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MOBILE ENTERPRISE
Wireless Database Access Server cures development headaches
By Steve Niles
If you've never done it before, the idea of developing wireless applications for the Palm OS can seem intimidating. Many enterprises might be worried that deploying their database applications wirelessly would take skills and money they don't have. Palm addresses those concerns with its new WDBAS (Wireless Database Access Server) for developers in IT departments--or Systems Integrators--who need to create wireless applications that access corporate databases in real time. You can find more information at http://www.palm.com/enterprise/products/wdbas/.
WDBAS is the second element of Palm's enterprise software strategy, following the introduction of the Palm i705 Wireless Messaging Solution for enterprises that was announced in late January. We covered that element in detail in the article, "The Palm i705 Wireless Messaging Solution satisfies the needs of today's business world," in the April 2002 issue of PalmPower's Enterprise Edition at http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200204/thinairapps001.html.
Use the tools you know
I recently had a chance to speak with Palm's Senior Product Manager, Evan Simeone, to learn more about WDBAS. According to Simeone, the WDBAS is designed to make it "As easy to develop enterprise applications as it is any desktop application." This is achieved by allowing you to use common development tools so that you only need to focus on solving the problems inherent to the software you're creating. The WDBAS handles all the technical system level problems that come about when dealing with wireless architecture.
WDBAS lets you use familiar IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), such as AppForge (at http://www.appforge.com) and Metrowerks' CodeWarrior (at http://www.metrowerks.com), to develop mobile applications and extend them so that remote users can access corporate data wirelessly. The familiar IDEs let you create "smart client" applications that are optimized for wireless and that take full advantage of real-time database access. According to Simeone, the components you create using these IDEs, "talk to the server that you install behind the firewall."
Data in real-time
There are basically two ways to update information on a Palm handheld. You can synchronize your handheld to your PC via a HotSync operation, or you can download data wirelessly. Both have pros and cons. For a mobile user, a synchronized application maintains data on the device and updates it only when the user synchronizes with his or her cradle. In this instance, the user doesn't always have the most up-to-date information. A browser application lets the user have up-to-date information only if he or she is in the coverage area. If out of wireless coverage, the application cannot function.
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