It just got a little easier for small and midsize businesses to look like giant enterprises. Verizon Wireless has introduced several plans aimed at SMBs that offer wireless e-mail solutions.

The first offering is Hosted VZEmail Services, which allows customers to synchronize e-mail accounts as well as calendars, contacts and tasks on Windows Mobile devices. Free technical support is included.

Mike Tomassi, product manager for Verizon, told us that the company is responding to customer requests for mobile workers. “A customer like a mom-and-pop shop doesn’t have the money to purchase a behind-the-firewall solution or an enterprise server,” he said, nor can they afford to hire and manage a team of IT workers.

Other Platforms Possible

For now, the service is limited to the Windows Mobile platform, though Tomassi said the company is looking into supporting other platforms in the future. There are two plans available.

The Basic Exchange Plan costs $7.99 a month per seat; it supports POP3 and IMAP protocols and includes 25MB

of storage as well as Outlook Web Access.

The Premium Exchange Plan for $14.99 a month per seat includes 100MB of storage and adds options such as Outlook Mobile Access to access e-mail and PIM notes (which is automatically reformatted regardless of device); Outlook Anywhere to access Hosted VZEmail without using a VPN; ActiveSync to receive push e-mail; and Outlook 2007 to supply “a familiar and friendly PC interface,” according to the company.

VZEmail uses direct-push technology for e-mail updates. Customers can create a global address list of employees, manage distribution lists, and schedule meetings and other resources. Using Outlook Web Access, they can securely access corporate e-mail. Users can plus use their existing Net domain addresses, Tomassi said.

“Our research has shown that small businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals from an array of industries need e-mail pushed directly to…

Original post by Vincent Nguyen

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