News

AvantGo wireless moves further into enterprise arena

Two recent announcements taking AvantGo into the corporate IT update business include deals with E.piphany in customer relationship software, and Spacient Technologies in Government-related "location based" field services, to extend their reach outside the desktop

AvantGo originally became famous as the provider of daily newspapers on Palm and PocketPC handhelds.

Recently, it has been selling something it calls "Dynamic Mobility Model" -a strategy it announced in April last year. It's a simple enough formula: give mobile workers a bulk download of data each morning into their favourite hand-held. Then, during the day, wireless updates ensure that important changes are received, without having to use expensive comms to access unchanged information.

The rule of thumb suggests that something like 80% to 95% of the data a mobile worker needs during the day won't change between breakfast and dinner.

The Spacient deal involves the Fieldport mobile operations management software and services product, with updates coming over the Internet via a variety of wireless devices, including Palm OS, Pocket PC, Symbol and BlackBerry Wireless Handheld.

The deal with E.piphany is similar, but in the CRM field. "With its mobile extensions, E.piphany E.6 is addressing what is becoming a critical market need - providing access to information that previously has only been accessible on the desktop," said Richard Owen, CEO of AvantGo, Inc. "Our robust mobile infrastructure software combined with E.piphany E.6 keeps sales professionals better informed and prepared for every customer interaction."