Synchropoint gets cash infusion, prepares for P2P-like application introduction

SynchroPoint Wireless Inc is wrapping up development of two new software applications that will take peer-to-peer communications to the next level using Bluetooth and wireless LAN connections. The Vancouver-based firm will soon release products that allow mobile workers to collaborate on projects on a variety of handheld devices in the same place and time without the need for central servers. It’s testing a data synchronization product with PricewaterhouseCoopers that allows employees to exchange Lotus Notes information over short-range wireless connections much in the same manner as if they were in the office working on their computer desktop. Company co-founder, president and CEO Barry Jinks describes the new technology as an extension to peer-to-peer communications. Face-to-face (F2F) computing completely eliminates the need for servers, which are generally needed to locate other users in the P2P architecture, he says. And the potential revenue opportunity for such systems has garnered the B.C.-based company support from investors. It is in the final stages of closing a financing deal that will enable the one-year-old start-up to complete development and commercially launch its first two applications. Jinks wouldn’t elaborate on the participating parties because he wants to wait until everything is finalized. The company hopes to release both applications before the end of the year. The first, code-named Olaf, is a Windows-based data synchronization application slated for release in October. The second, Thorer, is expected to hit the market in December, and is a bundle of applications that runs on the handheld device platform. Jinks says Olaf will be sold directly to enterprises, while Thorer will be introduced in conjunction with a major U.S.-based wireless device original equipment manufacturer. He declined to name which OEM. It’s still early days in the development of these types of applications, but Jinks predicts huge potential for F2F communications as more wirelessly enabled devices are released. As more Bluetooth enabled devices are released, the more people that will use the applications, he says. Widespread adoption of these types of applications is expected to emerge in another two or three years. Synchropoint isn’t just in the applications space. It also designs a middleware layer or an application framework on which the applications run. "Our application framework allows you to build applications on a variety of different key platforms so they can communicate information together over short-range wireless radio links," Jinks told Report on Wireless. "It does things like device and service discovery, sets up a secure connection, has a messaging layer and shared data store for sharing information." Jinks is optimistic that his company can weather the downturn in the telecom spending. "Our applications, from day one, were driven from a value proposition that saves enterprises money or makes them money, (which) is perfectly suited to these tough economic times," he says. As an example, he cites the application being tested for the accounting industry. "A data synchronization task takes about an hour a day per auditor and if you look at an auditor’s bill-out time, it’s a lot more than a single copy of our application costs," Jinks explains. "So the payback time is an hour." Jinks concedes that others in the middleware arena may provide some competition, but having an applications offering gives them a competitive edge. "We’re actually driving demand for the middleware layer through the applications," he says. "We find it hard to believe that (the competition) is going to be successful selling their middleware without applications to drive demand."

Synchropoint gets cash infusion, prepares for P2P-like application introduction

News | 09/18/2001 4:00 am EDT

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