Enterprise & operator mobile software roundup: March 21 - April 6, 2006

- Gary Thayer, editor

BeInSync released version 2.0 of its BeInSync Pro remote PC access and synchronization software that lets users synchronize, share and keep files and folders backed up across multiple computers. BeInSync Pro version 2.0 is available at beinsync.com for an introductory price of US $6.95 per month or $59.95 per year. A free basic version of the software allows users to synchronize up to a fixed number of files per day. Existing users can upgrade for free. For quick information on BeInSync, see the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

Clarity introduced its Where2Talk application for mobile phones, which combines location with and Location-Based Services (LBS) and Push-to-Talk (PTT). Where2Talk's PTT contact list lets enterprises track and communicate with their mobile workers through a Web based interface, and also enables parents to keep tabs on their children. The Where2Talk service consists of a BREW application on a phone and a PC-based Dispatch Console that enables users to view contacts on a map, see their online availability, select a group based on location, and "Push-to-Talk" them from the PC. The evaluation version is available now directly from Clarity. The commercial version is planned for Q3 of 2006.

Colligo has released Colligo Reader and Colligo Contributor for SharePoint, which enable laptop users offline access to their company's deployed SharePoint web sites. Microsoft SharePoint enables corporations to deploy document and project portals on the Internet or corporate Intranet. The Colligo apps require no server components and are compatible with version 2 of Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Portal Server. For more information, see colligo.com.

EQO Communications added support for the Palm Treo 650 and Motorola ROKR, SLVR, and RAZR handsets to its EQO Mobile for Skype application. The EQO service bridges online presence, VoIP calling, and IM services using a combination of a phone-side J2ME client and a presence-enabled Voice-over-IP signaling network. The software now supports about 45 devices. For details, see eqo.com.

ECONZ Wireless announced Timecard X, the latest version of its time card management software for cell phones that enables mobile workers to log clock-ins, break times, job categories, and clock-outs; and access past and present timesheet information. Timecard X also lets administrators and project managers view the employees' status for budgeting and customer service responses. Timecard X costs US $9.49 per field worker per month and is billed to the user's monthly wireless plan.

iAnywhere announced a beta version of its AvantGo mobile web portal service for users of devices running Windows Mobile Smartphone 2003, 2003 SE and Windows Mobile 5. Users can sign up at avantgo.com. The company also released version 5.4 of its Afaria mobile device management and security software. Version 5.4 offers improved inventory detailing and monitoring capabilities for Windows Mobile 5.0 devices, including the ability to back up key files on a device when the battery level drops below a critical level; monitor and enforce application installation and usage policies; and log when confidential files on mobile devices are written to external cards or sent to other devices. For laptops, new differencing scans transmit only inventory changes to the server. For quick information on iAnywhere, see the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

Mobile Armor released its MobileSentinel security software that provides real-time security policy enforcement for Windows, Windows Mobile, Palm, Linux, and BlackBerry. MobileSentinel includes features for network policy delivery, compliance enforcement, detailed auditing and automated remediation from a central management console. For more information, see mobilearmor.com.

O3SIS announced that its latest Push Mail server is available for testing with handset manufacturers. O3SIS configures phones over the air, without requiring consumers to install and configure software. Settings and configurations are maintained on the server and accessed over the Web. For details, see o3sis.com.

Open-Xchange Inc. has added support for more than 100 mobile phones and other devices to its server software based on the open source SyncML standard. Open-Xchange Server 5 supports functions such as email, calendaring, contacts and task management, integrated with document sharing, project tracking, user forums, and a knowledge base. Users of Open-Xchange Server 5 Advanced Server Edition have the option to use Open-Xchange SyncML OXtender, a free extension that enables connection and interface between Open-Xchange Server and common mobile phones when combined with a SyncML client such as Chattermail, Synchronia or Synthesis. For a list of SyncML-enabled devices, see synchronica.com.

Oracle added Symbian OS support to its Oracle Database Lite 10g software, which enables users to regularly sync data between their corporate database and mobile device. Oracle Database Lite also allows companies to administer and monitor mobile devices from a Web-based console. See oracle.com.

Palm announced a software update for Verizon Wireless' Palm Treo 700w that enables the Windows Mobile Messaging and Security Feature Pack. The update allows IT managers to deliver automatic updates of email, calendar items, contacts and tasks directly from Exchange Server 2003 SP2. The update will be available later this month on http://dts.vzw.com and palm.com as a free download, and included in future Treo 700w phones and other future Windows Mobile Treos.

Paybox announced its Mobiliser software, which enables mobile operators and financial service providers in developed countries to create open nationwide standards for any kind of mobile payment. For more information see paybox.net.

Redknee announced its Unified Profile Server (UPS) for mobile network operators. Redknee's UPS provides wireless subscribers with a single sign-on. It also aims to alleviate users' privacy concerns for personalized wireless services by empowering users to control when, where and who sees their identity information and under what permissions. For details, see redknee.com. For quick information on Redknee, see the company's summary page on MobileVillage.