Monday, February 09, 2009
The day mobile cloud syncing went mainstream
Today Google has put the stamp on the success of mobile cloud syncing. They extended their Google Sync product (which supported only BlackBerry devices up to now), to a lot more devices. Half with SyncML, the other half with ActiveSync (licensed from the enemy, Microsoft, which is big news by itself).
It is a big day for cloud syncing. The 800-pound gorilla has made his move. A day after Microsoft announced My Phone, which does pretty much the same (of MobileMe...). It makes 1,600 pounds of gorilla on cloud syncing over a weekend...
For those who thought cloud syncing would become a world-wide mass phenomenon (yep, I am now referring to myself as "those"), the last two days have been spectacular. I mean, SyncML pushed by Google means a ton of more SyncML users. Syncing pushed by Microsoft means a lot of people getting familiar with the concept. It will generate even more demand. It will make syncing truly mass market.
It is so great to see the rest of the world catching up.
Now, if you are one of those trying to add cloud sync to your strategy, today is the day of no-return. The big guys have made a move, it is now or never.
If you are a device manufacturer, you have to move NOW.
If you are a mobile operator, you have to move NOW.
If you are an operating system vendor, you have to move NOW.
If you are a portal, you have to move NOW.
If you are a service provider, you have to move NOW.
I know this looks like a marketing pitch for Funambol and our up-and-coming Mobile World Congress demo of our MobileWe-OurPhone-NotOnlyGoogleSync, and it probably is :-)) But I could not dream for a launchpad coming from Google and Microsoft... This is way too much.
It is happening now (jump). It is happening now (jump jump). It is happening now (jump jump jump). Very difficult to contain myself, I know. But I am trying hard...
Posted by Fabrizio Capobianco at 15:28
3 Comments:
:-) Jump once more.
With Google, I note PIM again. No email. Also, like Microsoft and Nokia, no push. It means it is a backup, again.
It doesnt' matter. Now this syncing is *really* hitting the masses. Just like text messaging. People are getting granted this is a service they get with their mobile device.
Those device manufacturers NOT having built-in SyncML client will look like an old hat by mid-2009. And there are MANY of those manufacturers. Looks like your phone is ringing again ;-)
Another note: Thanks to SyncML, your Outlook plugin and others may find many new users. I hope you get the L10N out from cave soon and we can start translating!
A pity I don't make it to Barcelona this year. It more and more feels like the place to be!
-kari
Comment Posted at 06:57
Andrea Trasatti said...
Selling ActiveSync licences is the future in mobile of Microsoft. That's it.
I am curious to see what they will do with MyPhone, to me the only point for using that service was if it integrated with Exchange. If it doesn't work with my company's exchange why use it?! If Microsoft did it, RIM would be in big trouble and would stop paying licences to them...
There's only 1 way for them, sell ActiveSync licences, until someone gets SyncML really right or you guys keep doing the complicated plumbing of making lots of devices slightly different, work.
It's hard work!
Comment Posted at 06:50
Great commentary Capo - How are these announcements encouraging for niche players in the sync market? The only real revenue opportunity is with the operators. Operators will flock to the mainstream players and now say they provide a free service why do I need to worry about it... further it then does not become THEIR support issue?
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