HyperOffice today launched the public beta of business collaboration tools that connect the Apple iPhone to corporate email, contacts, calendars, tasks and notes.

The collaboration tools are built into HyperOffice and operate as an alternative to Microsoft Exchange, the corporate messaging platform that the iPhone does not support. HyperOffice synchronizes the iPhone email client with Microsoft Outlook, giving business users wireless access to secure corporate messaging and collaboration services from work, from home, and while traveling.

The public beta also includes a 30-day free trial of HyperOffice, the award-winning webware that makes it easier for owners, employees, clients, partners and suppliers of growing businesses to collaborate, communicate, plan projects, share and edit documents, schedule meetings, and manage information, anytime, from any Internet connection.

Click here to begin the trial: http://www.hyperoffice.com/hypermain/highlights/iphone.cfm

Out of the box from Apple, the iPhone supports popular consumer email services such as Google's Gmail or Yahoo's Yahoo! Mail. However, the built-in email client of the iPhone does not provide built-in support for Microsoft Exchange. Instead, the email client connects with Exchange only via direct IMAP/SMTP/POP3 protocols that are typically blocked by corporate firewalls due to concerns about security. This forces iPhone users to connect to Exchange email servers using the Safari Web browser at their company's Outlook Web Access page - or to mesh calendars and contacts via iTunes.

In contrast, using HyperShare, a gateway tool built into HyperOffice, iPhone users can continue to use Outlook, yet share calendars, contacts, documents and tasks -- both with and without Microsoft Exchange.

HyperShare is a one-time download to the desktop. It migrates Outlook contacts, calendars and email folders in minutes, then automatically delivers email to the email application built into the iPhone, with support for folders, attachments, documents and tasks - and replies and new messages are relayed back to Outlook or to the corporate Exchange server.