Enterprise mobile software roundup: Nov. 28 - Dec. 20, 2005

- Gary Thayer, Editor

Dec. 20, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- Here is roundup of new or updated enterprise mobile productivity applications.

Converged Access Inc. announced a network traffic management and security system for small/remote offices. The company has integrated its new 802.11 b/g wireless LAN (WLAN) access feature into its Converged Access Point (CAP). CAP combines a VoIP gateway, traffic management / built-in routing, firewall and VPN security, and policy management.

CAP connects to a range of 802.11 wireless devices such as PDAs, WiFi phones and wireless-equipped laptops. New CAP models supporting the wireless LAN option list for US $995. CAP configurations that do not require wireless access cost $850. For more information, see convergedaccess.com.

Great American Technologies (GAT) offers MailCall, a hosted service that translates a text e-mail into a computerized voice mail and sends it to any wireless or landline phone. If MailCall's servers aren't able to translate a word, the word is spelled out for the user. The service also understands inflections and standard abbreviation, according to GAT. Users can choose to send either a standard prewritten reply or answer e-mails with a 25-second voice response that MailCall sends as an audio file. The service costs US $15 per user per month. It supports encryption and doesn't require any software or hardware purchases. For an extra fee, MailCall can also read Web sites and HTML attachments. For more information, see mailcall.com.

iAnywhere has updated both its XTNDConnect PC mobile device-to-desktop synchronization software, and its M-Business Anywhere mobile application developer tool. Read more details.

MagneticTime has released its "MT1" text-to-speech software, which lets users listen to emails and Word documents in MP3 format on for iPods, PCs, PDAs and cellphones. MT1 uses Acapela text-to-speech technology, which transforms and reads emails or Word documents - including email attachments. MT1 can automatically select and download daily emails to the user's MP3 player of choice. Once a new email arrives in the user's inbox, it is automatically selected and copied to a special Outlook folder. To listen to emails, a user connects their device to their PC and presses the download button. Audio can also be played directly on the PC via the included desktop player component. Because MT1 uses 4 times less space than a typical MP3, users can store large numbers of emails or Word docs, according to the company.

MT1 costs US $50 and is available for download at magnetictime.com. It is currently available in English for Windows. MagneticTime plans to release a Mac version early in 2006, and also soon plans to offer versions in French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Belgian Dutch and Swedish.

StreamerNet has begun shipping version 2.0 of its mobile-wireless audio/video streaming service for enterprises and individuals. StreamerNet says its software differs from competitors in that it focuses on direct point-to-point streaming at a moment's notice -- a concept called "plug-and-play, click-and-stream." According to the company, new features in version 2.0 include:

• One-to-Many streaming (webcasting)
• One-to-One streaming (peer-to-peer)
• Choices of video only, audio only, or both
• Private On-Demand Media Room for 24/7 video/audio distribution
• Large amount of included "viewer minutes" each month
• Multimedia data storage allotment of 5GB
• Fault-tolerant, redundant Data Center
• Optional multi-panel Media Player
• Dynamic username and password creation for individual viewers
• E-mail invitations

StreamerNet offers service options for enterprise, academic and personal-use, and pricing starts at US $89. For more information, see streamernet.com.

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