Software gives offline handheld users apps access

New software from Wireless Knowledge is designed to let handheld users work offline with their e-mail, calendar and contact information.

The product, called Anystyle, builds on the company's existing Workstyle Server, which lets handhelds connect to, and work directly with, Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Domino servers. Anystyle adds a client program that lets users store data and work with it when disconnected from their wireless net.

With Anystyle, users can set up a single e-mail account, be instantly notified of new e-mail and filter which messages are sent to the device. The client software also handles synchronizing contact and appointment information with the servers, bypassing the user's PC. Users can set up limits about how much data is stored on their handhelds.

Anystyle will be phased in for different operating systems and servers throughout this year. Initially, it will run on the Research In Motion 950 and 957 interactive pagers, which use the Palm OS, licensed from Palm, and will support Microsoft Exchange 5.5 and 2000 servers. By June, the company will have the software ready for other Palm OS- and Microsoft PocketPC-based devices. Support for Lotus Domino will be added in the latter half of this year.

For existing users of WorkStyle Server, the cost of adding Anystyle is $2 per month for each user. For new enterprise sites, the software is $12 per month per user.

Microsoft and Qualcomm formed wireless Knowledge in 1998.

Wireless Knowledge: www.wirelessknowledge.com

Contact Senior Editor John Cox

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