Wifi Revolution

After rigorous interoperability testing, DiVitas Networks’ Mobile Convergence Appliance and Mobile Convergence Client for dual-mode handsets have earned Symbol Technologies’ (News - Alert) SymbolPLUS Certification.

This means the DiVitas’ Mobile Convergence Appliance and Mobile Convergence Client software interoperates with Symbol’s WiFi network infrastructure products – the WS5100 wireless switch and AP300 access ports – thus facilitating “seamless handoff” between GSM and WiFi (News - Alert) networks. It also means the Devitas products can bear the SymbolPLUS Validated Software logo.

Accompanying this news, DiVitas announced that it has joined Symbol’s PartnerSelect Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Partner Program, which is designed to promote go-to-market relationships among ISVs, Symbol’s solution and business partners, and SymbolCertified Professional Service Providers worldwide.

The Solutions Validation Program lets partners to co-validate their applications and solutions on Symbol hardware, including the MC50 enterprise data assistant and the MC9000 mobile computer. The program is offered within the “Symbol Solution Center,” a new testing facility located at Symbol’s Holtsville, NY, headquarters. The SymbolPLUS Partner Program is designed to validate third-party peripheral devices such as wireless printers and GPS receivers to help make sure these products operate “out of the box” with Symbol products and solutions. Both programs - which were launched in October 2005 - are designed to validate third-party vertical market solutions and technologies with Symbol hardware so customers can eliminate significant cost and hassle in evaluating these solutions.

In this case, DiVitas’ solution was tested with Symbol’s MC70 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA), a rugged, enterprise-class handheld device that combines a cell phone, PDA, mobile computer, scanner and imager. Using Symbol’s WiFi network, DiVitas tested the ability to seamlessly move to-and-from a GPRS/GSM cellular network while maintaining a connection.

This new partnership means Symbol customers can now use the DiVitas solution to extend the usability of the MC70 EDA to roam seamlessly between WiFi and cellular networks. It also means both companies have expanded their channel partner network, which will in turn boost sales.

“Symbol is a leader in enterprise mobility solutions and a key partner for DiVitas,” said DiVitas Networks CEO Vivek Khuller in a press release. “There’s a natural fit between the two companies, and the SymbolPLUS Validated Software logo assures customers that Symbol’s MC70 EDA handheld device and our mobile-to-mobile convergence solution are interoperable. This interoperability means that wherever enterprise users are they need only one device for all their information and communications needs.”

“DiVitas and Symbol engineers tested DiVitas’ mobile convergence solution with our MC70 EDA at our Solutions Center, and co-validated the solution for interoperability,” said Patrick McCullough, vice president and general manager of Symbol's Solutions Division. “As businesses are looking at Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) to have access to both cellular and Wi-Fi voice with the same phone number and enterprise control on a Symbol device, DiVitas’ solution can meet their need.”

“Mobile-to-mobile convergence - the transparent combination of WiFi and cellular - is absolutely critical to the future of mobile communications,” said Craig Mathias, a principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group in Ashland, Mass. “DiVitas and Symbol are demonstrating a strong commitment to enhancing mobile voice and data across essentially all applications and markets.”

DiVitas’ claims its solution works in every type of network environment - cellular, Wi-Fi, Internet/IP WAN, or wireline - and with every type of mobile phone, including dual-mode phones, WiFi phones, cellular phones, smartphones, softphones and mobile computers. Because it is designed to work in any WLAN environment, with any PBX (News - Alert), and over any fixed, mobile or wireless network, the solution minimizes the cost and complexity of mobile enterprise communications, while maximizing enterprise control and coverage.

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Patrick Barnard is Associate Editor for TMCnet and a columnist covering the telecom industry. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.

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