MobileVillage: PDAs, Handhelds, Mobile Computing & Wireless Technology for Business

Enterprise mobile software news roundup: Jan. - Feb., 2007

- Compiled by Gary Thayer, MobileVillage Editor

MobileVillage, Feb. 14, 2007 -- Following is a roundup of recent announcements about mobile software for enterprises and mobile professionals.

ConnectMe Mobile has announced its ConnectMe Mobile hosted PBX (Private Branch eXchange phone system) service for small businesses. The service, which offers workgroup collaboration and document management tools, is currently available in the U.S. for Windows Mobile phones, with support for more countries, platforms and devices to follow this year, according to the company. All of the ConnectMe Mobile's features can be configured directly from the user's smartphone or from a PC over the Internet. The service starts at US $6.00 per month per user on multi-user plans. Users can sign up for the service and obtain the "simple-to-install" software at connectmemobile.com.

DataViz announced that its RoadSync for S60 software for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync now supports mailbox subfolders and select Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 mobile enhancements. The new features include online mailbox search, e-mail flags, SharePoint and UNC (Universal Naming Convention) file access and faster e-mail message and attachment retrieval. The version 3.0 update includes support for newest Symbian OS devices including the Nokia E-Series and N-Series and newly released E90, E65 and E61i phones, according to the company. Pricing starts at US $99.99 per user with volume discounts available for five or more users. For more information about RoadSync, see dataviz.com or see the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

Funambol has updated its Funambol v3 device management portal to take advantage of its new open source mobile app server. The portal aims to make it easy for users to setup their mobile phones for email and to manage their mobile email, contacts and calendar info. It also automates over-the-air configuration of mobile devices. To set up a device for email, a user just enters their mobile number into the portal. The portal sends an SMS message to the phone, which the user accepts to configure it. For more information about Funabmol, see funambol.com or see the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

GeoAge announced that its Field Adapted Survey Toolkit (FAST) data collection forms creator software is now available for Cingular business customers using Windows Mobile 5.0 devices. The software allows users to customize data collection forms to their specific needs and employs "drag and drop" tools to create forms that can be used to collect data with a minimum of typing. FAST also integrates Global Positioning System (GPS) information and digital photographs within a form, which allows data to be instantly mapped on a desktop or over the Web. For more information, see geoage.com.

Positive Networks has released v3.5 of its PositivePRO remote VPN service, which lets users access files from their corporate network from "virtually any mobile device with a web browser," according to the company. Positive Network's web-based VPN service, called WebTop, automatically adapts to mobile device browsers to deliver secure access to email, file shares, and intranet sites. More information on PositivePRO 3.5 is available on Positive Network's web site.

Reality Mobile, a UK startup, announced its RealityVision wireless video surveillance software. According to the company, the software remotely enables live video streams and other data to be created and shared using devices as simple as common mobile phones. The RealityVision system includes server software to receive and process the data traffic, a management console to control and visualize the data traffic, and client software for devices running Palm OS (now Garnet OS), Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, or Win32. RealityVision also lets the customer make available any of its existing fixed cameras for remote viewing and control by its users, according to the company. For more information, see realitymobile.com.

Remoba has released its RemoBiz for Outlook email access software. RemoBiz is targeted at small and medium businesses (SMBs) that want to provide employees with wireless access to their email, calendar and contacts directly from mobile phones based on Qualcomm's BREW platform. The software allows an administrator to manage corporate contacts and groups, and business-only use of the phone is maintained with a lockdown feature that limits calls to contacts stored on employees' mobile phones. For more information, see remoba.com.

Sophos announced its Sophos Mobile Security software for Windows Mobile devices. The software offers on- access, on-demand or scheduled scanning and detects and quarantines any mobile viruses or spyware. Central policies can be created and deployed to ensure consistent company-wide security. Sophos Mobile Security supports Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Edition and Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Phone Edition, as well as the new Windows Mobile 6.0. For more information see sophos.com.

Synchronica announced the addition of a Client Provisioning module to its Mobile Gateway 3.0 push email and synchronization platform formerly SyncML Gateway. The module will provide users with an intuitive web portal for provisioning their phones for push email, according to the company. Mobile Gateway runs on any J2EE application server using Solaris, Linux or Windows servers. It currently provides back-end support for Sun JES and Microsoft Exchange and is scheduled to include support for Lotus Domino later in the year. For more information see synchronica.com. For quick information about Syncrhonica, see the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

Syware announced a beta release of its Visual CE database development software that supports Windows Mobile devices without touchscreens, such as the Motorola Q and Samsung BlackJack. Visual CE already works with Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Pocket PC Phone Edition and Smartphone. To request a copy of the beta, visit Syware.com. Final releases will be available in about sixty days.

Telepo, a Swedish company, has received the GSM Association 2007 Award for the Best Mobile Enterprise Product or Service for its Telepo Business Communication Solution 3.0. The product provides call routing across fixed and mobile devices, and integrates mobile, fixed and IP-based communications networks, according to the company. The software is built on Linux and open IETF standards, such as SIP, HTTP and LDAP. For more information, see telepo.com.