AvantGo Gets Sync Patent

Mobile enterprise software vendor AvantGo said Friday it has received its very first patent.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued patent number 6,341,316 for the company’s software that synchronizes data between mobile devices and enterprise servers.

The Hayward, Calif.-based company said its patent covers “the system, method and computer program product for synchronizing content between a server and a client.” The technology supports both over-the-air and off-line synchronization and works with Palm, Pocket PC and RIM BlackBerry devices.

“AvantGo is dedicated to developing intellectual property into valuable assets for the benefit of AvantGo’s customers and shareholders. The issuance of this patent, together with the sustained interest by Fortune 1000 customers, confirms the uniqueness of our technology,” says AvantGo CEO Richard Owen. “Being first in the mobile marketplace has resulted in numerous patents pending and this is the first of those to be granted.”

Owen says AvantGo has 14 other patents pending. Other vendors with synchronization software such as Pumatech and Starfish Software also have a number of patents related to data synchronization with mobile devices. AvantGo said its patent specifically encompasses synchronizing Web content.