If you are interested in any company that has its future tied to wireless access to the Net (and frankly, any company that doesn't probably won't be competitive for long), you'll enjoy these two news items. The use of bold font for emphasis is mine.
--Mike Buckley
P. S. Did I really beat Ruff to the punch?!
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LONDON, March 13 (Reuters) - IBM said on Monday it had formed a string of strategic partnerships with top wireless and Internet names in Europe and the United States to serve the burgeoning market for electronic business on handheld devices.
The world's largest computer maker said it had teamed up with global handset leader Nokia, number three Motorola Inc and palmtop computer leader Palm Inc on portable devices.
It will also work with with world chip leader Intel Corp and Cisco Systems, the largest maker of equipment that powers the Internet, and with Symbian, the Psion-led alliance whose EPOC operating system leads in handheld devices.
International Business Machines Corp said it aimed to speed up the development of true open systems to foster the growth of the wireless Internet market, which it said analysts see growing to $120 billion in three to four years from $10 billion now.
As is the norm in today's industry, none of the ties are exclusive. The forms of cooperation vary from partner to partner, but centre around sharing know-how in what IBM said was a bid to create a fully open community to spur the Wireless Web.
``I think this is one of the larger 'value-webs' that we've seen emerging in the wireless business,' Mark Bregman, general manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing division, told Reuters.
``These are the key players in this arena and we think this shows that we are part of the ecosystem,' he said.
CORPORATE CLIENTS ALREADY SIGNED UP
While some of the partnerships target the mobile carriers that are trying to develop wireless Internet services, IBM said it is also signing up corporate clients directly, including banks like Bank of Scotland and HSBC.
The corporate market is likely to be a key driver for the wire-free Internet market, as companies seek to maximise efficiency by letting their staff hook up wherever they are.
IBM said it and its partners aim to foster an ``open source' community in wireless -- like the Internet-based incubator for the Linux computer operating system -- to speed up development of open systems, and it is already sharing know how.
Bregman said that while the Internet's development had been fostered largely by information technology companies alone, the market for wireless Web access was ``a classic example of convergence,' bringing together groups across old divides.
For IBM, the deal is a second major move in European wireless following a move in January to coordinate a nine-partner alliance for new age Internet services from British-based cellphone operator Vodafone AirTouch Plc.
Asked why global software leader Microsoft Corp was not included in the grouping, he said: ``Frankly we don't see them as a key player in making this happen.'
Despite its dominance of the desktop personal computer market, Microsoft is seen as coming from behind in wireless.
MARRYING NETWORK AND CORPORATE KNOW-HOW
With Nokia, IBM will collaborate on key technologies including Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), combining Nokia's knowledge of network operators with IBM's business presence.
It will work with Motorola to develop systems to react to both voice and data commands and IBM and Palm will jointly develop business services, based on the Palm platform, for their joint customers.
It plans a joint development centre in Japan with Symbian to combine its business software with Symbian's operating system.
Cisco and IBM will jointly promote open platforms on Cisco's networking and switching equipment, and with Intel there will be an exchange of technology for development centres, as well as a joint approach to Internet startups and service providers.
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PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2000--
New Server Software and Services make it easy to develop, manage and deliver Web and enterprise applications to a variety of new devices
IBM today announced WebSphere Everyplace Suite, a new server software offering that lets businesses easily develop, manage and deliver Web and enterprise applications to a variety of devices, including wireless handsets, PDAs and other Internet appliances. In addition, IBM Global Services announced it has developed capabilities to provide quick-start engagements for using this software suite to plan and build solutions for mobile e-business in a variety of industries, including finance, retail and travel.
The IBM WebSphere Everyplace Suite combines into one product the necessary "software ingredients" that businesses, application developers and Web integrators need to accommodate the special needs of new devices. For example, it includes IBM WebSphere Transcoding Publisher to automatically "translate" data into an appropriate format that can be read from a device to which the data is being sent and Tivoli Subscription Manager that lets businesses easily track and manage devices while providing a personalized environment for their employees and customers. It also has robust data synchronization capabilities to keep data current across multiple devices and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) functionality for wireless Internet access. No other vendor offers all these functions in one simple scalable solution.
"Simple access to Internet and enterprise applications has tremendous potential to improve employee productivity and customer relationships-- from allowing sales representatives to access email, critical pricing and product information to letting customers do online shopping, banking and entertainment, virtually anytime, anywhere," said Jon Prial, Director of Marketing for IBM's Pervasive Computing Division. "By integrating all the necessary software into an easy to install and deploy solution, the complexities of supporting these new devices are masked, allowing organizations to focus on what matters most, building and delivering solutions for mobile e-business."
Because IBM WebSphere Everyplace Suite delivers content from application hosting platforms, including WebSphere Application Server and Lotus Domino(a), to a variety of pervasive devices, businesses can start now to easily extend their existing applications.
IBM WebSphere Everyplace Suite has been developed as a direct result of extensive experience gained by working with customers around the world. In the last 12 months, IBM consultants and systems integration teams have used elements of the WebSphere Everyplace Suite to create new wireless applications and services that are in use today. For example, IBM has helped companies like Sabre, SwissAir and Delta Air Lines let their customers use wireless devices to make and change travel reservations, virtually anytime, anywhere. And we have helped more than a dozen financial services companies deliver their online banking and trading services to wireless devices.
"In the next few years two-thirds of all Internet transactions are expected to be generated by new wireless handsets and other mobile devices. We have already helped many customers get an early start with new applications that leverage these devices. Websphere Everyplace Suite packages that knowledge and expertise to offer the industry's most complete solution for enabling mobile e-business," Prial added.
In addition, IBM announced it has developed industry-specific capabilities to provide quick-start engagements. Utilizing components of the Websphere Everyplace Suite and IBM Global Services expertise, these quick-start engagement capabilities are available today for the following industries, Finance, Retail and Travel. They are also available in cross-industry application areas, including Personal Productivity (email, calendaring, messaging), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
IBM Websphere Everyplace Suite is available immediately on a special bid basis and will be generally available in the second half on Unix platforms (AIX version 4.3.3 and Solaris version 7). Pricing has not been set.
About IBM
IBM is the world's leading e-business company offering a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that help businesses take full advantage of emerging innovation. IBM's pervasive computing and mobile Internet strategy is to extend e-business applications to the new class of connected client devices. This involves building, deploying and developing mobile applications by partnering with key players like Cisco, Intel, Motorola, Nokia and Palm; developing groundbreaking initiatives to set open industry standards; and deploying a Business Innovation Services team with hundreds of wireless Consultants. IBM can be found on the Web at www.ibm.com
(a) Lotus is a registered trademark and Domino is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation |
