Working to keep a step ahead of would-be competitors in the field, Aether Systems Inc.
Friday released an upgraded version of its wireless data software, Aether
Intelligent Messaging.
AIM is a
wireless messaging software and development platform that makes it easy for
corporate enterprises to develop applications that extend their data to
multiple wireless data devices and networks.
Version 2.0 includes application programming interfaces for
Java and Microsoft (MSFT)
Component Object Model (COM) environments, in addition to AIM’s C/C++
programming environment. AIM also now supports Solaris and Windows NT
back-end servers, which act as a gateway between corporate data and
wireless networks.
The new software platform will be available immediately through licensing
arrangements with Aether (AETH). During the first quarter, a special developer toolkit for AIM 2.0 will be available for download from an Aether “Developer Zone” on the Aether site.
The kit will allow any developer to independently create complete AIM-based solutions.
Additional features of AIM 2.0 include:
- The ability for an enterprise or content provider to integrate
potentially millions of wireless device users onto their data
platforms - The ability to cluster larger numbers of AIM server components,
allowing higher fault tolerance and redundancy in
mission-critical environments - The ability to support more robust and sophisticated
business-to-business and e-commerce applications, by allowing
servers to communicate directly with each other and to broadcast
information to large groups of users simultaneously
“After unveiling this strategy at Palm Source ’99, we attracted a large
number of key third-party developers and
consulting companies. And we’ll continue on this path through Q1 by
releasing downloadable development
kits and porting to other emerging platforms and networks,” said David
Oros, president and chief executive officer of Aether.
As with the prior version of AIM, release 2.0 improves the performance of
data delivery over multiple types of wireless networks and devices. The AIM
software platform takes private data — such as sales force information,
stock quotes, or Internet and intranet data — and performs compression,
encryption, data-thinning and optimization techniques that allow the data
to move more securely and inexpensively over wireless networks.
