Check Point Software Technologies is extending its VPN (virtual
private network) security tools to personal digital assistants,
with the launch of a version of its VPN-1 SecureClient for
Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 and Handheld PC 2002 PDAs.
Check Point's vice president of global marketing, Carol Stone, made
the announcement at a news conference here at the CeBIT trade show
yesterday.
The Check Point software package combines a personal firewall,
secure remote access and centralised management functions, and will
run on pocket PC devices from Compaq and Hewlett-Packard, and
handheld devices from HP.
Check Point's announcement comes a day after Novell announced a
version of its Zenworks management software for handheld devices
and an upgrade to its iFolder synchronisation tool that allows
handheld devices to access files over the Web.
VPN-1 Secure Client allows users to set up a secure connection
through their corporate firewall, Check Point said. The software
also enables IS staff to manage software configurations remotely
over an encrypted connection, and to send out updates from a
central site - but so far the only handhelds that can be managed in
this way are those running software based on Microsoft's Windows CE
operating system.
"We don't see demand for (a version for) Palm OS yet," Stone
said.
Check Point UK Business development manager, Raymond Kruck said the
company is working with Nokia - a long-term partner on other
projects - to develop a version for the Symbian operating system
used in handheld devices from Nokia and Ericsson.
"That's probably the next step for us. Palm is mainly a consumer
platform," Kruck said.
The company did not announce pricing or shipping dates for the
software.
Microsoft mobility group manager Adam Anger, said the need for
software such as Check Point's personal firewall is "becoming
critical because you are starting to get products with built-in
wireless access".
The latest edition of Microsoft's operating system for desktop PCs
includes firewall functions, but its Pocket PC 2002 software for
handhelds, which was released to manufacturers before XP, does not,
Anger said.
But this will change: "You can guarantee that the ultimate in
security will be built into every Windows client device, including
Pocket PCs" before long, he said. He would not say whether a future
firewall for Pocket PCs would be built in-house or bought in.
Novell's ZenWorks for Handhelds 4.7 will allow IS managers to
manage and update applications from a central point on devices
running Palm OS, Windows CE and Pocket PC software. The update is
now available, initially for $49 per user and later for $59, said a
Novell statement.
Novell also announced an update of its file-synchronisation
software, to iFolder Professional Edition 2. Novell is targeting
service providers with the new version's ability to support
millions of users by presenting multiple servers as a single-system
image. A billing and reporting system tracks which departments or
subscribers are using the system. In addition, iFolder Professional
Edition 2 will allow users of handheld devices running Palm OS,
Pocket PC or Windows CE to access their files using a Web browser.
IFolder Professional Edition 2 now offers support for Linux and Sun
Microsystems Inc.'s Solaris operating systems, in addition to
existing support for Novell NetWare and Microsoft's Windows
NT/2000, Novell said.