint, it’s going to suck. Many companies that run a MAC/PC shop and have moved to Exchange from Notes run Entourage, thus causing a problem. For some executives that use MAC’s, companies may spend the extra cash on the licensing and do a XP or Vista install and run Parallels since most people like Outlook anyway.
Robb Dunewood 01.29.08 at 1:00 pm
bluehorseshoe,
That is a very good point. There are an awful lot of (most) companies that have standardized on the Mac as a platform and run Exchange for messaging. They won’t be too happy, I am sure. I admit the these companies will be the first to try to use iPhones as business devices, however, I doubt that they are throwing their BES servers out just yet.
Zander 01.29.08 at 1:06 pm
Robb, you can’t be serious when you say that “Most companies have standardized on the Mac” Most companies don’t even have a Mac.
bluehorseshoe 01.29.08 at 1:29 pm
@ Zander
I think Robb was referring (meant to say) to companies that do use MAC’s. The entertainment and publishing industries are big users, with a good 60/40 or 50/50 break on ratio. While some have used Notes in the past (and still do), others have crossed over to Exchange. I think the numbers out there prove that Windows rules the roost when it comes to the desktop and messaging.
Robb Dunewood 01.29.08 at 4:02 pm
bluehorseshoe is correct. I meant most companies that have standardized on Macs use Exchange for their email system, not most companies have standardized on Macs.
Bob Fairbairn 01.29.08 at 4:43 pm
This story is wrong. Entourage 2008 is a sync services client. Most enterprise users would have a BES server so this is not an issue for them. You should check around some more.
hellno 01.29.08 at 10:56 pm
talk about ignorant FUD….
“hellyes
#2. January 29th, 2008, at 11:03 AM.
Don’t let the FUD and the anti-consumer practices of Apple fool you into believing that Microsoft is at fault here. The Macintosh is a closed proprietary system not compatible with almost 90% of all desktop computers and if Apple really had consumers interests at heart, they would create a native synchronization solution for the BlackBerry.
Shame on you Apple.”
Learn the TRUTH before posting your FUD.
hellno 01.29.08 at 11:17 pm
RIM it’s time for a UNIVERSAL desktop app?
Could this be partly RIM’s fault for only natively supporting windoz?
I also agree with bluehorseshoe (those keeping score mark this one down, ha ha ha) “I’m not a fan of Entourage” either. On the Mac IMO entourage is not best of breed. Many Mac users try to keep anything M$ off their machines, IMO there are now many alternatives which allow M$ Office to be bypassed, yet give the ability to work with M$ documents. BES is not a solution, does anyone know the ratio of BES to BIS users? With the Pearl, Curve, and other pro-consumer models coming out bet BIS is gaining some ground.
Either way think M$ made a mistake by removing BB support, perhaps a patch or some 3rd party software will bring back the function?
hellno 01.29.08 at 11:21 pm
Oh and……
GO iPhone!
iPhone - The Ultimate smart Phone.
Zander your right, many Mac users and non-Mac users I know have upgraded to the iPhone.