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| Subject: | MobileLBSList: MapInfo and Its WAP Solutions - Summary FYI |
| Date: |
09/15/2000 01:28:17 AM |
| From: |
Neil Havermale |
|
MapInfo and Its WAP Solutions - Summary FYI
http://www.mapinfo.com
As far as I can tell the MapInfo PDA (read PalmOS) offering is in =
support of
Oracle's WANization via the internet. Oracle has a very strong Java =
offering
in PDA related technologies known as 8i Lite (9iLite is about to be
released) that allows the Oracle PDA developer to distribute its =
Enterprise
server data to PDAs.
http://www.oracle.com/oramag/oracle/00-Jan/10mob.html
Oracle8i Lite includes three main components:
1) Oracle Lite DBMS A small-footprint Java-enabled database-management
system built specifically for laptops, hand-held computers, PDAs, and
information appliances (neat!):
2) iConnect Integrated components that allow for the synchronization of
application data and the creation of store-and-forward messaging
applications with advanced-queuing functionality (how big of a back-end =
does
this really mean - 8i Enterprise? - sounds scary):
3) Web-to-go A collection of components and services that facilitates
development, deployment, and management of mobile Web applications =
(thanks
for the pointers how much does the support phone cost!).
What is not provided in the Oracle 8iLite solution is the geographical =
stuff
we are so hungry for. MapInfo may again be Oracle's player in this =
regard.
Importantly MapInfo's PDA interest is in the wireless revolution that =
seems
to be taking off.... (Didn't they buy into some Swedish WAN outfit a =
year or
so ago? And Nokia is about to go public with a "next generation cell
phone)......
"Convergence of Internet and wireless communication technologies is =
creating
huge demand for access to Internet services from wireless handheld =
devices.
This convergence creates a significant opportunity for =
telecommunications
and Web portal providers to offer new and enhanced services for their
customers who use handheld devices. It also gives telecommunications
providers the opportunity to build a competitive advantage by deploying
their own enterprise applications via handheld devices to mobile field
workers. In both cases, the net result can be a more satisfied, loyal
customer base." =20
As far as I can tell at this moment, MapInfo has only one product that
extends spatial data to the PDA (read PalmOS). They do it via Java and
geo-Java extensions known as MapXtend. It looks to me to be an =
"enterprise"
scaled offering (so I guess we little-guys can forget it?). =20
Given the MapInfo PDA solution is wireless and implies 3G technologies, =
I
don't think the MapBasic developer will be able to overcome the need =
for a
1) Oracle Enterprise Server, 2) an internet portal, 3) connection to =
the
local-national-world wide wireless net, and 4) the thousands of users =
paying
just pennies a minute to "rent" the solution. =20
There is hope!
MapInfo is about to offer a complete "service and consultation" for =
MapXtend
to the its larger or enterprise clients with a service name of =
"MapinHand".
MapinHand buyers will receive installation, testing, customer support =
and
product maintenance. A Certified MapInfo Developer will arrive at your =
site
to help quickly implement MapinHand (bummer - who are these certified
developers?)
What is MapXtend?=20
http://www.mapinfo.com/software/mapxtend/index.html
=20
MapInfo=AE MapXtend(tm), Java(tm) Technology Edition is a developer =
tool for
creating location-based applications running on wireless Personal =
Digital
Assistants (PDAs).=20
The MapXtend API offers rapid development, scalability, and flexibility =
to
build and deploy wireless PDA applications quickly, efficiently, and
securely. Its architecture follows a 3-tier model, with specific =
MapXtend
packages designed for each tier (there may be hope?).=20
Mapxtend will not stand alone as far as I can tell in that it requires =
on
the PDA:
1) Palm Computing 3.1 (or higher) operating system (Super!!!!) and a=20
2) TCP/IP connection (double bummer!)
3) and a server - Oracle or SQLServer.
ESRI's AkePAD costs over $500 per PDA but it can stand alone, has good =
KISS
synchronization features, and has built-in integration to GPS =
receivers.
MapXtend seems to be in the domain of MapInfo's "Server Based =
Deployment"
which means that the licensing will likely not be real affordable for =
small
shop developers. This may not be absolute but as of this posting there =
are
no pricing schedule(s) for MapXtend.
Lastly there is also another rather good CE based PadGIS named as =
StarPal
(Http://www.starpal.com). It can read MapInfo MIF as well as SHP. I
believe it uses SHP as its native format. It has good "heads-up and
feet-down" digitization features. It does tend to run slowly if the =
files
are very big. It also needs plenty of memory on the PDA but will also =
run
in a WIN98 environment as well.
This midnight mapper is still very interested in a MapInfo PDA but I =
don't
think I can carry the Oracle Enterprise Server in my pocket - I don't =
think
it will fit in with my wallet!
FWIW,
MidNight Mapper
aka Neil
9/15/00
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