Response to My Article on Sybase's Embedded Mobile Databases and HTML5

I received feedback on my article, "What Does HTML5 Mean for Sybase's Embedded Mobile Database Business?"  from Sybase's Tom Lee this week.  Comments don't show up well on this blogging platform so I wanted to publish it here so you could be sure to read it.  Please add your comments as well!

Tom Slee:  Kevin - interesting comments, but I have a few disagreements. I'm speaking as part of the Sybase mobile and embedded database team, but opinions are my own.

HTML5 is now, as you know, a much bigger spec than just the local database. It includes a lot of video and other UI enhancements (canvas and so on). What's more, the Web SQL Database that you are referring to is no longer part of the HTML5 spec (although it is still present in mobile browsers, still supported, and has a bright future - just not as part of a formal spec.) See http://www.w3.org/TR/webdatabase/

So I think the changing face of HTML5 leads to a couple of confusions in your article. Sybase SUP 2.0, which I think is what you are referring to when you say "September is when SAP estimates they will be releasing their HTML5 container" [Kevin's comment - No, I am referring to SUP 2.1) does not have offline database capability. The container model stores some data offline, but not rich or structured data.

Also, the Web SQL Database has no synchronization component. That means that while it is fine for storing app-specific data, any attempt to keep that data up to date with what's in an enterprise store must be done by a developer. As you know, the data sync/enterprise integration issue is -- like all data consistency problems -- complex, especially in enterprise applications. Sybase products solve that problem for developers.

Who knows where pricing and licensing will go? That depends on many developments in the mobile enterprise space and I have no crystal ball. But I am confident that there is still a future for the offline data model in mobile enterprise applications, and for software that tackles the complex issues around enterprise integration.

Thanks Tom!!!!

Any comments to add?

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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

M2M News Weekly - Week of June 13, 2011

Welcome to M2M News Weekly, an online newsletter that consists of the most interesting news and articles related to M2M (machine to machine) and embedded mobile devices.  I aggregate the information, include the original links and add a synopsis of each article.  I also search for the latest market numbers such as market size, growth and trends in and around the M2M market.

Also read Field Mobility News Weekly
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Mobility News Weekly - Week of June 13, 2011

The Mobility News Weekly is an online newsletter made up of the most interesting news and articles related to enterprise mobility that I run across each week.  I am specifically targeting information that reflects market data and trends.

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IDC has released new figures that the worldwide smartphone market will grow 55 percent year over year in 2011.  They also expect the total number of global smartphone shipments to reach 982 million by 2015.  Read Original Content

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According to a new Gartner study, Android is rapidly taking over the smartphone market with a global market share increase of 27.3 percent between May 2010 and May 2011.  Read Original Content

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What Does HTML5 Mean for Sybase's Embedded Mobile Database Business?

SAP's Nick Brown
Nick Brown, with SAP, told me in this interview that around 16 new mobile applications would be available from SAP in the September timeframe.  Why the September timeframe?  September is when SAP estimates they will be releasing their HTML5 container, and these 16 mobile applications will be developed using the HTML5 container.

HTML5 can hold data on the mobile device even when not connected to the internet in much the same way as Sybase's embedded mobile RDMS (database).  I wonder how this new HTML5 strategy by Sybase will impact their embedded mobile database business? 

Sybase has traditionally charged for every license/user that has a mobile application using their embedded mobile database.  I was a long term partner/customer and paid these quarterly fees for years.  This business model will likely go away if HTML5 can handle the data and synchronization requirements of most mobile application developers.  It seems to be the preferred direction for even SAP mobility developers.

The embedded database and accompanying synchronization technology has been an effective way of keeping existing customers loyal to Sybase (because of the high cost to change).  However, if their mobile database and syncing technology is no longer needed, what keeps mobile developers loyal to Sybase?

Sybase must ensure that there is enough in their mobility platform (SUP), Mobile Device Management (Afaria) and mobile SDK to motivate loyalty from developers going forward since they can use any number of HTML5 tools and SDKs to develop apps.



*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobile Marketing News Weekly - Week of June 13, 2011

The Mobile Marketing News Weekly is an online newsletter that is made up of the most interesting news, articles and links related to mobile marketing that I run across each week.  I am specifically targeting market size and market trend information.

Also read Field Mobility News Weekly
Also read Mobile Commerce News Weekly
Also read Mobility News Weekly
Also read M2M News Monthly

A research report by mobileSQUARED reports that by the end of 2011 the Asian mobile advertising market will be valued at $2.8 billion.  Read Original Content

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