OKI Unveils Platform for Developing Business Applications for Android™ Devices

“Mobile Platform™ Ver.1.1 for Android” enables fast and easy mobile applications development

TOKYO - OKI Electric Industry (TSE:6703) today unveiled “MoBiz Platform™ Ver.1.1 for Android,” middleware(*1) for developing mobile business applications for Android™ smartphones and tablets for the Japanese market. OKI upgraded its existing middleware “MoBiz Platform” to accommodate Android, expanding the range to cover smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2 or later versions, in addition to smartphones running Windows Mobile 6.5 or later. Sales of MoBiz Platform Ver.1.1 begin today and shipment is scheduled for the end of March.

High-performance mobile terminals, including smartphones and tablets, have proliferated rapidly, raising expectations for business use. However, numerous technological challenges must be met before mobile terminals can handle full-scale business tasks reliably. These challenges include unpredictable mobile network status, rapid turnover in mobile phone models, constraints on battery life, and issues related to the security of data stored in terminals. Moreover, applications development must also address differing networks and terminal specifications, as well as issues related to mounting middleware on Android smartphone devices.

MoBiz Platform is a middleware product line that allows developers to create business applications quickly and easily for smartphones and tablets for a wide range of business applications, regardless of enterprise scale. An optimized three-layer system(*2) realizes a mobile business system that combines the advantages of local applications (high usability unaffected by telecommunications environment and the flexibility to meet various needs) with the advantages of web applications, while duly accounting for issues related to data security and the dependability of various mobile phone models.

“MoBiz Platform Ver.1.1 for Android provides a framework for running mobile applications at all times on a wide range of Android devices, while duly accounting for unstable communication environments, the rapid succession of new mobile phone models, battery life constraints, and data security,” said Yuichiro Hiranuma, General Manager of Software Center, IT Solutions and Services Business Division at OKI. “It allows the development of applications with general Web application technologies like JavaEE, HTML, and JavaScript and frees system developers from the need to master specialized technical skills for each mobile system.”

MoBiz Platform Ver.1.1 for Android consists of MoBiz Platform Client, (installed on the terminal) and MoBiz Platform Server (installed on the server). It will be available in the following two formats:

* System consignments for enterprises

OKI will develop and provide a mobile business system required by the customer, based on MoBiz Platform.
* Sales of MoBiz Platform to systems developers

OKI will offer and promote MoBiz Platform to system developers who plan to develop mobile business applications.

Additionally, OKI will promote a semi-order business style in which OKI prepares an application package that works on MoBiz Platform in advance. This will then be provided to customers, based on specific requirements.
Operating environment
Product name Operating software
1 MoBiz Platform Ver.1.1 for Android Client Android 2.2 or later
2 MoBiz Platform Ver.1.1 Server RedHat Enterprise Linux 5 or later
Glossary

* *1 :Middleware

Many tasks handled by applications entail complex processing to achieve the necessary communication between servers and databases on a network. Middleware is software that sits between the OS and application software to facilitate such communication.
* *2 :Three-layer system

A system with a client server system divided into three layers: a presentation layer (the user interface), an application layer (the business logic), and a data layer (data base). The user interface generally runs on the client side, while the rest of the system runs on the server side. Where necessary, parts of the AP functions are installed on the client side, making the role of each layer different from Web applications.

About OKI Electric Industry (OKI)

Founded in 1881, OKI Electric Industry is Japan’s leading telecommunications manufacturer. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, OKI provides top-quality products, technologies, and solutions to customers through its info-telecom systems and printer operations. Its various business divisions function synergistically to bring to market exciting new products and technologies that meet a wide range of customer needs in various sectors. Visit OKI’s global website at http://www.oki.com/.

* The names of the companies and products mentioned in this document are the trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies and organizations.
* MoBiz, MoBiz Platform, MoBiz AP are trademarks of Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
* Android is a trademark or a registered trademark of Google Inc.
* Windows is a trademark or a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
* Java and JavaScript are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation.
* All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.