Nokia catalyzes handset evolution

Nokia executives have revealed plans to deliver high-end cellular handsets that seamlessly switch between 802.11b and public carrier networks in an effort to transform handsets into terminals capable of consuming composite applications. 

The switching technology, expected to be deployed in handsets for beta trials toward the end of the year, is designed to extend the reach of enterprise applications and to create new collaboration environments. Although the company has not yet unveiled names for the forthcoming devices, Nokia in April will announce a set of rich applications for vertical markets, including real estate and transportation, executives said.

"We're chasing the next wave of productivity and [will] support that with new devices," said Jake Sagehorn, director of business applications at Nokia inIrving, Texas. Nokia's mobile applications push is backed by a raft of enterprise companies, including IBM, Oracle, Siebel, Sun, and Texas Instruments. Nokia showed off working demonstrations of IBM's WebSphere, Oracle’s Collaboration Suite, and Siebel's CRM at last week's Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) Wireless show inNew Orleans. SAP and PeopleSoft are working to port applications to the handsets as well, Sagehorn said.

Executives explained that the devices will also enable hosted CRM applications — for example, Salesforce.com — to run wirelessly via handset-based browsers such as Opera or WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) 2.0.

Nokia last week also detailed its Nokia One software, which is targeted at carriers and is built on the OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) middleware architecture. Nokia One will enable carriers to offer services such as converting e-mail to voice.

These industry developments will see high-end handsets evolve into mobile terminals with processing power that can consume composite applications, said Victor Brilon, Nokia's Java applications manager. "In the Web services environment, you are treating the handset as just another terminal," he said.

Talk of 802.11/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) handoff will be important for companies such as PepsiCo that are using Microsoft's .Net Compact Framework to build handheld applications for mobile sales and service staff. The Somers, N.Y.-based soft-drink maker is developing an application for the Pocket PC platform but is also trying to reconcile that application’s functionality with the communications advantages of high-end smartphones.

"We're thinking seriously about GPRS," said Paul Hamilton, vice president of supply chain, logistics, and technology at PepsiCo. Hamilton explained that coupling GPRS handsets with 802.11x would allow mobile workers to transmit data through the Wi-Fi networks of customers such as fast-food chains during a service call.