Microsoft Limits Reimbursement Plan to Employees with Windows Mobile-powered devices

Microsoft has announced that due to budget cuts, it will no longer reimburse employees for use of competing smartphone devices other than Windows Mobile-powered handsets. Microsoft’s cost-cutting measures drove it to lay off some five thousands of employees. As expected, it also led to some perks being discontinued for its remaining employees.
This implies that Microsoft won’t pay for its employees’ Apple iPhone data service plans anymore, even if they’re used significantly for work purposes. Nor will it pay for Research In Motion (RIM) BlackBerry service, or a new Palm Pre. Instead, it will only reimburse data plans for Microsoft Windows Mobile-powered smartphones.
For many Microsoft employees who use their devices to do company work on the road, it no doubt feels like a shafting. Compared to the iPhone, new BlackBerry software, or even Google (GOOG) Android, some have complained that today’s Windows Mobile is clunky and unappealing.