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We've all endured the buzz over the wireless data market. The overwrought
headlines: Wireless Data Set To Explode. The extravagant claims: WAP Usage
To Skyrocket. By now, however, all the urgency seems unjustified. While
the idea of wireless data is as compelling as ever, particularly with
respect to Internet access, wireless data is, in practice, well,
underwhelming. What's wrong? The devices. They simply aren't very usable.
Their very form factors leave much to be desired.
I often demonstrate to people how they may access our corporate Web
site with their mobile phones. My audiences are always polite, and often
curious, but hardly any of them expect to make WAP a habit. They object to
the WAP handset's matchbook-sized screen. They fumble with the keypad,
which typically sports buttons that are just slightly larger than match
heads. Let's face it. WAP, in its current state, is something that only a
productivity-seeking masochist could enjoy. Also, WAP seems less about
freedom and more about constraint in another sense: wireless service
providers are more interested in pushing the sites that pay them a fee,
rather than allowing their customers to easily navigate the sites of their
choice.
Still, wireless data access is intriguing, and the technology keeps
improving. Wireless networks, for example, are getting faster. And the
most basic justification for wireless -- bringing convenience to busy
people on the move -- keeps getting stronger all the time.
INDUSTRY OF A THOUSAND INTERFACES?
Wireless data access is supposed to be about ease and convenience.
Accordingly, wireless data can ill afford to negate these qualities by
obliging users to manipulate balky interfaces. Wireless data needs better,
friendlier interfaces. But will wireless devices dramatically improve
anytime soon? Possibly. But it's just as likely that we'll see a variety
of devices come and go. All the while, we'll see people striving to get
the most out of the growing array of imperfect devices.
As you might expect, many companies are striving to improve the
wireless data experience, and some of them even acknowledge the reality of
wireless devices -- specifically, that these devices will improve
gradually, enacting an almost Darwinian scenario. That is, a scattering of
advantageous mutations will succeed, passing favorable traits to future
generations. The problem, however, is permitting this adventitious and
piecemeal evolution while conserving scarce development resources.
Consider the complications that would arise if any given application
required special development effort for it to be ported from device to
device, or network to network, or provider to provider!
One way to grapple with this problem is through middleware. To
illustrate, I'll rely on recent discussions I've had with a provider of
middleware. This provider, Mobileum (www.mobileum.com),
claims it can provide an open, standards-based architecture offering
device, network, data source, and tools independence.
A MIDDLEWARE SOLUTION?
To examine Mobileum's claim, it would be helpful to know about the people
who make up the company. Many of Mobileum's employees come from Genesys
Communications, which was recently purchased by Alcatel for over a billion
dollars. You may know Genesys as a company that started out providing CTI
middleware, allowing customer interaction solutions to run seamlessly over
disparate telephone switches. Genesys was one of the first companies to
abstract hardware in their call center solutions.
Interestingly, Mobileum's products perform an analogous function in the
world of wireless transactions. As Genesys learned, the need for this type
of abstraction was especially necessary for developers in the contact
center/telephony world, who preferred to develop applications just once,
without worrying too much about porting software between myriad ACDs and
PBXs.
Mobileum's core competency is allowing developers to minimize
development to various devices and their disparate form factors by
providing device-specific libraries. For those of you who have tried to
browse a Web site on your cell phone, you can understand why there is a
need to improve the human experience of surfing on pint-sized and even
"half-pint-sized" devices, and can appreciate why Mobileum has a
human factors group dedicated to determining the best way to display data
and choices onto a screen.
Mobileum's middleware is designed to allow "once only"
development, such that any given application could be presented anywhere,
demonstrating device and network independence. For those of you who go
back to the days of computing in the PC world before Windows, you may
recall buying software (think MultiMate or LOTUS 123) that came with
floppy disks filled with printer and screen drivers. In those days,
software development companies could spend more time and money developing
drivers than applications!
HOW IT WORKS
Basically, the Mobileum platform consists of a mobile application server
that sits between a carrier and the applications internal to the carrier's
customers. The customer determines which applications to wirelessly
enable, and the mobile application server provides the infrastructure
components that are needed to ensure deployment. These components are
divided into four areas: presentation services, platform services,
enhanced services, and network services.
Most interesting, perhaps, are Mobileum's enhanced services. These
optional modules are designed to enhance wireless applications, allowing
users to interact more efficiently and intuitively with devices. According
to Mobileum, each of these solutions have human factors' principles built
into them.
To use simpler terms, the solutions minimize the hassles of repetitive,
nit-picking chores, like checking up on whether alerts have been
acknowledged, or indicating transaction preferences, or finding the
appropriate URLs to initiate a session, or resuming interrupted sessions,
or remembering passwords. By minimizing such hassles, Mobileum hopes to
improve the user's wireless data experience, and overcome some of the
limitations of current wireless devices.
In addition, Mobileum indicates it supports openness, citing the choice
of Java as its platform, potentially leveraging the value of the millions
of Java developers.
ADDITIONAL MIDDLEWARE APPROACHES
Although Mobileum is onto something very important here, they aren't the
only wireless company to recognize a huge opportunity in supplying
middleware. Perhaps the most notable alternative comes from Redmond, where
Microsoft has recently unveiled Hailstorm, a set of XML services designed
to give wireless users greater control. These enabling services are said
to be a cornerstone of Microsoft's .NET strategy, and the company has
already assembled an impressive list of partners.
Another area where Microsoft excels is their ability to link their
applications. One example: the integration between Outlook's calendar
functionality and Excel's spreadsheets. Microsoft is also becoming a
strong wireless competitor through wider use of its Pocket PC operating
system.
Regardless of who wins the wireless middleware wars, it is certain that
consumers will certainly benefit by being able to choose the best way to
become productive on the go, without losing their eyesight.
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Look No Further!
Has commercial chaos, technology turmoil, and market madness got you
down? Seeking shelter from the storm of incomprehensible information?
Well, you might consider joining the cool, calm, and composed attendees of
Communications Solutions EXPO. Of these attendees, over 60 percent make
Communications Solutions the ONLY communications or networking event on
their itineraries. Now THAT'S equanimity!
These attendees have learned that Communications Solutions EXPO
delivers a comprehensive grounding in the most relevant innovations and
trends in communications. And our attendees know we consistently present
special attractions highlighting the profit-building potential of
cost-saving, productivity-enhancing communications solutions.
As you've no doubt gathered by now, we're really pumped about this
year's event. We are bringing you a variety of attractions that simply
can't be seen anywhere else. We hope you come to Communications Solutions
EXPO May 23 25 in Washington, DC and see for yourself. (Please register
online immediately so that you may save the onsite fee of $100!) Our
attractions include:
WIRELESS WORLD
We're working with Interactive Intelligence (www.inin.com)
to demonstrate the latest productivity-boosting remote access and
m-commerce technology.
RESELLER NIGHT
We've joined forces with Computer Reseller News and VAR Business, as well
as Interactive Intelligence, to present a special seminar and reception
beginning at 4:30 pm on Thursday, May 24. The reseller community is
invited to attend a 1-hour seminar followed by a 1.5-hour cocktail and
networking reception with the industry's leading vendors. It will be the
perfect setting for generating profitable new relationships. The seminar
will focus on how to market reseller services, as well as the latest
communications technology that should be in your arsenal.
CRITICAL SESSIONS...OPEN TO ALL ATTENDEES
We've added two absolutely critical meetings to this year's show that
we're opening up to all attendees for FREE. You'll find out how to select
equipment that could potentially pay itself back in a matter of months.
Choose the session that targets your needs:
- Critical Session For Government Technology Buyers (Friday, May 25,
8:00 am 9:00 am).
- Critical Enterprise-Focused Session (Friday, May 25, 11:00 am
12:00 pm).
MEET THE EDITORS
Our editors sift through masses of information and keep up with myriad
trends, so that they may create the most relevant and insightful industry
publications. Our editors especially value readers' feedback. That way,
the editors can remain sensitive to readers' concerns, and readers can be
confident that their interests are represented. So, to encourage more
reader/editor interaction, we will staff an Editorial Booth in the Exhibit
Hall. There you may meet our editors, as well as the engineers of TMC
Labs.
HUGE GIVEAWAYS
Perhaps the most enjoyable parts of our events are the giveaways, and this
show is no exception.
- Win A Million Dollars! For the first time at any technology show I
am aware of, you'll have a chance to win a million dollars. At the
Money Vault, sponsored by AltiGen (www.altigen.com),
you'll be invited to enter a six-digit code. Enter the correct code,
and you'll open the vault, winning that cool mil. Every attendee gets
one chance; so, get there early before someone else wins YOUR money!
- Win A Cruise! Enter for your chance to win a cruise to Alaska or the
Caribbean. Stick around until the end of the show on Friday, and you
could walk away with a great trip. Drawing held at 2:15 pm on Friday,
May 25th. You must be present to win!
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