Mark Arteaga

Real-time push seems to be a big thing in the mobile space at TechEd this year.  First it was Microsoft with the new Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5 and now Extended Systems has introduced real-time push capabilities to thier OneBridge Mobile Platform for legacy applications.  I helped build the Lotus Notes OneBridge connector back in 2001 when the company used to be called MobileQ .  Back then the product used to be called XMLEdge (Google Search).  First MobileQ got bought out by ViaFone in December 2001 and then Extended Systems aquired ViaFone and think this is when the platform was renamed to OneBridge but not 100% sure.  

The first thing that got me started int he mobile arena was a demo for Bombardier Areospace back in 2000.  They wanted a propsal for maintenance personnel to be dispatched new requests and to close requests remotely.  I built a WAP solution using Lotus Notes and Domino (since that was running their main dispatch system) but unfortunately the technology was not mature enough back then..at least that is what the project sponsors said.  This is what got me started in the whole mobile/wireless space and haven't stopped since.  OneBridge was my first paying gig in the mobile space.

So far it's been a pretty good move to concentrate in this area and with all these announcments it looks like its going to get a lot better!!

Source: Windows For Devices

Today Symbol announced the first Windows CE based non handheld RFID reader the XR400 that will allow enterprises to run third party applications on the device. This will allow for applications running directly on the device to interface with backend enterprise systems such as SAP and eliminate the need for someone to manually scan items on a handheld device.  This really improves the automation factor when using RFID by running applications directly on the device.

At TechEd today during Steve Balmer's keynote a new Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0 was announced.  This will provide direct push email to a Windows Mobile device and is aimed directly at RIM.  It will push not only email but also contacts, calander entries and tasks.  You will even be able to provide device policies and kill devices remotely via a hard reset.  Looks like the enterprise messaging market is starting to heat up and now RIM will have some competition.  There are a lot of third party sync solutions out there and Exchange did have a sync option for mobile devices but was not great because of the use of SMS.  The mobility market is really starting to get exciting now!!

Just found this blog by Gavin Steiner based out of Toronto.  He will be promoting mobility use within Canada and write about new happenings from a Canadian prespective.  Great to see more people thinking like I do in that there is very little happening in the mobile space in Canada.  There is a Mobility Tour coming to Toronto on June 22 so that should be interesting.  There seems to be more happening but we will have to wait and see.