Thought Leadership Blog Business Evidence

Device Syncing and the Open Cloud

Tablets everywhere. (Image via CrunchBase)

Guest Post by Hal Steger, VP Marketing, Funambol

Mobile device manufacturers are capitalising on the demand for wireless connectivity, apps and services with plans to launch a stream of new phones and tablets throughout the year. The growing popularity of the Android OS is a case in point. Samsung launched the Galaxy tablet late last year, which was followed swiftly by the Dell Streak 7. New devices waiting in the wings include the Motorola Xoom and HTC Facebook Phone. The iPad 2 is now available and RIM has thrown its hat into the ring with the imminent release of Playbook.

Transferring data between devices on the same platform can be a relatively straightforward process, but people with multiple devices on different platforms face a challenging and tedious task. A diverse marketplace is good for competition but not for people that want to choose a phone or tablet regardless of manufacturer or operating system, and want to be able to easily access their contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, pictures and other data across them. For many, their mobile device is also the only place this information is stored. This has led to the need for a service that lets users wirelessly sync their data and media across devices and back-up vital information that is accessible from any location.

A variety of services from manufacturers have been available for a number of years, such as MobileMe from Apple and Google’s Sync. But these only address devices on the same operating system or a single content type. However, apps and services underpinned by mobile cloud sync technology are now available to help users overcome the challenges imposed by multiple devices on various OSs. Wireless sync has become a major consideration for mobile users at home and at work. There is a definite requirement for sync services to allow users to take full advantage of the wide range of available devices and platforms. These new types of sync services are based on open standards and use a mobile cloud infrastructure.

Hal Steger, Funambol

There is also a huge opportunity for mobile operators to offer cross-platform contact sync and backup services directly to their subscribers. These services can be instrumental in developing and maintaining brand loyalty, and by providing users with the freedom and flexibility to wirelessly sync their personal data and content, regardless of device or platform, it also serves as a key differentiator in a complex and crowded marketplace.