Computing industry giant Compaq Computer Corp. has jumped on the wireless bandwagon in a big way with last week’s announcement that it has agreed to offer its popular ProLiant server pre-installed with WAP server software, via a deal with Nokia Corp.
Expected to roll out later this year, initially in North America, the server will run Windows NT. Both Nokia and Compaq will sell the combined solution to their respective customers.
The companies said their integrated offering will allow enterprise customers to offer mobile solutions, such as e-mail and contact information, customer relationship management tools, status information and other tools, to employees. Any application on the ProLiant Windows NT server will be available for wireless extension with the WAP software addition, Compaq said.
“The product we’re creating is putting WAP on the server,” said John DeLisle, director of business development at Compaq. “It lets customers make their network into a wireless server, for either vertical or horizontal applications.”
The joint solution is targeted not only to enterprise customers, but also Internet service providers, application service providers and wireless carriers. It includes a toolkit for adapting resident applications for wireless transmission.
Perhaps most notable about the announcement is Compaq’s reliance on WAP technology as the sole means of wirelessly enabling its server. Several technology enablers have server solutions that can be added to ProLiant and other server systems that can wirelessly enable back-office applications to any wireless network or device, not just WAP.
“Our joint vision is that devices are going to utilize WAP as the base standard,” DeLisle said of the decision.
DeLisle said the brand strength both firms bring to the table should create a strong distribution opportunity in the nascent wireless Internet market. ProLiant houses more Microsoft Express applications than any other server, for instance.
“I would say the strength of the two companies brings a big differentiator to the market,” he said.
Complementing the solution is Compaq’s Insight Lights Out Edition product, which resides at the server, allowing remote access and control of the system by off-site administrators using WAP devices.
