HIGHLIGHTS FROM
Wireless and Mobile Network
Computing
Where wireless technology meets Enterprise
Computing:
Opportunities and Challenges
| Location: | We welcomed a large number of visitors (around 30% of the 173 attendees) to Helsingør, near Copenhagen, Denmark for our Conference. All sessions were well attended and the interaction between suppliers and buyers was as high as ever! |
| Topicality: | The theme of Wireless Technology was well chosen. Feedback from the interactive session demonstrated the importance attached by members and non-members to the subject. Top ranked of the opportunities were (1) bringing standards together across the telecommunications and computing industries, (2) connecting wireless devices to enterprise networks, (3) connecting new devices to legacy systems, (4) security standards for wireless computing, and (5) PKI-enabled technology for trusted/secure communications. Security, manageability, and interoperability are the underlying themes. They relate directly to the role of The Open Group in enabling secure enterprise integration. |
| Our Speakers: |
The contribution of plenary
speakers was enormous. Jeff Rulifson (Sun Microsystems), Martin Garner (Ovum),
David McKenzie (IBM), Chuck Parrish (Phone.com and WAP Forum), Jeremy Burton (Symbian),
and Kurt Wagenlehner (Siemens) introduced us to the market, the technologies, and new
developments in wireless computing, and left us in no doubt of the issues. The second day of the Conference had three parallel sessions under the themes of "Vendor-neutral Architectures", "The Law on Digital Signatures", and "Application Resource Management". Again our speakers, which included a delegation from the American Bar Association, provided invaluable input. We extend thanks to all our speakers who gave such a feast of information and insights in our Plenary, Briefing, and other Sessions. |
| New Members: | Computer Associates became a GOLD Member of The Open Group at the Conference! As such, they will take their rightful seat on the Architecture Board and all relevant Program/Working Groups. In addition, CAI have also agreed...along with JP Morgan as a co-sponsor...to fast-track their Application Management Interface (AMI) specification for consensus adoption. JP Morgan's fast-track sponsorship marks the first time in our history that an IT buyer has sponsored a submission. |
| Collaboration: |
Representatives from the WAP Forum, The American Bar Association, and other consortia helped us to explore how we can work together to assist the industry. |
| Ongoing Business: | The Open Group "What's Hot" session showed significant progress towards the implementation of the IT DialTone™ - the concept of making all technology as open and accessible as using a telephone - through the development and deployment of frameworks, policies, “best practice”, and standards. The session covered Open Group work in many areas including work with the WAP Forum on testing and conformance, and work on XHTML with W3C. |
| Program Groups: | The Architecture, Management, and Security program groups continued their work (reported in some detail in our Meeting Documentation). In addition the Directory Program Group met for the first time. |
| Next Conference: | We invite you to join us at our next Conference in Montreal, Canada July 19-20 1999. The plenary theme will be "Privacy Issues for the Global Enterprise". |