Putting a Little Pep in PDAs

By Michael Foley
iApplianceWeb
(05/31/01, 01:52:07 PM EDT)

Firepad is delivering their Mobile Application Platform 2.0 to speed up the process of delivering and rendering data on PDA devices. Firepad's new software platform offers improved wireless performance for display and navigation of integrated applications, documents, HTML, and rich media on PDAs. The device management software contains two components, one for the server and one for clients.

Firepad's Mobile Enterprise Platform 2.0 is engineered to maximize performance on low-powered devices. The smart server technology in FirePublisher 2.0 handles much of the processing load instead of pushing all processing to the limited client application. The software gives PalmOS devices the ability to render and view HTML, high-definition images, vector graphics, and streaming video.

Firepad Mobile Application Platform 2.0 includes the latest version of FirePublisher Server and FireViewer Client Suite. FireViewer Client Suite includes both the client application and a desktop application, FireConverter, for moving data to and from the device via HotSync.

Mobile Application Platform 2.0 features include:

• New support for signature capture and bar code capture with integration to backend systems.
• Integrated support for applications, documents, HTML, and rich media from the Web.
• Support for high-definition images, large-scale graphics and streaming video, providing access to blueprints, manuals, schematics, maps, diagrams, x-rays, training video clips, and more. (Firepad seamlessly converts over 22 file types for the PDA and includes popular GIF, JPG, PDF, and TIF file formats.)
• ''Gif Killer'' compression--on average the FireViewer format compresses image files sizes 10% more than GIF for the desktop and decompresses on the PDA up to 5X faster on PalmOS with instant zoom and pan.
• Integration with Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer for one-click image and Website synchronization. (Just click and sync to transfer.)
• Web-srchive that allows for storage of several web pages, images, and/or videos in a single database for easy beaming or storage on memory cards.
• Memory card support, including MemoryStick, Secure Digital, and all other cards with VFS formatting.
• Support for SSL for increased security.
• Support for any network or wireless connection, including 802.11, Bluetooth, 2G, 2.5G, and 3G networks.
• Customizable components, including an extensive client and server API, allowing systems integrators and other developers to build their own smart clients on top of FireViewer's foundation.

Firepad Mobile Application Platform 2.0 is available immediately on PalmOS and in Q4, 2001 for Pocket PC. Both are available directly from Firepad, integration partners, and value-added resellers such as Handango. Pricing is based on per-user licenses starting at $3,000 for a 10-user license. Initial purchase includes one-year support and upgrades.