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Extended Systems connects mobile devices to the enterprise BY SEAN GINEVAN
To give remote workers always-on connectivity, Extended Systems is offering OneBridge Mobile Groupware for handheld devices. The software lets the most widely used devices connect to the network and provides real-time synchronization with some enterprise PIM (personal information management) servers.
If you can't get a connection for your mobile device, the company includes the OneBridge Real Time Server, which lets you access your e-mail and PIM information using a simple Web client. Additionally, the OneBridge Mobile Groupware software runs on any TCP/IP connection, as well as through cradle connections to desktop PCs.
I installed the OneBridge Mobile Groupware on our Syracuse University Real-World Labs(R) network. The software works with devices running Windows Pocket-PC and CE, Palm OS 3.5 or later, Symbian OS 6.0, SyncML 1.0.1 (such as the Nokia 9210 Communicator or Ericsson R520e) and even RIM OS 2.1.
OneBridge requires three pieces of software. The OneBridge server software is the point of administration. The PIM server for Notes or Exchange hosts all client data. And Lotus Notes client or Outlook with CDO (collaboration data objects, a custom option in the Outlook install) lets the OneBridge server connect to Exchange or Notes so that messages can be forwarded to the client device.
Test Setup
My test bed consisted of two servers: one running Exchange 5.5, the other hosting the OneBridge server software and Outlook 2000 with CDO. My test client was a Compaq iPAQ 3800 running PocketPC 2002 with a Compact Flash WLAN card.
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