Microsoft acquires Acompli(blogs.microsoft.com)
blogs.microsoft.com
Microsoft acquires Acompli
http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2014/12/01/microsoft-acquires-acompli-provider-innovative-mobile-email-apps/
68 comments
The best feature about Acompli is that when your corporate IT goon tries to remote wipe your device from the Exchange server, they can only wipe your email, not your entire device. Most people don't realize that by using the default iOS and Android mail clients to connect to an Exchange server, they're implicitly giving it the ability to remotely wipe their entire mobile device.
I wish there were more publicized about this. I was setting up my wife's exchange-based work email with the default mail app in Android and was prompted with some really crazy permissions that were to the basic effect you mention. She decided that she didn't want her corporate office to have that much power over her own personal device just for the added convenience of being able to check work email on it. I'm going to mention this app to her and give it a try instead.
Yep. Probably a MDM application like MobileIron or Airwatch.
Your wife made a decision most people miss because they are so used to skipping to yes. And wouldn't it suck if your IT department wiped your entire personal device including those vacation pictures of your recently deceased grandma. This happens way more often then you know.
This total control decision is why a container approach (give power to wipe what is the container only) to enabling corporate data is one I favor.
Your wife made a decision most people miss because they are so used to skipping to yes. And wouldn't it suck if your IT department wiped your entire personal device including those vacation pictures of your recently deceased grandma. This happens way more often then you know.
This total control decision is why a container approach (give power to wipe what is the container only) to enabling corporate data is one I favor.
You're as likely if not more so to lose those vacation pictures when your phone falls into the toilet and shorts out. If it's important, back it up.
There are plenty of other apps available already - TouchDown [0] and Nine [1] are the two I've heard the most positive reviews about (I don't know anyone who uses Accompli).
[0]: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smartphones/review-touchdow... [1]: http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/02/12/hands-on-nine-is-a-c...]
[0]: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smartphones/review-touchdow... [1]: http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/02/12/hands-on-nine-is-a-c...]
If your company has a BYOD policy, it should include the FYI that IT might wipe your device if you quit or get fired.
That's the bad news. The good news is this feature of Exchange also gives you the ability to remote wipe your personal device from Outlook Web Access (i.e. Exchange webmail) if it gets lost or stolen.
That's the bad news. The good news is this feature of Exchange also gives you the ability to remote wipe your personal device from Outlook Web Access (i.e. Exchange webmail) if it gets lost or stolen.
That's why I use davmail¹ -> owa to access my corporate mail over imap instead of exchange directly.
¹http://davmail.sourceforge.net/
¹http://davmail.sourceforge.net/
Just to be a bit more clear-- the difference here is with device provisioning using Mobile Device Management (MDM) services, not necessarily the default OS apps.
The user enrollment process doesn't necessarily require giving permissions beyond mail/contacts/calendar access. But many organizations take advantage of the opportunity to use pre-baked profiles which restrict behaviors, auto-configure VPN with client certs, activate features like remote wipe, etc.
We dealt with a lot of this when building the ActiveSync module for the Inbox[1] sync engine, which works with all Exchange servers and offers a modern REST API. (ie: like Twilio/Stripe for email)
https://www.inboxapp.com/
[1] Google stole our name last month. :(
The user enrollment process doesn't necessarily require giving permissions beyond mail/contacts/calendar access. But many organizations take advantage of the opportunity to use pre-baked profiles which restrict behaviors, auto-configure VPN with client certs, activate features like remote wipe, etc.
We dealt with a lot of this when building the ActiveSync module for the Inbox[1] sync engine, which works with all Exchange servers and offers a modern REST API. (ie: like Twilio/Stripe for email)
https://www.inboxapp.com/
[1] Google stole our name last month. :(
> Most people don't realize that by using the default iOS and Android mail clients to connect to an Exchange server, they're implicitly giving it the ability to remotely wipe their entire mobile device.
Is there a way to disable this, e.g. using Apple Configurator or otherwise?
Is there a way to disable this, e.g. using Apple Configurator or otherwise?
Does it support notifications for emails which go into a folder? I have seen only 9folders supporting it till date.
No way! you serious? Source?
Any Exchange admin can confirm that. It is interesting the array of devices people add to their 'work' email.
how is that legal?
How is it illegal to give someone permission to remote wipe your device?
There is no question of legality, you are granting the user that access/ability by connecting to Exchange.
> you are granting the user that access/ability by connecting to Exchange
Does iOS present a warning to this effect when you add an Exchange account? If not, they should. I have an Exchange account set up from my university and don't recall ever seeing anything.
Also, didn't Gmail used to have Exchange support? If this is true, does that mean Google had the ability to remotely wipe any iOS device that was using Gmail through Exchange?
Does iOS present a warning to this effect when you add an Exchange account? If not, they should. I have an Exchange account set up from my university and don't recall ever seeing anything.
Also, didn't Gmail used to have Exchange support? If this is true, does that mean Google had the ability to remotely wipe any iOS device that was using Gmail through Exchange?
It's an exchange server thing and probably part of the sync protocol used.
You'll see a warning when you set up mail for the first time. I think if the server has this policy you are forced to add a pin lock to your device.
If you don't remember seeing anything, then AFAIK your device cannot be wiped.
You'll see a warning when you set up mail for the first time. I think if the server has this policy you are forced to add a pin lock to your device.
If you don't remember seeing anything, then AFAIK your device cannot be wiped.
The administrator can set all sorts of policies, like if a PIN is required, or a password, length, etc.
It's not a bad thing and can be used to potentially limit some damage. Of course, requiring a fully encrypted device with strong lockout policies that are hardware enforced (TPM) is the best. I've had my phone stolen and it was pretty nice to remote nuke it.
IIRC, Google offers this same feature if you connect it to Device Manager.
It's not a bad thing and can be used to potentially limit some damage. Of course, requiring a fully encrypted device with strong lockout policies that are hardware enforced (TPM) is the best. I've had my phone stolen and it was pretty nice to remote nuke it.
IIRC, Google offers this same feature if you connect it to Device Manager.
Well good for Acompli... and I mean that, though I've never heard of them. But it's sort of sad that it's almost 2015 and we're still building email, contact, calendar, and to-do managers.
Realize that when using Acompli, all your email flows through their servers. That means Acompli is storing your credentials. It's unfortunate that Acompli hides this fact through hand-waving.
On a personal level, I say "no thanks" to this. On a corporate level, people should realize that this violates many corporate infosec policies.
On a personal level, I say "no thanks" to this. On a corporate level, people should realize that this violates many corporate infosec policies.
I guess the surprise is kind of gone. ;)
Any clue about the acquisition price?
Edit: Their business model was we-will-see-later, so being acquired should definitely have been one of the options.
"How is the Acompli mobile app free?
The full-featured Acompli app is completely free for everyone. Acompli is a well-funded company that will later make paid services available to companies."
Edit: Their business model was we-will-see-later, so being acquired should definitely have been one of the options.
"How is the Acompli mobile app free?
The full-featured Acompli app is completely free for everyone. Acompli is a well-funded company that will later make paid services available to companies."
Over $200 million according to Recode.
http://recode.net/2014/12/01/microsoft-buys-mobile-email-sta...
http://recode.net/2014/12/01/microsoft-buys-mobile-email-sta...
Had they raised more than the $7.3m Series A?
Any idea on headcount and user/revenue numbers?
EDIT: As I understand, the service was free, so no revenues.
To revoke GMail access to Acompli/Microsoft, go here: https://security.google.com/settings/security/permissions
I wouldn't use a third party client for something as critical as my Google mail account anyways.
Would you mind clarifying why? I'm not sure I understand the concern. https://www.acompli.com/security/
Increasing the number of 3rd parties authorized to access your email accounts increase the potential attack vectors for malicious people to utilize. If you only use GMail's interface, then you need to trust Google to protect your account. If you grant Acompli access to your account, now you've got to trust two companies with that responsibility. It's basic cost/benefit in terms of what you get from providing a 3rd party with that access - and in a day when email is still one of the more critical achilles heels in resetting account access, it's advisable to keep that access as limited as possible.
Thank you. I couldn't have put it better myself. Gmail is the only reason I have two factor authentication in my Google account.
It's why I've stayed away from Mailbox.
Can anyone explain why he's being downvoted? A lot of people around here dislike Microsoft, and as someone who doesn't, I much prefer this helpful tip to a long rant about how the world will end.
Wonder when we'll see more startups going more aggressively into replacing e-mail, interoperating with it or adding features on top of it.
Of course have heard all the arguments against e-mail killers and why that won't happen.
Will it?
Of course have heard all the arguments against e-mail killers and why that won't happen.
Will it?
While this app seems polished and well crafted, I find this acquisition surprising. I can see no real innovation here besides combining convenient, known features in one app. Nothing that depends on patents and nothing Microsoft couldn’t build. Am I missing something?
Could be for many reasons:
* The cost of acquisition is less than the cost of developing it themselves. * An aqui-hire. Microsoft wants to pick up the dev talent and skillsets at Accompli. * To prevent a competitor from getting them. Maybe there was other interest that would let a competitor move in on existing Microsoft products. * To continue to build its 'modern' image. There's a lot of additional branding to do if they do it themselves, buying Acompli gives them some nice press and puts the Microsoft brand in front of Acompli's users (which may not be Microsoft's traditional demographic).
* The cost of acquisition is less than the cost of developing it themselves. * An aqui-hire. Microsoft wants to pick up the dev talent and skillsets at Accompli. * To prevent a competitor from getting them. Maybe there was other interest that would let a competitor move in on existing Microsoft products. * To continue to build its 'modern' image. There's a lot of additional branding to do if they do it themselves, buying Acompli gives them some nice press and puts the Microsoft brand in front of Acompli's users (which may not be Microsoft's traditional demographic).
> To prevent a competitor from getting them.
Yes, or becoming a competitor, signalled by having users and getting more. "Strategic" aquisitions often seem absurdly high, unless seen as a threat to the future of the acquirer. You can be a threat without being fundamentally new.
Yes, or becoming a competitor, signalled by having users and getting more. "Strategic" aquisitions often seem absurdly high, unless seen as a threat to the future of the acquirer. You can be a threat without being fundamentally new.
That is one problem I have with big exits lately. No one is allowed to grow or develop as independent company.
True. Modern corps have learnt the lesson of disruption.
I guess the only way it could happen is if it didn't look like a threat until far too late, such as totally different customers (e.g. third world), doing something completely different and no where near as good (e.g. markdown a threat to Word; iOS/android vs Windows)
I guess the only way it could happen is if it didn't look like a threat until far too late, such as totally different customers (e.g. third world), doing something completely different and no where near as good (e.g. markdown a threat to Word; iOS/android vs Windows)
"No one is allowed to grow or develop as independent company."
Of course you are. Just reject the offer. You don't think Uber/AirBnB/Dropbox etc have received offers we've not heard about?
Of course you are. Just reject the offer. You don't think Uber/AirBnB/Dropbox etc have received offers we've not heard about?
Two of those 3 are peripheral to the tech world. They employ tech to disrupt other industries. And dropbox is not disruptive. It competes with similar offerings from the tech giants.
But stuff like Oculus is bought in its infancy - that is not desire to profit, but to control. FB could have acquired 20-30% of the company to provide them with liquidity.
But stuff like Oculus is bought in its infancy - that is not desire to profit, but to control. FB could have acquired 20-30% of the company to provide them with liquidity.
"FB could have acquired 20-30% of the company to provide them with liquidity"
Not really. Most startups don't want to sell that much equity to a potential partner/acquirer unless they have to.
Not really. Most startups don't want to sell that much equity to a potential partner/acquirer unless they have to.
> The cost of acquisition is less than the cost of developing it themselves.
Would it really cost over $200 million to clone Acompli?
Would it really cost over $200 million to clone Acompli?
$200 million = 200 million users * 1 year * $1. So easy to make a profit with Microsoft's many more millions of customers.
User loyalty is a lot more expensive than lines of code.
User loyalty is a lot more expensive than lines of code.
I've used it for a while on my Android phone, and it's not even that polished. It's generally been somewhat buggy. In fact, until a week ago or so, the swipe gestures for archiving/scheduling were horribly broken on Android. The app still crashes sometimes or takes an abnormally long time to refresh after archiving an email.
I still use it because the combination of scheduling/archiving emails and auto-categorizing them as Focused or Other just works really well for my work email. I haven't found another approach to Inbox Zero for my work email that is this simple and effective.
I highly doubt it would cost Microsoft anywhere near $200M to build this themselves. I'm not sure what the motivation behind this purchase is. I'm not really loyal to the product at all, for instance. I'll switch the moment a more polished alternative comes out that has the same features.
I still use it because the combination of scheduling/archiving emails and auto-categorizing them as Focused or Other just works really well for my work email. I haven't found another approach to Inbox Zero for my work email that is this simple and effective.
I highly doubt it would cost Microsoft anywhere near $200M to build this themselves. I'm not sure what the motivation behind this purchase is. I'm not really loyal to the product at all, for instance. I'll switch the moment a more polished alternative comes out that has the same features.
[deleted]
related: http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/26/microsoft-appears-to-pre-an...
btw, 200M? Wow..
btw, 200M? Wow..
I use this for access to my companies exchange server from my android device. I'd imagine a lot of other folks use it like this as well.
$200 million, for an email app from a company that was setup ~1.5 yrs ago. Has the whole world gone mad?
I'm not sure how much the age of the company matters. If they have customers and/or revenue, that determines what they're worth much more than age.
It matters as an indicator of how long it would take to rebuild acompli from scratch.
How long it takes to rebuild an app really isn't that important. Revenue + traction trump technical sophistication 9 times out of 10.
Rebuilding isn't the hard part. It's acquiring the users, which gets into a whole host of non-technical things such as timing, messaging/marketing, word-of-mouth, and a good dose of just plain luck. Absolutely no guarantee Microsoft could do that even if their app was technically identical or even objectively better (see Windows Phone).
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Does anyone know how popular was their app? How fast was it growing?
I've seen worse.
You have a lot to learn about M&A strategy.
Absolute no brainer. Product was well-crafted and I don't know why no one combined email and calendar before, but this made my life a lot easier and I'm iPhone/Gmail. For exchange users this must be a quantum leap ahead.
Acompli sounds very similar to the native functionality of Windows Phone OS.
OK, I 've got the signal. Google buys email app company, what was it name? Some birdy, wasn't it. And Google shuts it down. Now MS buys email app company...
The is something important in email for big ones, they do not want small ones there it seems. Just paranoid.
Before mobile era there was incredible mail <s>app</s> programme - Calypso. Dead before Google became IPO. No one wanted to support it after it was open sourced. Probably it would be better for it to be bought by some Microsoft. Outlook could learn UTF-8 in subject lines a bit earlier.
UPD: on a second thought. I can see mutt and alpine behave very similarly in terminal apps from iOS. Why, why people like GUI mail so much? Perhaps Calendar integration is the answer?
UPD: Yeah, lads, it was Calypso. Survived till v3.3, but never did better.
The is something important in email for big ones, they do not want small ones there it seems. Just paranoid.
Before mobile era there was incredible mail <s>app</s> programme - Calypso. Dead before Google became IPO. No one wanted to support it after it was open sourced. Probably it would be better for it to be bought by some Microsoft. Outlook could learn UTF-8 in subject lines a bit earlier.
UPD: on a second thought. I can see mutt and alpine behave very similarly in terminal apps from iOS. Why, why people like GUI mail so much? Perhaps Calendar integration is the answer?
UPD: Yeah, lads, it was Calypso. Survived till v3.3, but never did better.
huge congrats to Accompli team!
They were posted at Heavybit Industeries until recently, I got the chance to second hand see Javier as a leader who gravitates talent and happiness with the fellow employees.
Here is a talk by him entitled the first million is the hardest. http://www.heavybit.com/library/video/2013-05-21-javier-solt...
Here is a talk by him entitled the first million is the hardest. http://www.heavybit.com/library/video/2013-05-21-javier-solt...
Informative interview, thanks!