It's zero hour for Microsoft's keenly anticipated Messaging and Security Features Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0. That's the pre-Pack Windows Mobile 5.0 UI on the right.

Today, Information Week reports what's aready been in the wind - the utility is set to be made available this week, with pre-builds into handsets coming this fall.

Devices armed with the Pack will be able to connect directly with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, rather than having to go through the additional middleware and servers that BlackBerry's email servers and others need to.

For several days after the upgrade was announced a couple of months ago, BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion investors reacted with a freaked quiver and a series of aftershocks. I wouldn't be surprised to see the same type of reaction this week. Yet because everyone knew this was coming, perhaps the reaction will be somewhat muted, and shorter in duration.

We'll be on the front row, watching and reporting.