
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs unveiled new software for its popular iPhone that lets business users send and receive Microsoft Exchange email, in a direct shot at rival BlackBerry.
Jobs introduced 8220;iPhone 2.08221; as he kicked off Apple8217;s firm8217;s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco and said the change was a response to demand by business users.
8220;W8217;8217;ve done it,8221; Jobs told an auditorium packed with software developers and media. 8220;You can push email to Microsoft Exchange.8221;
The iPhone software update is aimed at a business market that is currently hooked on BlackBerry devices made by Canada-based Research In Motion. BlackBerry handsets have long let people 8220;push8221; work email to the devices using the MS email system.
Jobs said Apple worked with Cisco to build virtual private network VPN services into iPhones to businesses can establish secure connections to protect data being transferred.
8220;Everything they told us they wanted we have built right into iPhone 2.0 software right out of the box.8221;
Thirty-five percent of US Fortune 500 companies and the US military have 8220;beta8221; tested iPhone8217;s enterprise email, according to Jobs.
8220;It really has the ability to pack the power of a laptop into the size of a smart phone,8221; said Randy Brooks, senior vice president of information technology at Disney Company.
The original iPhone was launched on June 29, 2007, and set off a global buying frenzy.