Current Topics In Mobile Computing

Instant Wireless Messaging

• This term is being used in the trade press to signify information being sent through wireless networks in real-time, rather than being handled through a store-and-forward mechanism. This latter scheme of store-and-forward delivery is traditionally used in many e-mail and batched transaction handling systems. Typically, a message is stored in a server and then after a pre-defined delay, it is processed and sent to the destination server where it is picked up by the recipient.
• One example of instant wireless in e-mail context is RIM's interactive messaging from Bell South Wireless Data versus traditional wireless e-mail from GoAmerica. Of course, you can use instant messaging from GoAmerica. Other example is location-specific information message sent to a smart telephone.
• Instant Wireless may be considered a one-way, real-time, digital telephone message conversation (not voice) with an answering machine using a wireless network. Remember,  the  recipient at his/her option may not respond instantly.
• With wireless networks becoming more economical, it is now possible to send information message instantly, rather than wait for a batch to accumulate. 
• A pre-requisite to instant wireless is that the destination device is turned on and connected through wireline or wireless connection.
• In our view, there is nothing new from the point of view of the underlying software technology because all the pieces have been there in the past. They are becoming more affordable and customers are willing to pay for getting these messages instantly.
• From software development point of view (a programmer's perspective), it takes less effort to write code for instant messaging than it is for store-and-forward messaging. It is also more efficient from processing costs point of view. The only question is - can you afford it from infrastructure point of view and do the users want it?
• There are a number of applications for instant wireless - travelers information, stock information, travel advisories, etc.
• This is an area of growth and opportunity for application developers and content providers.

Instant Messaging

This is a similar concept to the above, except that in instant messaging, you may be connected either through a wireline or wireless connection. In fact, instant messaging came to the Internet before  instant wireless, unless you consider Blackberry's always-on wireless-email. Therefore, you can use instant messaging on your Internet connection - like a chat room without using the wireless network. However, real instant messaging involves connection wherever you are - that implies wireless network connectivity. Instant messaging provides the following functions:

• Buddy List Presence and Location Management
• Workgroup Functions - transferring files, managing e-mail accounts

Microsoft Support for For Instant Messaging in Windows.Net
Microsoft plans to include APIs for writing advanced instant-messaging applications in the upcoming Windows.Net Server, and it may build a separate "real-time collaboration server" to manage them. 
Two APIs and a communications update to TCP/IP will be provided - first in beta version and then in fully-supported version. With these enhancements, enterprise IT departments and independent software developers would be able to build applications that send instant messages that are encrypted, securely hosted, and allow for more sophisticated types of file transfer than is available today in Microsoft environments. 

In addition to developing server-side support for more secure instant-messaging apps, Microsoft is also developing a real-time collaboration server that would let IT departments manage instant messaging applications built with Windows Messenger.

Products, Services & Companies in the News

• US Wireless Corp (www.uswcorp.com) is setting up an infrastructure (a wireless network and portal) that can be used by content providers to send this type of information to target consumers. This effort is linked to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).
• Cross Systems has set up a portal - http://www.GetThere.com - for information and  content .
• Go2 Systems Inc. has set up a number of topic-specific web sites ( Go2Coffee.com, Go2Bank.com, etc) for travelers.
• Invertix Instant Messaging Gateway and Server
• Ruksun Software Technologies  (of Pune, India) introduced Instant Messaging (IM) Components to enable service providers and portals to extend their instant messaging solutions to interface with popular web-based IM services like ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger.
• Go to Product Directory category for Instant Messaging Servers