Microsoft takes aim as RIM battles in court

Microsoft has hedged its bets if its customers don't embrace Exchange Server 2003 and an armada of Windows Mobile 5.0 phones updated for the push technology. It has licensed Exchange server's ActiveSync protocol that allows for synchronization of e-mail to other mobile phone vendors, Cripps said. "It would be silly to suggest that you can only access this service by Microsoft devices," he said.

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Microsoft isn't the only company that could benefit from RIM's uncertain future.

Nokia and other users of Symbian's operating system have also been chasing the mobile e-mail market. Last year, Nokia introduced a family of handsets targeting enterprise users, including one that looks similar to the BlackBerry.

Nokia also began selling software that supports push e-mail, and is expected in the future to support remote access to other corporate data. That could complement services and software from Intellisync, the wireless e-mail software developer that Nokia acquired last year.

(Nancy Gohring in London contributed to this report)