MIXed messages: Companies offer information access anywhere, on any device

The last couple of weeks brought a wealth of wireless Internet news. Not only did Palm VII hit the market, but companies such as Motorola and Oracle introduced access solutions for carriers that want to offer everything on any device, any time and anywhere - a direction toward which the entire industry is moving. It is a trend of convergence that, considering recent mergers, seems to have staying power.

On the heels of the Palm VII launch, which uses a wireless connection to enable users to send and receive e-mail and perform some Internet functions, Oracle plans to announce the availability of its wireless Internet software, Portal-to-Go during Telecom 99 in Geneva this week. With this, the company will extend e-business and Internet access to wireless devices.

"It bridges the gap between the wireless content and the different mobile devices," said Denise Lahey, vice president of the embedded products division at Oracle. Because so many devices and so much content exists, "our product taps into Web sites and databases and makes access from any device in real time possible," she said. "It transforms the wireless devices to the remote control of your life."

With this solution, carriers can build customized services under their own brands on any mobile device, while reducing time to market. "We are the brand behind the brand," Lahey said.

The difference between this offering and the Palm Pilot is that the Portal-to-Go allows for two-way transactions, while the Palm is one way. "This capability will blow the doors open on that market," Lahey said. Still, this server will complement the Palm.

"The beauty of Portal-to-Go is you can grab your Palm or cell phone and have access to the same information. For meetings, grab the Palm, or if you know you are going to need to make a call, bring the phone," Lahey said.

Although different, Motorola's Mobile Internet Exchange communications platform, or MIX, is complementary to Oracle's product. While Portal-to-Go deals with wireless Internet, MIX integrates data and voice. Portal-to-Go has been part of Motorola's beta program.

According to Oracle, MIX's gateway and tools act as a blueprint for opening the market to voice and data services over wireless. Oracle's product can plug into this and extend the range of Internet content and services down to devices served by Motorola and MIX.

In terms of differences, Oracle's server supports Web-based content with many standards, as MIX enables consumers to retrieve Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-based content from WAP-based phones, which are just now coming to market, said Julie Roth, marketing director for Motorola.

"The combination of data information and voice capability will give the user access to information from wherever, from whatever device," she said. If a consumer is using a non-WAP-enabled phone, the information will not appear visually but can be retrieved by the voice capability, she added.

"As standards change, Motorola will continue to be in compliance," Roth said. But for now, any device that is WAP 1.1 compliant will work. Both companies offer the option of having the solution at the carrier site or at their respective location.

In related news, BellSouth Wireless Data has commissioned 245 additional base stations in its markets since the beginning of the year to support Palm Computing's Palm.Net service, among other services.

Another hand-held computer announcement came from Handspring, which showcased its Visor line of hand-held computers and springboard expansion products at Internet World in New York.

This overflow of related news should come as no surprise. The worldwide hand-held computing market will grow from 3.8 million to more than 16 million units by 2003, according to Cahners In-Stat Group.