Mobile
Management Forum
Wednesday,
12 April, 2000
General information: Wireless and Mobile Computing
Executive Summary
On April 12, 2000, The Open Group will launch the Mobile Management Forum to address the compatibility and interoperability challenges of managing mobile data devices and applications. Leveraging the depth and breadth of The Open Group’s expertise in enterprise integration, this Forum brings together leading vendors of mobile and wireless solutions and products with corporate and government organizations who are early adopters of wireless technologies.
Working collectively, the Forum members will tackle the key issues impeding the widespread adoption of wireless technologies into the enterprise environment. Below is an illustrative list of some of the challenges identified by leaders in this market:
Session Management
Defined as a set of activities, often with conditional logic built in, that are executed automatically whenever devices establish a connection. Mechanisms such as data compression and automated recovery/restart in case of link failure need to be considered to assist in providing data integrity, end user transparency and ease of use.
Authorisation
Mobile device “pollution” occurs without the appropriate authorisation disciplines. There are obvious links in this domain to both security and directory services which are particular strengths of The Open Group. For example, the profile of authorisation permissions as they relate to users, devices and functions often exist in a central directory. This central directory needs to be available to and synchronized with, the mobile or wireless device. Standards governing these efforts in the wire-line world need to be extended and adapted to embrace the needs of the wireless mobile space.
Authentication
A critical aspect of mobile management, also closely linked to security, authentication is the need to ensure that the mobile device trying to gain access to the corporate network is who or what it claims to be. Corporate network administrators are looking for a set of common approaches and standards which give them the confidence to expose the corporate data or information to mobile users.
Data Synchronisation
Synchronisation of calendaring and scheduling functions between a PC and a mobile device are two of the initial problems facing the vendor and user community. More complex applications specific to mobile workers extend synchronization needs to include access to central databases. These databases support the functionality of mobile devices as well as address decisions about the subset of central data appropriate for a particular mobile user or device. The market abounds with proprietary approaches, but a common framework or interface layer is critical to simplify application design and integration for corporate users.
Location Services
Mobile devices have the ability to report their location, a capability which is invaluable for the provision of location-dependent services such as traffic, weather and local retail outlet information.
Open Standards are required to establish a common interface and thus facilitate interoperability of a multiplicity of solutions already appearing in the market place. The power and personal relevance of such solutions is increased when a connection is formed to user profiling and directory services. The Forum will explore and seek to establish common interoperable standards.
The Forum’s inaugural meeting will take place in London on 12th April 2000, where its founder members will set the agenda for the forum’s work in the months to come.
For more information about the Mobile Management Forum, including information on how to join, please contact Gregory Gorman, Director, Wireless and Mobile Program at g.gorman@opengroup.org.
