Microsoft's plan for easy (and secure) PocketPCs

Microsoft today launched the first part of its plan to transform PDAs and smart phones from bugbears to bosom buddies for IT managers.

Teaming up with systems integrators including Accenture, Cap Gemini Ernst and Young and Hewlett Packard Services, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the Mobile Workplace Initiative.

Anne-Marie Duffy, Microsoft mobility marketing manager EMEA, described the initiative as "formalising a lot of the work that has been going on over the past six to 12 months".

For example, Vodafone and O2 are already working with HP and Microsoft to build mobile applications for their corporate clients.

Among the major benefits of the system is the ability to configure and programme mobile clients wirelessly.

The clients would have to be connected to the network by hand, but once the network was up and running applications can be controlled and managed online.

For example, personal data on a lost handheld or phone could be erased remotely as long as the phone is connected to the internet, Duffy said.

This should help to change the image among many IT managers who see PDAs and handheld devices as a security liability and support headache.

While Microsoft would obviously prefer customers to choose end-to-end Microsoft solutions, the system remains open to products from other vendors, such as Lotus Domino mail systems or Palm handheld clients.

The first of what Microsoft hopes will be a long list of applications is a messaging application from Synchrologic.