Enterprise mobile software roundup: Oct. 25 - Nov. 4, 2005

- Gary Thayer, Editor

Nov. 4, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- Here is roundup to-date of noteworthy new or updated enterprise mobile software over the past two weeks.

Advanced Systems Concepts released version 5.0 of its ActiveBatch job scheduling and management software. ActiveBatch coordinates jobs, applications and tasks using Date/Time, Event, Data, or On-Demand triggers to initiate and sequence processing of jobs and job streams. A portable client, ActiveBatch Wireless, allows IT administrators to analyze and correct batch systems issues from any location worldwide. ActiveBatch runs on a distributed computing environment for Windows, Linux, or UNIX. For more information, see advsyscon.com.

Aventail released the latest version of its remote access platform, called Aventail ST. New features in Aventail ST include broader application reach for mobile devices and server-based computing, additional management tools and enhanced End Point Control capabilities.

The SSL VPN offers centralized management, rather than requiring separate access gateways or having disparate policy models for Web-based access, client/server access, mobile or Layer 3 tunnel access like some other VPNs, says Aventail. The Aventail SSL VPN works over any type of network connection, wired or wireless and can be used to not only secure remote access but also traffic over WLANs. Pricing starts at $3,995. For information, see aventail.com.

Funambol announced the beta launch of its Sync4j web portal which aims to allow mobile users to wirelessly synchronize address books and calendars between their PCs and nearly any mobile device without the installation of a server. The portal supports Blackberry, Outlook, Palm, iPod, Windows Mobile, and any SyncML enabled device. Data synching is enabled via over the air (OTA) downloads, and is backed up on the Sync4j portal server.

Some of the portal's features include a smart merge function that eliminates the duplication of data, automatic synching of contacts and appointments from Outlook to users' phones, and recovery of data if accidentally lost or deleted.

Funambol's Sync4j is an open source implementation of the OMA DS/DM (or SyncML) standard, which aims to provide a common language for communications between devices, applications and networks. For information about getting an invitation to try the Sync4j Portal beta, see funambol.net.

Intellisync (NASDAQ:SYNC) has introduced Intellisync Infobots, which aim to provide mobile users with "one-touch" access to business applications from their mobile devices. Targeted at both enterprises and mobile operators, Intellisync Infobots are sold as a component within Intellisync Mobile Suite and the Intellisync Carrier Platform. The platforms come with several pre-defined Intellisync Infobots that provide common business information including news, weather, flight information and CRM access.

According to Intellisync, the menu-driven Infobots work just like instant messaging. Users "chat" with the Intellisync Infobot by typing on their mobile device screen. When a user "asks" a question, the Intellisync Infobot retrieves the relevant information and communicates it as an "answer" on the user's chat interface. For example, users can use the flight status Infobot to find out current airline flight status or the stock status Infobot to check stock prices in real-time, or gain timely information from corporate data servers, such as access to safesforce.com, Oracle, Siebel and other industry-standard ERP and CRM systems.

All Infobot queries and data is encrypted, according to Intellisync. For more information, see Intellisync.com.

Navtrak has released version 4.0 of its Street Suite web based GPS fleet tracking software. The latest version adds the ability to place customer locations as "points" on an interactive map, enabling reporting on arrival and departure times, and the length of time spent at a particular site. The new version also adds a Google-like reporting interface that enables the user to monitor employee vehicle usage outside of scheduled time-frames, and to view vehicle engine-hours statistics for proactive maintenance.

Street Suite 4.0 also offers plug-ins and reports, including a preventative maintenance module, a report that monitors a vehicle's time spent idling, and an exclusive report that tracks in real time quarterly fuel taxes for commercial vehicles under the International Fuel Tax Agreement.

Street Suite 4.0 is the software component of Navtrak's GPS-based mobile workforce package, and interfaces with the company's nTouch 2-way text messaging service and the nGauge plugin, which monitors vehicle engine-hours data and mileage statistics, enabling proactive vehicle maintenance. nTouchand nGauge are scheduled for release in December 2005. Street Suite 4.0 is cross-browser compatible and works on WindowsXP and Windows2000. For more information, see navtrak.net.

Slipstream Solutions has released a client/server application for Windows Mobile Pocket PCs and smartphones that aims to help reduce the risks of employees working alone in potentially hazardous situations. Mobile LoneWorker takes off on the "buddy system" concept, and sends automated response prompts to workers' wireless mobile devices, and monitors their responses on a server.

Mobile users login to a web-based server at the beginning of the day. They then maintain status throughout the day by responding to regularly scheduled prompts from the system. The status of lone workers is automatically updated to the server using a wireless connection such as WLAN or GPRS. Supervisors can monitor the status of lone workers via an online interface.

The Pocket PC and Smartphone clients cost US $40 and the server-side software costs $425. The company also offers 15-day free trials of the clients, and a 90-day trial of the server. For more information, see slipstreamsolutions.co.uk.

SYWARE announced a new mobile database and application development product bundle targeted small-to-medium sized businesses. The businessMobile 360 Suite provides mobile printing and wireless connectivity capabilities on any Windows Mobile Pocket PC or Windows CE device. The suite allows data such as customer and sales information to be instantly delivered to workers in the field. Data can be downloaded, collected, displayed, modified and automatically synchronized.

The businessMobile 360 Suite costs US $6,750 and includes: 4 developer licenses of SYWARE's Visual CE 9 and Report CE 4; 100 runtime wireless licenses for mEnable 2; unlimited run time licenses for Visual CE 9 and Report CE 4; 1 year on-line and phone support; all point product upgrades and next major upgrade; and on-site rapid deployment support.

For more information, see syware.com. For quick information on SYWARE and Visual CE 9, see the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

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