Is Your E-business Strategy Ready for Wireless?

By Jean-Christophe Cimetiere - CEO TechMetrix Research

Introduction

With all the buzz surrounding it these days, you've surely heard about wireless technology. Today, the most concrete wireless example is the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), which aims to standardize the way in which wireless devices access the Internet.

WAP alone is nothing, just a new set of standards—that the company Geoworks claims to have patented. Geoworks' self-proclaimed right to royalties on WAP-enabled solutions (hardware and software) has made many people wonder if WAP is dead (see http://www.allnetdevices.com/analysis/000131wap.htm).

But if we look beyond the debate surrounding WAP, wireless applications do have a future—but only within a global IRM (Internet Relationship Management) strategy. One thing is sure; all companies can benefit from integrating mobile devices into their communication network.

There's no sense in imagining standalone wireless applications that are cut off from a company's information system. Today wireless applications are based on pushed information, with very little or no end-user interaction. Technical issues make it impossible to access Internet via a mobile in the same way as with a PC. The main drawbacks of the mobile interface are ergonomic in nature: small screens, low resolution, etc. This handicap will not be overcome in the near future—if ever. TOP

So should we forget about using wireless in a professional context?

Of course not, there are thousands of ways in which wireless applications can be put to good use. Technically speaking, everything is there: wireless communication infrastructure, wireless protocols (WAP), Web application servers, and e-business solutions or frameworks (what we labeled IRM engines in the February 2000 issue of TrendMarkers).

In the past, we have also described IRM engines as application servers that include a set of features enabling quick implementation of e-business application needs (TrendMarkers January 2000).

Typical IRM engine architecture.

Most IRM engines do not yet meet all the needs of a wireless application. Indeed, wireless application development and business application development are two very different things that are only just starting to learn from one another. Wireless developers tend to have a "hardware" background, while business application developers are more likely to have a "software" background. But in light of this technology's huge market potential, software guys and hardware guys are going to have to work together. Nokia and Ericsson, the two companies with the largest mind-share in the wireless market, offer WAP development products. The next step is to seamlessly integrate these products with the IRM engines of traditional Web application servers. TOP

Are IRM and application server vendors seizing wireless opportunities?

We are going to take a quick look at some of the key players in the application server market and in the IRM market and their game plans regarding wireless technology.

A new element to integrate: WAP protocols and Gateways.

BEA was one of the first application vendors/IRM framework providers to declare itself a WAP integrator and has recently signed an agreement with Nokia to integrate its WAP.

Allaire just unveiled its "2000 Technology Roadmap," in which wireless applications are presented as optional. The vendor prefers to focus on such new initiatives as B2B (business to business) in which XML is the core element. Allaire intends to address wireless applications by making it easy for its users (developers) to interact with its product using XML-based language/protocols.

BlueStone Software is not really committed to wireless technology, but its XML Suite does provide a good cornerstone on which to build wireless-related applications.

Enhydra 3.0, an Open Source Software (OSS) application server from Lutris Technologies, fully supports WML (Wireless Markup Language) standards. Part of WAP, WML is to wireless applications what HTML is to browsers; in other words, it is the language used for user interfaces.

Oracle delivers Portal-to-Go as a component of the Oracle Internet Platform. Portal-to-Go is a new server product that makes any existing database or Internet application accessible from virtually any device connected to the Internet: WAP devices, PDA, set-top boxes, etc.

At the end of January 2000, Sun-Netscape Alliance announced the launch of the iPlanet Wireless Server software, which supports e-mail, calendars, directory services, and personal address books for WAP-enabled devices.

Wireless integration is not a priority for IRM Solution providers such as BroadVision, Reef, Vignette, Intershop, Open Market. None of these vendors has a significant product or solution. TOP

Conclusion

Neither IRM nor application server vendors are entirely capable of making an easy task of integrating wireless applications with your e-business applications. WAP is the current standard, but it has its share of opponents. Given that the penetration rate of WAP-enabled devices is still quite low, the question is should you jump on the bandwagon or wait and see how WAP progresses? Our advice to you is simple: don't be lured into something if you don't have a good vision of what the future holds.

Nonetheless, combining some first-rate wireless features with a nice e-business portal makes for a strong marketing pitch. Moreover, if these features are really smart, they could make you stand out among your competitors or yield significant productivity gains if used appropriately in a wireless intranet. In brief, you must consider wireless applications—but do so with caution.

The smoothest way to add wireless features is:

Firstly, provide the appropriate business logic.

Secondly, make it available using an XML-based protocol.

Once these two steps have been taken care of, you can start integrating confidently with the WAP server of your choice. Even if technology evolves or if another standard overrides WAP, your components will be easily adaptable. Considering this, openness becomes an even more important criterion to consider when choosing an application server or IRM solution. TOP

Related links:
WAP Forum: http://www.wapforum.org

TechMetrix Research is a technically focused analyst firm focused on e-business application development needs. Based in Boston, Mass., the firm publishes comparison reports and product reviews designed to aid enterprises with decision making and to keep pace with the fast-moving e-business market.

TechMetrix is a U.S.-based subsidiary of SQLI, a European company that offers on-site development services to international organizations. SQLI specializes in e-business project development.