VANCOUVER-Nettech Systems introduced a communications solution called Smart IP that enables Internet and intranet applications to run over wireless networks without the challenges associated with Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol connections.
Many Internet applications use TCP/IP as the communication protocol to access the Internet and corporate intranets, and some wireless data industry leaders have spoken firmly about their plans to use IP as the protocol backbone for delivering data wirelessly.
The TCP/IP protocol was designed for high-speed wired networks that can handle its inherent high overhead and chattiness because the protocol assumes it is connected to the network at all times-constantly sending acknowledgements to confirm the connection. If the connection is severed, it then reconnects and resends all the data.
Mobile devices connected wirelessly are not connected to the network at all times, so using the TCP protocol often results in high airtime costs, poor system throughput and low battery life.
Smart IP avoids the use of TCP/IP, and thus allows Internet and intranet applications such as browsers, file transfer protocol, e-mail and Java and ActiveX applets be transmitted wirelessly without modification. According to Nettech, this cuts down on airtime expenses and extends device battery life. It also reduces the number of packets sent by as much as 80 percent and cuts the amount of data transmitted by 30 percent to 60 percent.
“The ability to run standard applications is critical to the widespread acceptance of enterprise-wide wireless data communications,” said Boris Fridman, Nettech’s chief executive officer. “However, the move to blend IP-based architectures with wireless communications has been hindered by the fact that TCP/IP was not designed to accommodate the wireless environment. Smart IP gives you the best of both worlds-compatibility with the broad base of Internet and intranet applications, plus optimal efficiency and performance when running wirelessly.”
Nettech’s Smart IP model uses a proxy server that allows developers to make applications that use Windows Socket Application Program Interface, or Winsock API. IP applications use Winsock API to communicate via TCP/IP over the Internet, intranets or local area networks. Smart IP works with the familiar Winsock API to divert messages on mobile networks using Nettech’s RFlink protocol rather than TCP/IP. The receiving end, with Smart IP, translates the messages through Winsock API to the application.
Nettech said Smart IP allows TCP/IP applications to run any wireless network, such as BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network, Ardis, Cellular Digital Packet Data, DataTAC, Advanced Mobile Phone System, Code Division Multiple Access and Global System for Mobile communications.
The company also said it has proven its compatibility with Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and Communicator, Qualcomm Eudora, Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0, EnterpriseLink SmartTran and several other protocols.
Nettech also offers a software developers kit for Smart IP, allowing developers to improve the performance of applications using Smart IP without altering the application itself.
