A new version of iAnywhere Solutions's mobile e-mail access
software is scheduled for this week.
IAnywhere, a Californian-based subsidiary of Sybase, offers
wireless infrastructure software and services. Its e-mail access
product, first released in September last year as iAnywhere Mobile
Mail, will be renamed with this release as Mail Anywhere Studio.
Mail Anywhere Studio provides direct server synchronisation between
mobile devices and enterprise e-mail systems including IBM's Lotus
Notes and Microsoft Exchange, allowing workers to access corporate
e-mail through handhelds running Palm, Pocket PC or Symbian
operating systems. Available worldwide, the software can run on its
own but is most often deployed as part of iAnywhere's m-Business
Platform suite of software for enabling mobile access to corporate
data and applications.
Mail Anywhere Studio's one-time licensing fee starts at about $100
(£68) per user, with volume discounts and support and upgrade plans
available.
IAnywhere's focus in designing the upgrade was on improving the
productivity of mobile workers and simplifying administration
tasks, said Tina Lorentz, iAnywhere's director of business
development.
In the software's first release, users had to manually initiate
each synchronisation between a handheld device and the corporate
e-mail system. The new version allows users to schedule automatic
synchronisations. Those using Palm's new i705 handheld, which
offers an "always on" wireless connection, can remain permanently
connected to their e-mail.
Also new in the software is a "client profiles" feature enabling
users to construct multiple sets of parameters for when and how
their information should be synched, and Palm OS support for
viewing e-mail attachments, which previously was possible only on
Pocket PC devices.
On the administration side, Mail Anywhere Studio now can remotely
generate system activity reports and send wireless alerts on system
events such as malfunctions.
Two industry analysts said the market for mobile e-mail access
software is still nascent and no clear leaders or markedly superior
products have emerged. IAnywhere has a solid product and a high
profile, they said.
"It's such an immature market. But iAnywhere has a strong position
because (iAnywhere parent) Sybase's mobile database has a very
large share of its market. It creates a ready base of users," said
Warren Wilson, practice director of Summit Strategies' mobile and
wireless research.
"I think it is a strong product. IAnywhere has done a good job of
examining the various usage scenarios that customers will come
across and designing a product around those," he said.
Software such as the Mail Anywhere Studio is good bait, drawing
customers to whom iAnywhere and Sybase can later sell additional,
complementary products, said Meta Group vice-president Jack Gold.
"It's important for a company like Sybase to enter the enterprise
market via e-mail. It's a good way for them to get a toe in the
water," he said.