FRAMINGHAM (03/22/2004) - This week at CTIA, Aligo Inc. improves its mobile groupware, Columbitech AB makes additions to its wireless security and Wireless Valley Communications Inc. enhances its 3-D wireless design tools
Aligo
Aligo is adding new features to its Aligo Mobile Access software, which is a mobile groupware application offering e-mail, attachments, calendaring, scheduling and task information.
The San Francisco company has added voice recognition software, licensed from Nuance Communications Inc., so Access users can call a telephone number to talk to the Aligo server: with a set of voice commands, users can set up a meeting, invite the participants, and check e-mail, for example. The voice option is a hosted service from Aligo. A small desktop client is installed.
Also new is support for RSA Security Inc.'s SecureID, a card-sized "token" that's used where enterprises want a high level of user authentication.
The groupware also works with the Sun Microsystems Inc.'s SunOne Calendar and Messaging applications, and Oracle Corp.'s Steltor Calendar application.
The new release of Mobile Access ships March 30, priced at US$100 to $150 per user. The software runs atop the company's Omini Mobile Platform, a collection of run-time components and development tools to deploy enterprise applications, such as ERP, sales and inventory, on an array of handheld devices.
Columbitech
Columbitech, of Stockholm, Sweden, unveils a new version of its Wireless Suite software, with changes for improved smart card support, faster VPN client start-up, and support for additional Microsoft Corp. platforms.
The client-server software components are aimed at creating authenticated, encrypted connections for wireless users accessing enterprise nets.
The improved smart card features in Version 2.0 are actually features that let network managers and endusers work with a client device in case the smart card, which is used to authenticate users, is stolen or lost. A "soft certificate" is loaded on, say, a field technician's PDA or laptop. If the technician loses the card, he can still connect to the corporate network with an administrator's help.
Another new feature lets a user unlock a smart card that's been blocked after several wrong password-entry attempts.
With this version, the Columbitech VPN client software starts up sooner, protecting the client and its connection during the first few seconds of initialization.
The software now also runs on Windows Mobile 2003, and Windows CE.Net.
The new version will be available this month, with pricing unchanged at $100 per client for 100 clients.
Wireless Valley
Wireless Valley will showcase new versions of wireless design and deployment software, one suite for WLANs, another for inbuilding cellular nets.
The software vendor has streamlined the 3-D modeling feature in Version 9.0 of LANPlanner and SitePlanner. The user interface now has a set of graphical wizards that walk a network manager through creating an accurate 3-D model of buildings, using anything from scanned digital photos to full-blown CAD files.
Once the model is created, another new feature gives managers a way to specify user densities, bandwidth requirements and other criteria for the WLAN or cellular net. Then the software will work out how many access points, antennas, switches and other equipment are needed, and where they should be located, with appropriate channel assignements and radio power levels.
Users can click on an access point icon, for example, and move it elsewhere on the 3-D model: the software will recalculate the radio coverage map for that device and make adjustments as needed in neighboring access points.
Both applications are priced at $20,000 to $25,000.
In April, Wireless Valley will introduce lightweight version of LANPlanner, with a big drop in pricing. The new release is aimed at enterprise WLANs that are simpler and somewhat smaller than the nets created by LANPlanner 9.0. Pricing be will announced soon.