A bit more information from Novell regarding iPhone integration with GW.

List: ngw
Subject: [ngw] Novell GroupWise and the Apple iPhone
From: "Alex Evans"
Date: 2008-06-13 15:23:21
Message-ID: 48523C89.4E3C.0093.1 () novell ! com
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Novell GroupWise and the Apple iPhone
Apple recently announced iPhone support for Microsoft Exchange, based on the \
ActiveSync technology that Apple paid Microsoft for. This has prompted GroupWise \
customers to ask what Novell's plans are for iPhone support. Novell is committed to \
providing a solution that allows users access to their email, calendar and contacts \
on the iPhone, and is pursuing multiple avenues to address this goal.

NotifyLink and Toffa both plan to offer iPhone support to GroupWise customers.

There are a number of options that we have been considering:
1. Nokia enhance GMS to provide iPhone support. This had to be postponed due to the \
Apple SDK limitations. And I do mean postponed, not rejected. 2. Jailbreak the \
iPhone and use unauthorized APIs. That is not something that we feel we can \
recommend to corporate customers as an enterprise solution. 3. Create a web \
browser solution like IBM has. Not ideal as it does not sync any data to the device, \
allowing offline access. Much of the value of these kinds of solutions is having all \
the data to hand. 4. Rely on the SDK and create something in house. The SDK is very \
limited and does not allow enough access to the native apps and for services to run \
in the background 5. Do something around ActiveSync - a possibility that we are \
looking closely at, but it is a longer term strategy.

We are currently assessing other options and yes, we are also talking directly to \
Apple.

As Jay Parker mentioned in a previous post, IMAP and iTunes will work to allow cradle \
sync to the device

Thanks
Alex





Alex Evans
GroupWise Product Manager
aevans@novell.com
T: +1 801 861 7288
M: +1 801 368 8930
Blog: http://www.novell.com/communities/user/565

Tags: technology, apple, Iphone, groupwise

We’d all like to know what Novell is doing in the iPhone integration space. (So I use the term “ALL” loosely)

Toy or not, companies will be looking to integrate the iPhone purchased by those “execs” that must be seen to have the latest shiny-shiny, to make up for their I-have-no-idea-what-this-is-or-what-it-does-but-everyone-has-one-so-I’d-better-have-one-too.

What is Novell doing? Here is an excerpt from Dean Lythgoe’s blog on GroupWise integration.

“iPhone - Apple. As you know, this is a very hot topic right now and many are looking to Novell to provide a solution in this space. We have been very hesitant to discuss publicly what our plans and discussions have been. As I said, this is a sensitive topic. I will say a few things. Novell is working with Apple. Apple's integration with Exchange was done by Apple using internal proprietary Apple interfaces and by licensing ActiveSync. The integration was NOT done by Microsoft. There are at least two GroupWise partners, NotifyLink and Toffa, who have announced solutions in this space. Novell is continuing to evaluate and work on solutions. See a post by Alex Evans in the NGWList for other information.”
His full blog entry can be found here.

Keep up the good work Dean.

Tags: Iphone, groupwise, technology

At least for the rest of the world.

Admittedly it does appear on the surface to be a very cool device. There are others that do the whole mobile phone connectivity-entertainment thing better but that’s all by-the-by for some.

I’m sorry but I can’t help rolling my eyes and shaking my head at the people lining up for one of these gadgets on release day.

I’m not sure that these people would meet the criteria for Chappo’s “Earthlings on the right track”.

Has the world gone mad? I keep asking myself this question. I’m finding it more and more difficult to convince myself that there is time yet for people of this planet to wake up. I suppose there is always time. While there is at least one person who realises, there is hope. But the tide one has to walk against keeps getting stronger as more people get caught up in the maelstrom.

I have an idea that some people MUST have these types of devices because they’ve become disillusioned with their lives or perhaps have a lesser self-worth than others. So buying the latest *bling* makes them feel alive or worth something if only until the next *bling* comes along... retail therapy? I’m sure there is some modicum of thruth here, you tell me.

I may yet be surprised, it will be interesting to hear of the numbers who stayed out in the cold, lining up to hand over their cash (more likely credit card...spend someone elses money) for one of these shiny baubles.

The words I’m hoping to see in the news reports after today are “Not as many as expected...”.

Tags: Iphone, technology