Tiscali World Online has partnered with Atio Corporation to deliver a mobile-office solution based on the combination of cellular and Bluetooth technology. As both an ISP and a cellular service provider, World Online is able to leverage its existing IP network infrastructure and telecoms partnerships to deliver Internet-enabled mobile solutions.
Bluetooth wireless technology relies on short-range radio transmission to provide connectivity between compliant devices, including personal digital assistants (PDAs), notebook computers and mobile phones. The specification is well defined and is being developed, published and promoted by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which includes heavyweights like 3Com, IBM and Intel. There are also a number of Associate and Adopter member companies worldwide within the SIG. Atio is an Associate member, utilising Bluetooth to power certain areas of its Mobile Solutions framework.
"World Online approached Atio to assist with providing an out-of-the-office solution for the synchronisation of PDA devices with more traditional machines such as laptop and desktop computers", says Graeme Victor, MD at World Online. "PDAs are becoming increasingly popular with business people who require updated information at anytime, in any place.
"The Atio mobile solution facilitates the use of Bluetooth to provide continuous connectivity between the PDA and cellphone, and then standard GSM connectivity between the cellphone and the office.
"Bluetooth also allows for completely wireless networking within the office environment, meaning that e-mail and calendar information can be synchronised with a PDA the minute you enter the office, without any manual intervention." Victor says that from a practical use perspective, Bluetooth is still something of a rarity, especially in SA.
"Atio is one of the few companies that has the skills and expertise to provide a solid implementation of the technology. Utilising Atio`s services and products, combined with our established expertise in Internet connectivity and telecoms, we are able to offer an innovative mobile solution to people who require reliable, real-time access to key information.
"We believe that cellphone and PDA technology is converging, and the launch of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) later this year will narrow the gap even further. World Online intends to stay ahead of the game as the conversion to high-speed wireless technologies gathers momentum. Using Bluetooth to combine cellular and PDA technology will ensure that we will easily be able to offer a GPRS solution when the technology becomes available."
World Online offers a complete mobile solution which includes a cellular phone packaged with a Compaq iPaq PDA that is Bluetooth-enabled. This allows wireless connectivity to an office infrastructure powered by Atio`s Red-M server which manages wireless connectivity and provides a host of other services including fire-walling, virtual private networking and e-mail.
Sean Moore, pre-sales project manager at Atio, says: "At last year`s Computer Faire, there was considerable interest in Bluetooth and wireless connectivity. This year we will have an entire stand powered by the technology and we already have a live site operational. The mobile solution on offer by World Online should see a considerable increase in the exposure of mobile and wireless technology users to Bluetooth, which is obviously great news for us."
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Tiscali World Online was established in 1999 following the merger of the ICON, Global and YEBO dial-up Internet subscriber bases. Now owned by Tiscali International BV, Tiscali World Online ranks among the fastest growing ISPs in SA. With 23% of the local ISP market, the company has over 130 000 dial-up, 2 000 business subscribers and two million visitors per month to its portal.
Tiscali International BV is one of the largest ISPs in Europe, providing access and a wide variety of content, applications and services to its customers. It has the largest geographical footprint of any European Internet provider with local operations in 14 countries.
Taking advantage of the convergence of technology, Tiscali World Online has expanded its services to include telecommunications following its appointment as a Cellular Service Provider by Vodacom. Tiscali World Online has thus grown from a pure dial-up ISP into a communications company providing both voice and data solutions.
The company is set apart from other market players through its operational style and solution sets which ensure customer-focused solutions through unique, value-added offerings. These include connectivity and e-commerce solutions, VPNs, server and application hosting, e-mail solutions, Web site development and hosting, portal advertising and security applications.
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