Intranet Journal
The online resource for intranet professionals

Wireless Apps: The Reality Today

Introduction
Today's Wireless environments
Multi-Device Wireless environments
Purpose of a Wireless application

Introduction

Wireless has been a buzzword for a little over a year now. In this short time, it has seen some of the industry's greatest technological progress (Wireless IP) and its most dramatic marketing flops (WAP over GSM), some of the biggest public crazes (i-Mode) and most crashing disappointments (WAP, again…). But it is still the word on everybody's lips today, and technologies like UMTS and GPRS look set to catapult Wireless into all our daily lives.

It is not difficult to create a Wireless application using existing resources (whatever these may be); in most cases, this involves configuration of the server followed by the appropriate developments. The first Wireless applications to be developed followed this principle; in other words, they used the resources available.

This article has three main aims:

• To give an insight into current wireless architectures using a specific example.
• To present the ideal future solutions.
• To set down the factors that turn a wireless application into a real value-adder for an information system.

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.