SAP AG and Sybase, Inc., an SAP company and industry leader in enterprise and mobile software, continue to deliver on their commitment to make mobile the new desktop with the release of their next-generation Sybase® Unwired Platform 2.0 and the unveiling of an enhanced version of their software development kit (SDK), which is planned to be generally available within the next few months.

As one of the industry’s leading and most expansive mobile enterprise application platforms, these latest releases help businesses of all sizes better respond to real-time business dynamics through cost-efficient, simplified deployment, development and management of native and Web-based mobile applications on a wide array of device types.

Built on proven technology, Sybase Unwired Platform and SDK are designed to enable customers to create user-friendly applications that mobilize business processes and workflow and real-time access to back-office systems across the enterprise to help improve efficiency, responsiveness and overall productivity.

With the exponential growth of personally owned and corporate-liable mobile devices entering the enterprise, businesses are seeking a comprehensive and integrated platform to simplify the development, deployment and security of their mobile application landscapes across a widening array of device types. A recent survey by Kelton Research highlighted that in 2011, 65 percent of the IT managers surveyed said they plan to develop and deploy five or more mobile apps this year, and another 21 percent expect to implement 20 or more mobile applications.

“We are reaching an inflection point in the industry, where developing and deploying mobile apps tops the priority list this year for a majority of enterprises,” said Stephen Drake, Program Vice President, IDC. “The influx of powerful smartphones, tablets and innovative applications is driving widespread consumption of mobile technology, making return on investment in mobile IT much more transparent for companies. Software suppliers delivering a comprehensive, standards-based platform capable of orchestrating the entire mobile framework will demonstrate the most success in this market.”

Leading the Way to Help Companies Mobilize

Sybase Unwired Platform 2.0 and the enhanced SDK address the needs of both mobile and Web developers by providing a comprehensive, standards-based environment for the development of customized native and Web applications across various device platforms. Additionally, IT can manage the entire application life cycle from deployment (tooling) to provisioning, managing and updating through Sybase’s industry-leading mobile device management solution, Afaria®.

Highlights of the expansive new capabilities for developers and IT managers include:

  • Hybrid Web Container delivers all the advantages associated with customized Web application development, combined with rich native application functionality, while leading the way via support of industry-standard development environments such as HTML5, JavaScript and CSS.
  • SDK for native application development, including a user interface (UI) framework, connectivity, device Integration and Mobile Business Object libraries.
  • Cross-platform support for consistency across key mobile platforms, including iOS, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile, and Android support is planned for availability in the second quarter of 2011.
  • Integration with back-end systems via SAP-certified connectors, open standard connectors, such as JDBC and RESTful Web services, and the ability to cache data.
  • Industry-leading security, including single sign-on for SAP back-end systems, encrypted HTML5 Web storage and encrypted data transport.

By enabling mobile access to corporate information systems anytime, anywhere for a wide array of end users, including executives and management, as well as field and sales representatives, businesses can typically experience a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and higher return on investment (ROI).

“The pervasiveness of mobility and impact on consumers to businesses make it one of the most profound transformations in IT history, and it is a key driver for enabling SAP and Sybase to reach one billion people by 2015,” said Dr. Raj Nathan, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Sybase. “It is proven that regardless of industry or size, a mobile enterprise is a fertile field for business innovation, competitive growth and profitability. With the release of our next-generation Sybase Unwired Platform and SDK, customers can now take the offensive and embrace mobility by more easily developing highly productive mobile apps that will drive bottom-line results.”

Sybase Unwired Platform 2.0 is currently available and the SDK is planned to be generally available in the coming few months.

Further SAP and Sybase boost mobile worker productivity in key industries with a series of new mobile apps built on Sybase® Unwired Platform aimed at mobilizing business processes and business information across key industries including manufacturing, consumer products, utilities, high tech, oil and gas, and retail. These new mobile apps join the Sybase® Mobile Sales application for SAP CRM and the Sybase® Mobile Workflow application for SAP Business Suite released in 2010.

“Over the past 18 months, SAP has been releasing technologies enabling the rapid creation and deployment of mobile apps through our platform and development tools,” said Dr. Nathan. “Today, we are announcing several packaged mobile apps that will drastically reduce the costs and time needed for organizations to implement a mobility strategy. Enterprise mobility is a phenomenon that transcends all borders in the workplace and SAP is out in front of this trend as it revolutionizes the mobile space by making mobile the new desktop.”

“We see a paradigm shift in business today with companies delivering real-time business applications that take maximum advantage of the explosive growth in mobile-empowered workers,” said Jack Gold, President of J. Gold Associates, LLC. “The new mobile apps, such as those announced by SAP and Sybase, have the power to accelerate business by enabling mobile workers to make more informed decisions regardless of location, and enhance engagement levels with customers and partners. The resultant significant increase in worker productivity will create a quick ROI and maximize the company bottom-line results.”

Source: SAP and Sybase