Sybase mobile software roams new territory

Sybase's iAnywhere division has expanded its mobile software for businesses to include instant-messaging and presence technology, which lets people communicate their availability.

Enhancements to database software maker Sybase's Information Anywhere Suite, announced Wednesday, come as corporations are relying more heavily on IM and are incorporating presence technology.

The Information Anywhere Suite includes a mobile e-mail application, collaboration tools, device management and back-office application extenders.

"We have all the necessary basic components in (Information Anywhere) but felt one thing that was missing was messaging and collaboration," said Senthil Krishnapillai, iAnywhere product management manager. "With these additions, we have rounded out the suite."

The new components, expected in the second quarter, are set to sell for $69 per user.

Sybase's new technology is designed to support enterprise IM systems such as IBM Lotus Sametime, Jabber XCP, Jabber Wildfire, Microsoft Live Communications Server and Reuters Messaging. The technology also supports public IM networks via XMPP, which include Google Talk and Jabber.

The software is designed for devices running on Windows Mobile, Palm, BlackBerry and Symbian operating systems.