Sprint Nextel taps mFormation for device management

Sprint Nextel Corp. announced it will use technology from mFormation Technologies Inc. to remotely provision, configure, diagnose and manage its cellphones. The deal is notable for mFormation, one of a number of companies competing in the market for firmware over the air (FOTA) technology.
Interestingly, Sprint Nextel said its selection of mFormation does not preclude the company from supporting products from other vendors, including Bitfone Corp. and InnoPath Software Inc. A Sprint Nextel spokeswoman said the mFormation offering sits on the server side of the carrier’s device management system, and therefore will not replace the technologies that cellphone makers are already using in their handsets.
Sprint Nextel announced in 2005 that it would offer wireless software updates on its phones. The technology allows the company to remotely tweak the software on users’ phones instead of recalling the devices. Bitfone, InnoPath and others supply the technology to Sprint Nextel’s handset makers.
Now, with Sprint Nextel’s deal with mFormation, the carrier will be able to manage its phones from a central location. The carrier also said it would offer the technology to its enterprise customers.