Jabber Integrates Wireless IM with Oracle

Through a deal signed between extensible IM and presence management applications developer Jabber Inc. and enterprise software developer Oracle Corp. , users of the Oracle9i Application Server can now use wireless IM via the Jabber Communications Platform (JCP) to communicate with a wide variety of devices.

Jabber’s JCP now has interfaces for the Oracle9i application server, which lets companies develop, deploy and manage Internet applications. Those programs can be accessed via the Web, a wireless connection or even voice interface. Oracle9i Application Server’s wireless functionality offers personalization, location, messaging and content-management features that can deliver “any type of content and application to any device,” Oracle says. Among other things, the server lets end-users access e-mail, calendar, documents and company directory services from any mobile device.

With JCP, companies can develop custom IM and presence-enabled applications and services, as well as VoIP and other collaborative solutions. JCP enables bi-directional streaming of XML messages in real-time, meaning it can dynamically route XML traffic among desktop clients, mobile devices or voice servers.

“Working with Oracle accelerates our move into the wireless space, allowing us to go to market with Jabber-based solutions that connect the wired Internet with the wireless world,” said Frank Cardello, Jabber vice president of business development.

Developers can download drivers via the Oracle Technology Network, Oracle’s online developer community.

Jabber said it is one of the first companies to integrate wireless IM using Oracle9i Application Server’s open APIs. This provides a solution for wireless carriers to integrate the IM application into their mobile enterprise portals and deliver messaging content to wireless devices. Jabber messages exist as XML fragments that are routed through the Jabber server to Oracle9i Application Server. Oracle9i Application Server can simply deliver the messages in the language of the recipient’s mobile device, as they are already in XML.

At first, Oracle conducted initial testing of the wireless capability with Jabber’s Open Source server, a Jabber official said. As Oracle moved to Jabber’s commercial JCP, no changes were needed since both types of Jabber servers are accessible using the same API.

Now, a wireless operator using their product has the ability to add Jabber functionality simply by licensing the company’s server, because the Jabber API’s are now built into Oracle.

Jabber is not a stranger to the wireless world. Last July, the company inked a deal with French developer Antepo, which an SMS and WAP gateway for Jabber. Those gateways are currently being used by Portugal-based wireless service provider Clix, and are in trial at a major unnamed U.S. wireless carrier.

Denver-based Jabber also has wireless development deals with France Telecom R&D — France Telecom’s investment arm owns part of Jabber — and with Orange for use in the U.K. and France.

Bob Woods is the managing editor of InstantMessagingPlanet.