Add another wireless application service provider to the mix, as Everypath Inc. commercially launched a service designed to extend Web content wirelessly, at Internet World 2000 last week.
The company’s technology allows enterprise customers and dot-com companies to make their content available on wireless devices of varying networks. It can reformat Internet and intranet content for Web Clipping devices like the Palm V and VII, devices with Internet microbrowsers in them, such as Wireless Application Protocol devices, and pre-WAP solutions, as well as two-way pagers.
Rather than selling software or servers to wirelessly extend content, like some wireless ASPs do, Everypath is offering the complete solution as a service. Everypath said its solution translates content from existing standard Web sites for display on current and future wireless devices without any reprogramming or changes needed at the site. It has a voice-accessible solution, the company said, that allows users to request information by voice and then view it as data on the screen.
“We leverage existing infrastructure. We don’t require a separate site for WAP and Web Clipping and XML or whatever,” said Ron Silverton, director of strategic marketing at Everypath. “We’ll take care of that for you. You don’t need to get your IP guys involved at all.”
The technology behind this service is a combination of the Everypath Rendering Tool, which identifies what type of device is requesting information from the Web site, and the Everypath Content Server, which hosts the information to be available on the device.
And Everypath said it can make such content available commercially in seven to 15 days. The actual wireless Web site takes only 10-15 minutes to get up and running, according to Silverton, but Everypath stresses it works with each customer for days to make sure that site is customized for the wireless use of the application, as well as making the wireless site look the way the customer wants.
“Our mobility experts work with the customer and figure out what the customer wants wirelessly and make that available. We really spend the time to sit with the customer and figure it out,” Silverton said.
As such, Everypath said its solution allows smaller Internet players to enter the wireless Internet market because it is less expensive.
“The wireless Web is no longer for `early adopters’ and gadget gurus, or an elite niche where only the Amazons of the Internet can afford to get a toehold,” said Venktesh Shukla, Everypath chief executive officer, in a statement. “With Everypath, the wireless Web can be a level playing field with enormous market potential for businesses with the vision to seize the opportunity to get in early on the next Internet land-grab.”
Everypath announced some 30 enterprise and dot-com customers already using the service, including E*Trade, PlanetRX, Egghead, Coastal Tools, Travelbreak, Sandbox, Winebid and Giftcertificates.com, among others.
Besides consumer and business user applications, Everypath said it has wirelessly enabled business-to-business vertical sites like Metalsite, Homebid and CheMatch, as well as “click-and-mortar” businesses like Hilton Hotels, KB Kids and Best Buy.
The company also announced alliances with several Internet and wireless industry leaders who have agreed to use Everypath’s technology in their respective wireless Internet initiatives. Many are considering equity investments in the privately held firm as well.
Alliances were made with Engage to develop online banner advertising and other marketing applications for wireless devices; L.M. Ericsson for transaction security measures; Hewlett Packard Co. to co-develop a new wireless Internet service that combines information from several Web sites into personalized “e-services;” iGo Corp. to provide wireless access to iGo’s business-to-business e-commerce site; Intel Corp.’s Online Services Inc. for wireless Web content hosting; Sun Microsystems Inc., as part of Sun’s Develop Connection program; and Visto Corp. to deliver personal information management services to wireless devices.
“The core of our technology is being used to help enable their services,” Silverton said.
While last week’s announcements revolved primarily around enterprise applications, Silverton said Everypath is in discussions with several wireless carriers as well, and expects the company will make operator-related announcements within the next several months.
