Applications news briefs

IBM will release later this month WebSphere Voice Application Access, a tool for customers seeking to voice-enable corporate applications for mobile access. WVAA supports VoiceXML and Java, and includes sample portlets and preconfigured functions to speed development time for customized voice portals. Users can use the technology to build voice interfaces for retrieving information from corporate databases and systems. In conjunction with other IBM development tools, WVAA can enable information to be requested with one device, such as a mobile phone, but delivered to another, such as a handheld computer. A beta version of WVAA is available on IBM's alphaWorks development Web site. The software officially will be released worldwide on Dec. 20, priced at about $60,000 per processor.

Sun last week issued the latest standard set of technologies for Java-capable mobile devices, including the finished specification, a reference implementation, test suite and a beta version of a development tool kit. The second version of the Mobile Information Device Profile, which is a collection of standard APIs, includes support for secure HTTP, simple multimedia features such as audio and video, gaming, push applications and a new range of security functions. Most major mobile device makers and carriers played a part in the development of MIDP 2.0. Hardware makers included Ericsson, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Motorola, Nokia and Siemens.

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IBM will release later this month WebSphere Voice Application Access, a tool for customers seeking to voice-enable corporate applications for mobile access. WVAA supports VoiceXML and Java, and includes sample portlets and preconfigured functions to speed development time for customized voice portals. Users can use the technology to build voice interfaces for retrieving information from corporate databases and systems. In conjunction with other IBM development tools, WVAA can enable information to be requested with one device, such as a mobile phone, but delivered to another, such as a handheld computer. A beta version of WVAA is available on IBM's alphaWorks development Web site. The software officially will be released worldwide on Dec. 20, priced at about $60,000 per processor.

Sun last week issued the latest standard set of technologies for Java-capable mobile devices, including the finished specification, a reference implementation, test suite and a beta version of a development tool kit. The second version of the Mobile Information Device Profile, which is a collection of standard APIs, includes support for secure HTTP, simple multimedia features such as audio and video, gaming, push applications and a new range of security functions. Most major mobile device makers and carriers played a part in the development of MIDP 2.0. Hardware makers included Ericsson, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Motorola, Nokia and Siemens.

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