"This Program’s core function allows a user to override and disable the password timeout functionality built into WM5.0 Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP)."

Hmmm. That’s the pretty straightforward description of IBE Keep Alive. You may not want to mention this to your IT department if you’re trying to apply it on a company-provided device. The better approach is always going to be to work *with* your IT folks and see if policies can be adapted to match user requirements and security best practices.

But … if you’re after a solution of your own, it looks like that’s what this program is promising. One of the examples they offer for when this will come in most handy is using GPS software on a journey and not wanting to be forced to enter a device password every X minutes because of the timeout setting.

The application also offers a ‘Today Page’ option which: "allows a user to disable the password timeout function of Exchange 2003 SP2 & MSFP policy enforcement by passing your PIN password automatically without user intervention whenever the Pocket PC comes out of standby mode."

It’s good to see they have at least added some advisory / warning text to this option – "NOTE: Be careful with this option, as with this option checked, your device will be open and unlocked to whoever gains access. (Please refer to the
feature for ways to secure when using this mode.)"

I’ve not tried this out, but it will be interesting to hear how this one works in practice. If this does work as advertised, this may be another reason why IT departments will look to apply policies preventing installation of applications on devices in future.

For more info and a trial download, check out:

IBE Keep Alive at Handango

[tags]IBE Keep Alive, Windows Mobile device password timeouts, MSFP, Messaging and Security Features Pack[/tags]