Support for Mobile Device Manager 2008 will come with the next version of Windows Mobile, codenamed Photon and due in the first half of 2008 along with MDM itself. Other versions of Windows Mobile will not support Active Directory, but Microsoft is working with partners to enable devices to be upgraded to the new platform.

Windows Mobile devices are to be integrated with Active Directory, which will enable enterprises to manage smartphones using the same policies and infrastructure already used to control Windows PCs, according to Microsoft. The Active Directory integration will come in 2008 with a new version of the Windows Mobile platform, plus a new server product called System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008.

As well as providing end-to-end security and management, this will include a VPN to allow secure mobile access to enterprise resources such as line-of-business applications. Microsoft UK’s Mobility business manager Jason Langridge said that Windows Mobile will effectively become part of the corporate domain, enabling devices to be managed through group policy just like PCs.