Mobile Application Enablers

There are three types of mobile infrastructure enablers: development enablers, content enablers, and application enablers.

• Development enablers include systems integrators and consultants
• Content enablers include specialized content for the mobile platforms such as games and micro-content
• Application enablers include synchronization software providers, security software providers, and content providers

There are two primary application enablers: synchronization and embedded databases.

Synchronization
Synchronization is the process of making two different sets of data appear to be identical. Synchronization solutions are critical in mobile offline scenarios where the user has only an "as needed," not continuous, connection to the Internet. A good example is PalmPilot e-mail, where the user can read and reply to a message without being connected. The act of writing into the PalmPilot results in two dissimilar versions of the data residing on the handheld and the server. Hence the need for synchronization to match the two sets of data.

Businesses have a critical need for data synchronization solutions. In the near term, synchronization technology must address increasing numbers of devices, data stores, information categories, and transmission mediums/networks. Next-generation synchronization technology must be able to manage the flow of corporate information both within and outside the firewall. Synchronization vendors capable of providing the secure and authenticated delivery of mission-
critical business information to and from professional users will be in increasing demand.

First-generation vendors such as PUMATECH, Xcellnet, and Aether Software have created network platforms to help IT managers securely monitor the wide array of mobile users, devices, and network transactions. Wireless applications like field sales, fleet management, and supply chain management software use sophisticated next-generation synchronization solutions to map complex data transmissions between SAP and Oracle databases and professionals using mobile devices. Next-generation synchronization providers convert multiple database images into the same image even when multiple mobile users are simultaneously accessing and altering database information. An emerging concern for enterprise IT managers is how to manage the "leaking" of sensitive corporate data onto wireless devices.

Data synchronization has taken on new importance as users access enterprise applications when away from the desktop. In this role, synchronization solutions provide data translation, data mapping, data presentation, and session and information security management. With each of these offerings, the differences between enterprise-oriented mobile data solutions, such as mobile application servers, and next-generation synchronization solutions begin to blur. For example, companies such as fusionOne, PointBase, Solid Technologies, Steltor, Synchrologic, and Visto offer next-generation synchronization and data-management capabilities. In addition, traditional enterprise software and database vendors, including SAP and Sybase, are entering the market as advanced data management becomes a core component of any synchronization service.

Embedded Databases
Mobile users will demand more local computation capabilities as they transition from simple to more complex mobile applications. For example, a pharmaceutical salesperson wants to browse a catalog offline while sitting in a doctor's office without having to dial into the corporate network. Or you are visiting a new city and want to browse through the local restaurant guide without having to connect to your mobile Internet service provider, who may not have good service in the area you are visiting.

Both of these scenarios illustrates the need for local, handheld-device resident databases. The requirements of these databases include:

• Ability to be in sync with server-level databases
• Offline operation support to minimize the impact of inevitable "out-of-area" disruptions
• Internet and synchronization support for cost-effective, standardized, and coordinated communication within and across organizations
• Database support providing useful "historical" and corporate information to end users

The mobile database market is quite large. The primary competitors in this market are Oracle Lite, Sybase Anywhere Ultralite, Microsoft Access, and IBM DB/2. The strategic objective of these firms is to combine a strong database engine with superior platform support (from handhelds to servers) and highly flexible replication to support remote and disconnected sites. Watch the micro-database space for some key positioning battles.