1&1 Internet, a web hosting company, today announced a new push email and PIM synchronization solution for its hosted email and collaboration packages delivered by Open-Xchange Inc.'s Smart Collaboration technology. This push service based on Funambol's open source technology will be available first in Germany as of December, and subsequently together with the launch of the hosted email and groupware offering in US, UK and France within the first half of 2008.

1&1 utilizes the Open-Xchange platform for a range of branded MailXchange email and collaboration packages to be launched worldwide. Their MailXchange offers the full set of personal information management functionality - email, calendaring, contacts and task management together with advanced groupware features such as Documail and Smart Document Sharing. The company believes that the solution delivers valuable functionality for small businesses and individuals, enabling them to work remotely by providing communications at very low price points.

The company states that through their Control Center, customers get a free software client for all smartphones and pocket PCs using Windows 5.0 and Windows 6.0. Provided that customers have a contract with their carrier for data transfer, they automatically get emails, appointments, contacts and tasks pushed to their mobile devices.

"With the Introduction of our new interface for mobile synchronization, MailXchange's functionality is head to head with our competitors," said Andreas Gauger, 1&1 chairman of the board. "Freelancers, SMEs and field staff among others will benefit most from our communication stack, completely built on open source software."

"Business users and consumers want easy-to-use mobile messaging and collaboration capabilities such as Personal Information Management services, on all the devices they use, anywhere, anytime at a reasonable cost," said Gerald Labie, CEO of Open-Xchange. "The market potential for mobile SaaS solutions is tremendous. Our three way partnership is a major step forward in meeting this need."

"1&1 is leading the way into a new mobile market in which many more people can receive compelling mobile services such as push email at a fraction of the cost of proprietary alternatives," said Fabrizio Capobianco, Funambol CEO. "We are pleased to work with 1&1 and Open-Xchange as this will set a precedent for how service providers can utilize open source to address a major new portion of the market and provide profitable mobile services."