New IBM Software Brings Web 2.0 to Mobile Phones

Sprint Uses IBM Lotus Expeditor Software to Enhance Mobile Content for Its Windows Mobile 6 Smartphone Customers
IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced today that the Lotus Expeditor software platform is extending desktop computing and Web 2.0 capabilities to mobile phones.

For the first time, mobile phone users will be able to run several desktop-style applications like social networking, mashups and other consumer or business applications simultaneously on a variety of mobile phones. The technology will be demonstrated at the EclipseCon conference in Santa Clara, Calif., this week.

The new version of IBM Lotus Expeditor 6.1.2 software enables mobile application developers to create new applications and services that combine information from different sources. Key to Lotus Expeditor technology is the use of the Eclipse embedded Rich Client Platform (eRCP) application model, which allows applications to be created to span desktop and mobile devices.

“People want to be productive anywhere, anytime,” said Alistair Rennie, vice president, Development, IBM Lotus Software. “IBM Lotus Expeditor enables faster delivery of a new generation of Web 2.0 applications to mobile phones. Already supporting Lotus Notes and Lotus Sametime, Expeditor has a proven track record as a platform for innovative applications.”

Social Networking describes people connecting with others on-line through messaging, blogging and discussion groups using a business service like IBM Lotus Connections or consumer communities such as Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn. An example of a mashup is a Web-based view that includes directions to a beach, weather conditions there and a list of restaurants with reviews, all integrated from different sources. Lotus Expeditor software enables social networking and mashups to be further integrated into routine tasks like vacation planning, for one example. By mashing up regional information about sightseeing hot spots with local travel information sources that can be instantly contacted through social networking capabilities, a vacationer can gain immediate insight into interesting side trips in the middle of a vacation.

Sprint Titan -- a configuration of IBM Lotus Expeditor
Sprint is providing the application developer community with a beta version of a new software platform named Titan based on IBM Lotus Expeditor software. It allows developers, for the first time, to move business applications using the Eclipse development framework from the desktop to most Windows Mobile 6 smartphones from Sprint. The beta version of Sprint Titan is available here.

Because of Sprint’s open approach to application development, developers already are beginning to use Titan to create CRM, sales force automation and other business applications that let business customers take tools traditionally limited to a desktop out of the office, and use the applications nearly whenever and wherever they need them. First made available in December 2007 to developers at the annual Sprint Application Developers Conference, Titan can now be downloaded on most Windows Mobile 6 smartphones from Sprint.

“Titan is another step in Sprint’s evolution toward truly open mobile development. We are intentionally blurring the lines between desktop and mobile development and allowing developers to easily move their applications to the mobile environment,” said Tom Moore, director of Mobile Business Solutions, Sprint. “To make it easy for business developers, we’re doing it in conjunction with the Eclipse development tools that application developers are already using. This accelerates the delivery of new services and capabilities to our customers.”

A “live” demonstration of Expeditor’s benefits
Lotus Expeditor software also allows people to receive software updates to their mobile phones without disruption. For example, they can receive an update to a business application while continuing to do instant messaging.

IBM has demonstrated a mobile solution for insurance adjusters who can use their Windows Mobile 6 smartphones from Sprint, enabled by Titan and IBM Lotus Sametime software, to do instant messaging and image sharing directly with repair shops while simultaneously being engaged with their customer. In addition, because of the mashup capability of the Titan platform, the mobile insurance adjuster can use Web-based mapping capabilities, in conjunction with their policy holder information, to more effectively plan their day. Corresponding insurance adjusting applications, written to the same application model, support the insurance adjuster when they are in the office working on their desktop. A “live” demonstration of this can be seen here by clicking on video demonstration number nine, titled “Titan in Action.”