News

IBM picks a new wireless "web services" partner

For most mobile users, email over a cellphone is about the only way of keeping in touch with office resources; but some Web services can be extended to the out-of-office worker - notably by companies like Information Builders, Commtag, and Sirenic. Sirenic has now signed a partnership agreement with IBM, taking it into the big time.

Sirenic is offering a "fully-integrated wireless data solution running on IBM middleware software" under a partnership deal which means that WebSphere services can now be picked up remotely by wireless - or even by voicemail.

"The company gives access to a prioritised, constantly re-evaluated synopsis of email, calendar, tasks, intranet, ERP, CRM, SFA and other content," explains the FAQ. This information can be delivered either as a one-screen summary on a mobile phone, or even as a voice message to an ordinary telephone on a desk.

The deal with IBM means that Sirenic is an IBM advanced Business Partner. The arrangement ties Sirenic's "relevance engine" to IBM's WebSphere Everyplace platform,

"The two companies will jointly market Sirenic's suite of products along with IBM's middleware, including WebSphere and DB2 Database software. Sirenic integrates fully across the IBM WebSphere family," says the release.

So it will work with WebSphere Application Server, DB2 database software, WebSphere Voice Server (if voice access is required) forming the primary platform for deployment, but also with "solutions based on other IBM software, including Lotus Domino (and Notes), WebSphere Everyplace Access, WebSphere Wireless Gateway and WebSphere Portal Server." The clever part of the package is the software's ability to sort the wheat from the chaff - hence the "relevance" engine. You don't suffer from a flood of all email; it sorts contextually relevant e-mail and other critical data to mobile workers.

It's also pretty clever at mixing different data sources, so that "relevance" can be deduced in software.

"By offering Sirenic applications running on IBM Websphere we can provide a total solution for customers who want to increase revenue, profitability and customer loyalty." said Russell Grahame, VP Global Sales and Marketing, Sirenic. "We will develop strong customer value propositions through focused marketing programmes and sales force engagement. Both companies will benefit by jointly growing business revenues and delivering stronger solutions to customers."

Sirenic is based in North America, (Silicon Valley), the United Kingdom, (London and Southampton) and has partners in Asia.

You can get quite a good demonstration of Sirenic software in action on their web site.