Nokia has created a server-based product which formats
corporate e-mail, documents and other content for viewing on mobile
data devices.
The product, Nokia Access Mobilizer, allows companies to provide
mobile workers with access to their intranets without having to
install special software on each client or reformat content, said
Nokia spokesman Michael Cabot. It also makes use of companies'
existing security infrastructure by residing behind corporate
firewalls.
The Access Mobilizer, consisting of both software and hardware,
supports any browser-enabled device but works best on smart phones
and wireless PDAs designed for mobile data communications. The
technology automatically detects the type of mobile device and
adapts content to fit into the display for easy viewing.
"When users log in with their password, the system recognises
the device and security requirements and formats content in a way
to make it relevant and viewable," Cabot said.
"By relevant, I mean the software will intuitively omit large
graphics and provide instead some other indication of this content,
such as a headline. Users will need to view these types of graphics
on systems with larger screens."
All transmitted data is retained on the original server - and
not on the mobile device - to avoid the risk of exposing corporate
information on misplaced devices.
The software used in the Access Mobilizer was developed by Eizel
Technologies, which Nokia acquired earlier this year. The hardware
consists of a server from Nokia.
The product is immediately available in Europe and the US, with
global availability expected next year. It will cost between $50-80
per user per year, depending on volume.
John Blau writes for IDG News Service