linuxism

SyncML (Synchronization Markup Language) is the former name for a platform-independent information synchronization standard. The project is currently referred to as Open Mobile Alliance Data Synchronization and Device Management. The purpose of SyncML is to offer an open standard as a replacement for existing data synchronizationsolutions, which have mostly been somewhat vendor-, application- or operating system specific.

SyncML is most commonly thought of as a method to synchronize contact and calendar information (personal information manager) between some type of handheld device and a computer (personal, or network-based service), such as between a mobile phone and a personal computer. The new version of the specification includes support for push email, providing a standard protocol alternative to proprietary solutions like BlackBerry.

Philippe Kahn was instrumental in the founding vision for synchronization with Starfish Software, later acquired by Motorola. The founding vision as expressed by Kahn was: "Global synchronization and integration of wireless and wireline devices".

Several major companies such as Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG, IBM and Siemens AG already support SyncML in their products. Some products by now use SyncML for more generic information synchronization purposes, such as to synchronize project task information across a distributed group of team members. SyncML may also be used as a base for backup solutions.

[edit]Problem areas

• A fairly intricate and vague protocol specification has meant that in general there are major interworking problems with different servers against different clients.
• In addition to the server address, user name and password, SyncML requires a database name to be specified for opening a connection. This database name is not standardized, and different servers use different names for the same service. E.g. one server might use card while another ./contacts for the contact database.
• Only the over-the-air (OTA) interface has any degree of standardization (e.g. OMA CP 1.1, OTA 7.0) whereas synchronization over a local interface is not standardized, and requires specific solution for any device, if available at all.
• According to the documentation in the Funambol SyncML wiki, there is no conflict resolution. The server can only be set to 'client wins' or 'server wins' in case a field has been edited both on server and on client.

[edit]Advantages

• The protocol is open and based upon standardized XML communication over HTTP POST which makes it relatively straightforward to implement on any platform.
• Even though XML documents per definition are text-based - the protocol is versatile enough to be used to synchronize any binary file format.
• Many free services are available, including clients and applications.

[edit]SyncML client connectors and plugins

[edit]SyncML servers

¹SAN = Server Alert Notification. This SyncML Push technology is based on definitions by the Open Mobile Alliance and extends the existing SyncML protocol specification by offering a method of server initiated synchronization.

[edit]SyncML hosted services

[edit]See also

• iCalendar
• The SyncML Initiative
• Funambol - Free and open source SyncML server software.
• OpenSync - Free and open source synchronization software written with C-language.
• Yahoo! Mobile and Yahoo! Calendar - Yahoo services offered in some countries that uses SyncML technology.
• CalDAV
• CardDAV

[edit]References

• OMA Data Synchronization Working Group
• OMA Data Synchronization V1.2.2 (including SyncML)
• OpenSync - Open Source synchronization framework
• libsynthesis - Open Source SyncML client library
• Duct Tape Solution
• Toolkits
• LibSyncML - Open Source SyncML library
• SyncML C Reference Toolkit
• SyncML Conformance Test Suite
• SyncML Compatible Devices list at Funambol.com
• Everdroid - your phone on internet
• Device Onboading & Device Client Suite at O3SIS.com
• SyncML Compatible Devices list at Synchronica.com
• SyncML Compatible Devices list at Zyb.com
• SyncML Compatible Devices list at Comease.com
• SyncML Compatible Devices list at Synkia.com
• SyncML Compatible Devices list at phonebackup.eu
• SyncML Compatible Devices list at Memotoo.com
• SyncML Compatible Devices list at Phonecopy.com
• KeySyncML - A JavaCard library allowing SyncML data synchronisation at SIM card level.

A personal information manager (often referred to as a PIM tool or, more simply, a PIM) is a type of application software that functions as a personal organizer. The acronymPIM is now, more commonly, used in reference to personal information management as a field of study.^[1] As an information management tool, a PIM tool's purpose is to facilitate the recording, tracking, and management of certain types of "personal information".

[edit]Scope

Personal information can include any of the following:

• Personal file collections (digital and physical): documents, music, photos, videos and similar
• Personal notes/journal
• Address books
• Lists (including task lists)
• Significant calendar dates
  • Birthdays
  • Anniversaries
  • Appointments and meetings
• Reminders
• Email, instant message archives
• Fax communications, voicemail
• Project management features
• RSS/Atom feeds
• Alerts
• References (including scientific references, websites of interest)

[edit]Synchronization with a computer

Some PIM software products are capable of synchronizing data with another PIM tool over a computer network, including mobile ad-hoc networks, or MANETs. This feature usually does not allow for continuous, concurrent data updates, but rather enables point-in-time updating between different computers, including desktop computers, laptopcomputers, and personal digital assistants.

[edit]History

Prior to the introduction of the term "PDA" by Apple in 1992, handheld personal organizers such as the Sharp Wizard and the Psion Organiser were also referred to as "PIMs".^[2][3]

The time management and communications functions of PIMs largely migrated from PDAs to smartphones, with RIM (Research In Motion), Apple and others all manufacturing smartphones that offer most if not all of the functions of earlier PDAs. The convergence of many communications technologies, including telephone, email, social media, news and journalism, and radio transmission, in a compact, ubiquitous device, along with the ability of these devices to create, transmit and publish voice, text, photos and video almost instantaneously is a development that many social commentators expect will revolutionize the way humans interact with each other, and with government and the media.^[4]

[edit]See also

• Personal information management
• Personal knowledge base
• Calendar
• Calendaring software
• Information management
• List of personal information managers
• Personal organizer
• Personal wiki
• List of wiki software
• Password manager

[edit]References

1. ^ Jones, William; Teevan, Jaime, eds. (2007). Personal Information Management. WA: Univ of Washington Pr. ISBN 978-0295987378.
2. ^ The Return of the PDA, Marketing Computers, February, 1995
3. ^ History of the Personal Data Assistant (PDA), H2G2, BBC, March 31, 2004
4. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-565207/Modern-technology-changing-way-brains-work-says-neuroscientist.html#ixzz0il3hnpib without dependence on new communications technologies.

[edit]External links

• Freeware PIMs at the Open Directory Project
• A list of research Personal information managers

Funambol is a Silicon Valley software company that provides a personal cloud (cloud storage) solution for mobile operators, device manufacturers, internet portals, cable operators, software firms, system integrators and other organizations that offer mobile services to consumers and business users.

[edit]Company and Project History

The Funambol project was started in 2001 by developers because of the lack of an open source Java implementation for mobile device data synchronization. The original name of the project was Sync4j, later changed into Funambol. The core development team was (and is) based in Pavia, Italy and it is led by Stefano Fornari (the main contributor to the open source project). Over the years, the Funambol project has gone beyond the original server engine, and now includes administration tools and client-side SDKs for Java and C++ development. Because of the project fast growth, Funambol incorporated as a commercial entity in 2003, led by Fabrizio Capobianco as CEO, then received its first venture capital investment in 2005. Since then, the company has grown to provide several major product releases that are used by many of the largest companies in the mobile industry, including mobile operators, device manufacturers, internet portals, cable operators, software firms and system integrators.

[edit]The Open Source Project History

The Funambol open source project consists of a free and open source mobile sync server that provides PIM (address book and calendar) synchronization, and device management for wireless devices, leveraging standard protocols such as SyncML. This open source project is also a development platform for mobile applications. It providesC++ and Java client APIs and server side Java APIs, and facilitates the development, deployment and management of mobile projects.

The Funambol open source software includes several components:

• Funambol Data Sync Server: a server providing mobile sync capabilities for wireless clients and PCs.
• Funambol Device Management: an Open Mobile Alliance Device Management server to remotely manage mobile devices.
• Funambol Connectors: gateways to file systems, databases, email systems, and applications for two-way synchronization with existing data assets.
• Funambol Apps: protocol extenders and clients for Microsoft Office Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird (experimental), Mozilla Sunbird (experimental), Windows Mobile,BlackBerry, iPod, iPhone and Android so users can sync their PIM data (address book, calendar, tasks and notes) and pictures with the server.
• Funambol Software Development Kit: tools to develop sometimes-connected mobile apps on devices (in Java - Java SE and Java ME - and C++) and to add data sources to the server.

The Funambol open source software is licensed with the AGPLv3 license.

[edit]The OneMediaHub Commercial Product

To address commercial needs in the market, Funambol developed over the years its commercial OneMediaHub software that secures mobile content on mobile phones, tablets and computers in the cloud, syncs this content across diverse devices and enables sharing of the content with other people and systems. OneMediaHub differs from other cloud storage solutions in several important respects:

• It is not a direct B2C (business to consumer) service but rather, it is a white-label solution for mobile providers, including operators, device makers, internet portals and others who want to provide a cloud storage service to their users. White-label means that these mobile providers can put their own brand on the solution and go to market using their own name and brand, rather than using Funambol's brand. The ability to go to market with one's own brand versus another company's brand is often viewed as a major advantage for a mobile provider and that is why they often prefer this approach.
• OneMediaHub supports all popular smartphones, tablets and computers with a single cloud solution, which differs from iCloud, Google Drive and Microsoft SkyDrive, as they are intended to primarily work with one brand of device (iCloud for iPhone, Google Drive for Android and SkyDrive for Windows Phone). In this manner, it is possible that users can store, secure and share content from a variety of mobile devices and computers via a OneMediaHub-based cloud storage service, which is different from using one of these other services.
• It supports more than just files, in particular, it automatically syncs personal information management (PIM) data, including contacts (address books), calendars (agendas), tasks and notes. The ability to sync more than just files is relatively unique to OneMediaHub. iCloud can also sync some of this data but only with iOS devices, whereas OneMediaHub can sync this type of data across all popular brands of smartphones, tablets and computers.

[edit]Funambol-based companies

There are two types of companies that provide services based on Funambol software. The first type are companies that have licensed Funambol's commercial software, called OneMediaHub, that provide a personal cloud (cloud storage) service to consumer and business end users. The other type are companies that provide a service based on Funambol's open source software. An important difference between the services offered by the two types of companies is that Funambol's commercial OneMediaHub software represents the company's latest technology, which includes support for rich media, while the open source software is not meant for large-scale deployments, it is not commercially supported and comprehensive.

[edit]Industry recognition

The project has been recognized by industry groups and industry analysts worldwide with several awards:

• "2012 Mobile Merit Award". Mobile Merit Awards. April 2012.
• "OnMobile Top 100 Winner". AlwaysOn. June 2011.
• "Best Communications Solution". Telecom Council of Silicon Valley. February 2010.
• "Best Mobile Services, Delivery Platform Finalist". GSMA Global Mobile Awards. February 2010.
• "Consumer Cloud Services and Content Sync". MobileVillage. December 2009.
• New Product Innovation Award: Open Mobile Cloud, by Top Mobile Industry Analyst Firm, November 2009
• "Checkie Award for Open Mobile Cloud". VerticalResponse. August 2009.
• "Free BlackBerry Storm App of the Day". Wireless And Mobile News. April 2009.
• Best Mobile Services, Delivery Platform Finalist, by GSMA Global Mobile Awards, February 2009
• "Best Consumer Mobile Email Software, and Mobile Consumer Software Visionary". MobileStar Awards. October 2008.
• Best Emerging Mobile Startup, Expert Jury Award, by Mobile Monday Peer Awards @ 3GSM, February 2008
• "2006 Mobile Star Awards Winners". Mobile Village. 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
• "Editors' Choice 2006". Linux Journal. November 1, 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-07.

[edit]See also

• Cloud Storage
• SyncML

[edit]References

[edit]External links

• Official homepage
• Official Repository of Funambol Open Source Project