New HTML5 IDE for Microsoft Visual Studio Environments

I am closely following developments in the HTML5 arena as it relates to mobility, so was interested to see this announcement from Gizmox this week.

Tel Aviv, 14 April 2011, Gizmox, the developer of the award-winning Visual WebGui (VWG) cloud and mobile platform, announced today the launch of ProStudio .NETHTML5 beta, the only HTML5 dedicated development tool for Microsoft .NET developers. ProStudio .NETHTML5 enables fast and secure development of graphic-rich data-centric .NET apps for all platforms without plug-ins and resolves the data-binding, session management and Ajax complexities for data-centric applications by using simple .NET tools. With this offering Gizmox offers .NET developers a way into the new Web standard, HTML5.

To download the Free beta http://www.visualwebgui.com/download.aspx

ProStudio .NETHTML5 is designed for building data-centric HTML5 applications within Microsoft Visual Studio. This empowers all web developers (including those who seek an alternative to propriety Silverlight which currently does not support the popular iOS and Android platforms for tablets and mobile) to use simple .NET development practices and for jQuery developers to deal with the data-binding , Ajax and session management challenges by using straightforward .NET framework.

This version adds the complete jQuery extension and animation capabilities into Visual WebGui which allows developers to build rich, customer facing HTML5 UIs with animation and media streaming and also provides mobile & tablet support and cross-browser performance. Other benefits include enhanced data management features and more effective debugging capabilities.

"Visual WebGui gained its fame for its classic .NET simplicity and time-saving that lets core Microsoft developers, develop rich ASP.NET Ajax based Web, Cloud or Mobile applications, just the way they are used to developing desktop .NET applications”, commented Navot Peled, President of Gizmox. “ProStudio .NETHTML5 is the only framework in Microsoft’s stack that allows cross-web/mobile platform and cross-browser accessibility to applications developed in .NET and jQuery for rich engaging HTML5 UIs and enables developers to leverage their .NET skills but deploy applications that comply with open web standards."

For more information please see http://www.visualwebgui.com/

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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Join the SAP Enterprise Mobility Group on Linkedin
Read The Mobility News Weekly
Read The Mobile Retailing News Weekly
Read The Field Mobility News Weekly
Read The Mobile Money News Weekly
Read The M2M News Monthly
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.

What I Hope to See and Do at Sapphire 2011

First I want to say that I will be at SAPPHIRE NOW 2011 and hope to see all of you there.  I will be running around like a crazy man interviewing mobility experts, recording videos, leading sessions, moderating panel discussions and meeting with SAP executives.  I would love to learn more about the mobility projects each of you are working on, so let’s grab a table and talk.  You can contact me on Twitter @krbenedict.

Second, I really hope that SAP and Sybase will unveil ambitious, innovative, powerful and leading edge kinds of mobile solutions at Sapphire 2011, not just mobile apps from SAP partners.  For $5.8 billion I think it would be nice to show a few compelling and interesting SAP developed mobile apps.  I hope that the list of new mobile applications will include much more than just the light weight mobile apps I have seen to date.  Come on!  This is 2011!  I was building more interesting mobile applications in 2004.

To me, interesting mobile solutions are ones like SAP customer Skanska mentioned in a February press release - dynamic scheduling, site schematic diagrams, safety procedures, project plans and customer and asset historical information.  Some of the mobility solutions that my teams developed between 2004 and 2008 were:

• Mobile oil rig safety solutions
• Mobile coffee sales and service solutions that included field services, product sales, asset management and inventory management
• Mobile supply chain management solutions for distributing medical supplies in Africa
• Water conservation solutions for reducing water use in UK's council house
• Mobile HVAC field services applications that included asset management and geo-tagging
• Mobile hurricane disaster assessment solutions
• Mobile cattle management and life cycle (hoof to shelf) management
• Mobile furniture delivery, inspection and repair solutions
• Mobile new car inspection, assessment and repair solutions
• Mobile water delivery solutions for an African company

Third, I want to hear how SAP and Sybase will be restructuring their organizations to deliver world class mobile solutions.  SAP has had enough time to recognize the good, bad and the ugly concerning the Sybase acquisition and should be making the organizational changes necessary to execute on a good plan.  I have heard bits and pieces but look forward to a solid plan.

Fourth, I want to know how SAP is going to address mobility in the cloud.  At some point soon, supporting a mobility platform (SUP) in-house is going to have a diminishing return.  Much like SAP's recent move to get involved in EDI and B2B e-commerce with the SAP Information Interchange by Crossgate, an EDI service in the cloud, companies are going to want a simple API to access their back office data, not SUP that needs a C programmer to implement.  The trend also seems to be for mobile devices to be secured and managed via a cloud service. 

Fifth, I want to learn how SAP is going to integrate M2M (machine to machine) wireless communications into enterprise asset management (EAM) and field services.  Most new automobiles, trucks, tractors, equipment, appliances and other high value assets now have sensors with embedded wireless chips that can report their status, location and thousands of other pieces of important data.  This data is an important component to an activity based business intelligence solution.

Sixth, I want to see if SAP/Sybase have figured out how to simplify their enterprise mobility message and guidance for companies.  The message and guidance needs to be a step by step set of instructions that lead customers to be able to make confident decisions around:

• Mobile architectural frameworks
• Mobile technology infrastructures
• Mobile user experience frameworks
• Mobile device management
• Mobile application management
• Mobile user management
• Mobile security management
• Mobility policies and governance

If a customer leaves a meeting with SAP/Sybase more confused after the meeting than before, that is not useful.

What other items do you want to learn about at SAPPHIRE Now 2011?  Please share by adding comments below.

Recent Articles, Podcasts and Videos by Kevin Benedict

Mobile Expert Podcast: Kore Telematic's Alex Brisbourne
Tour of the Mobile Enterprise Strategies Site
Mobile Expert Podcast Series: Philippe Winthrop
The Mobile Perspective
Mobile Expert Podcast Series: K2 Partnering's Paul Andrew
The Table of Contents in Your Enterprise Mobility Book
Mobile End Points Not Just Mobile Device or Mobile App Management

Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

Redstone Arsenal’s (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

***************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Join the SAP Enterprise Mobility Group on Linkedin
Read The Mobility News Weekly
Read The Mobile Retailing News Weekly
Read The Field Mobility News Weekly
Read The Mobile Money News Weekly
Read The M2M News Monthly

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.

Webinar: m-Business Trends and the Onslaught of Mobile Devices!



Kevin can't seem to stop talking...
the fish was this long I swear!

I am excited to be participating in an upcoming webinar called m-Business Trends and the Onslaught of Mobile Devices.  We talk a lot about enterprise mobility solutions on this blog, but some of the most interesting developments are actually in the B2C (business to consumer) space.  The challenges are that if you are going to play in this space you will need to support all of the major consumer operating system platforms and devices.

I will be opening up the webinar with a discussion on the trends in the mobile B2C space, and then Steve Levy will be joining me from Pyxis Mobile to discuss how enterprises can support the large numbers of mobile devices found in B2C environments.

REGISTER HERE!

Webinar Description:

45 - That’s the number of new mobile devices scheduled for release this month, and as they pour onto the market there are two ways they affect the enterprise:


1. Employees are bringing their devices to work, accessing corporate networks, and using them to conduct business – and IT departments are forced to accommodate.

2. Your customers want to interact with you and conduct business with mobile apps. Learn about the latest m-business and mobile app trends.

45 devices. 4 operating systems. 44 different screen sizes. And that’s just in April…

This webinar will explain the major issues that every company faces in tackling the consumerization of the mobile enterprise and the massive proliferation of new device types, hardware and operating systems.


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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Join the SAP Enterprise Mobility Group on Linkedin
Read The Mobility News Weekly
Read The Mobile Retailing News Weekly
Read The Field Mobility News Weekly
Read The Mobile Money News Weekly
Read The M2M News Monthly
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 Money News Weekly - Week of April 11, 2011

The Mobile Money News Weekly is an online newsletter made up of the most interesting news, articles and links related to mobile payments, mobile money, e-wallets, mobile banking and mobile security 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 Retailing News Weekly
Also read Mobility News Weekly
Also read M2M News Monthly

VeriFone Systems Inc, the largest U.S. maker of payment terminals, expects to ship well over 1 million NFC enabled systems this year, underlining growing momentum for a technology that allows shoppers to buy with little more than a wave of a smartphone.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idCATRE73B4UK20110412

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Google’s newest NFC mobile payments program may face Apple, Amazon and PayPal as competition in this emerging market.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Google-NFC-Mobile-Payments-May-Face-Apple-Amazon-PayPal-as-Challengers-506392/

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Mobile banking is the wave of the future and leading the way are the newest generations. There are almost 80 million smartphone subscribers in the United States.  Banking applications make up 37 percent of all applications purchased for the Apple iPhone, Google Android and RIM Blackberry.

http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20110407/FREE/110409927

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A company in Spain has released ATM machines that are equipped with contactless technology for all NFC enabled devices.

2011 SAP Pinnacle Award Goes to an SAP Mobility Partner

Yesterday it was announced that SAP has awarded one of their mobility partners, ClickSoftware, with the 2011 SAP Pinnacle Award in the category of "Software Solution Innovator of the Year."  The award will be presented on May 16 at SAPPHIRE NOW.

It is interesting that SAP chose a mobility partner.  I am speculating, but this award may have been boosted by ClickSoftware's recent success closing a large deal with SAP's customer Skanska UK’s Utilities Operating Unit, which is part of the massive construction group Skanska AB.  Skanska will run ClickSoftware’s Mobile Enterprise Applications on iPhones and iPad tablets (read more...). 

Skanska will be implementing a number of interesting mobile features, in addition to the usual stuff, like site schematic diagrams, safety procedures, project plans and customer and asset historical information, plus many other features that will be integrated into Skanska's SAP environment.

Boyd Neal, Business Systems Manager at Skanska had the following to say about their selected mobile solution, "It gives our clients the confidence that our engineers will arrive at the right time, with the right skills and the right information to get the job done first time. It also provides us with a workforce management platform from which we can drive significant organizational efficiencies.”

I wonder when we will see interesting mobile applications like this come directly out of the SAP/Sybase labs?  I think this topic deserves another article.

Recent Articles by Kevin Benedict

Mobile Expert Podcast: Kore Telematic's Alex Brisbourne
Tour of the Mobile Enterprise Strategies Site
Mobile Expert Podcast Series: Philippe Winthrop
The Mobile Perspective
Mobile Expert Podcast Series: K2 Partnering's Paul Andrew
The Table of Contents in Your Enterprise Mobility Book
Mobile End Points Not Just Mobile Device or Mobile App Management

Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

Redstone Arsenal’s (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

***************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Join the SAP Enterprise Mobility Group on Linkedin
Read The Mobility News Weekly
Read The Mobile Retailing News Weekly
Read The Field Mobility News Weekly
Read The Mobile Money News Weekly
Read The M2M News Monthly

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.