The Redwood City, California-based start-up has added push email capabilities with version 3 of its Funambol development platform, which was formerly known as Sync4j and is based on the SyncML data synchronization and device management standard.

As well as its existing PIM synchronization and device management capabilities, Funambol 3 now enables the sending, receiving and forwarding of email, as well as the ability to open attachments and accept or decline meeting requests.

The server software supports Research In Motion Ltd Blackberry devices, as well as Microsoft Corp Windows Mobile-based devices, iPod, Java Phone, Palm, Symbian and WAP devices. It also supports Microsoft Exchange, IBM Corp Domino, IMAP and POP email servers.

The push email market is currently the center of a legal storm, with NTP Inc suing RIM for patent infringement, and Visto Corp also pursuing patent infringement claims against Good Technology Inc and Microsoft Corp, as well as Smartner Information Systems Ltd and its parent Sven Networks Inc. Good and RIM settled their own patent infringement case in March 2004.

Funambol v3 is available in Carrier and Enterprise editions and can be licensed for ISV or OEM contracts. Systems management giant CA Inc recently licensed the company’s mobile application server software for use in its forthcoming smartphone device management platform. An open source version is also available for free download.