The ability to access information anytime, anywhere quickly is becoming the most-touted benefit of wireless communications devices, a characteristic that could continue into the next century as long as application providers continue to develop cross-platform, internetworking technologies.
In yet another example of this goal, Fujitsu Software Corp. announced the availability of ByeDesk Link, a software application that enables wireless users to send and receive e-mails and faxes, access corporate directories and synchronize calendars, and receive instant messaging notifications and data updates on their devices.
According to Timo Salomaki, Fujitsu director of product marketing, the strength of ByeDesk Link is that it can be installed on either a corporate intranet server, or hosted by an Internet service provider or Global System for Mobile communications-based cellular carrier. For corporations, it exists within the company’s firewall, and serves as the gateway for all information passing in and out of the intranet environment to the wireless network. For carriers or ISPs, the solution exists directly within the network.
This means wireless users already connected and familiar with their ISP network or corporate intranet can use the new application without having to learn a new user interface or password.
As such, ByeDesk is being marketed to corporations with highly mobile employees using wireless devices such as digital mobile phones, alphanumeric pagers, personal digital assistants and laptop computers with wireless modems.
Going further, ByeDesk employs three types of intelligent-agent technology. An agent is an ultra-customizable, programmable line of code that acts on the user’s behalf in the network. MessageAgent filters out unwanted information sent to the wireless device, WebAgent monitors selected Web sites, and QueryAgent acts as a personalized search tool within the corporate intranet, databases and World Wide Web.
MessageAgent can alert one’s pager of an incoming message on the same subscriber’s PCS or office phone, while WebAgent allows users to dictate what Web-based information sites they wish to have monitored and be notified of any relevant changes, rather than constantly checking those sites themselves.
At the ByeDesk Web site, registered users can configure their personal WebAgent through their browser-marking Web pages, portions of Web pages, or even specific words or data that they want their WebAgent to monitor.
ByeDesk’s WebAgent then automatically notifies users instantly of new information or changes and delivers those updates directly to their respective wireless devices.
“We’ve been piloting Web-Agent for several months, and it has proven to be a very popular and useful application for our users,” Salomaki said. “It monitors the parts of the Internet that you are interested in, and brings them to your pocket.”
Eventually, Fujitsu hopes to include agent technology that actually can act on the user’s behalf, such as buying stock or tickets when certain parameters are met. However, such technology is not yet available.
While Fujitsu primarily is marketing ByeDesk to corporations, Salomaki said wireless carriers may choose to install the solution on their networks as well, to extend its capabilities for subscribers at large and to increase minutes of use. According to Salomaki, the company has been negotiating with Pacific Bell with such a goal in mind, with no definite agreement yet.
The application was created with future changes in mind and is compatible with Wireless Application Protocol and future wireless standards, Salomaki said.
The Beta version of ByeDesk will be available Oct. 12, and final commercial release is scheduled for November in the United States. It will be available in Europe later this fall. Pricing is based on a monthly fee or a fixed price model.
Interested parties can take part in a free trial of the ByeDesk application via Fujitsu’s Web site.
