Category LS 2007

Speakers: Rob Wunderlich (NuTechs), Gabriella Davis (The Turtle Partnership)

From the sessions db:

The wireless revolution is coming whether you want it to or not -- just wait 'til the boss plays golf with someone with a BlackBerry. This session builds on the (earlier) Jumpstart session, diving deeper into devices from cell phones to "SmartPhones" to that brand new BlackBerry ‘Pearl’ device, and deeper into delivering applications to them. We'll show both synching options and browsing options, and we'll show you the IBM and third party products that support either option. Lots of demos -- live Lotus Domino applications successfully delivered to handhelds. What you need to know to make it work. Also, some administrative considerations - security, device management, VPN.

I met Gabriella Davis last spring at the Advisor Summit in Las Vegas. The two of us have crossed paths many times previously; but that was the first time I actually met her. I was duly impressed; this lady knows her stuff. (I'm not trying to take anything away from Rob here, I'll get to him in a minute.)

In a similar vein, this was the first time I've actually had the opportunity to attend one of her sessions. And just as with meeting her; I was duly impressed. She (and Rob -told you I'd get to him) gave what I consider to be the least hyped and yet most worthwhile session of the entire 'sphere. Yes, they focused almost exclusively on the Blackberry line of products; so what? In the same manner that Lotus Notes / Domino dominates the groupware market; Blackberry dominates the handheld market. There are lots of other devices / technologies out there, but the stuff from RIM simply works. I carry a very expensive and very powerful smartphone. I wish I had a Blackberry.

Ok, enough prosthletizing; on to my notes.

They demonstrated 3 very cool applications; which in turn demonstrated different methods of connecting, querying, and interacting with information using a handheld device. These were:

notes.ini: This is essentially a listing of every single potential notes.ini setting along with a description of it's use, potential values, and effects. The entire dataset is stored on the handheld so that the information is available to the administrator regardless of whether or not a connection is available. (I wonder how many folks can even get a signal in a server room?)
Lotusphere 2007 Sessions Database: This is the sessions database that Ben Langhinrichs (you know, the geinus behind Genii) puts together every year as a service to the Lotusphere community. Gabriella and the folks at The Turtle Partnership took this database and enhanced it a bit for mobile device functionality. Users can synchronize & update the sessions at will.
Time Recorder: This is an example application for clients who bill for time. Very slick, very cool, very tight.

Allow me to clear away any misunderstanding less you think this was nothing more than a showcase of "look what we did" stuff. It was much more than that. The apps were cool, but were there to simply provide a backdrop and context to the very rich information being presented.

We discussed how to deliver content, what information needs to be on the device vs. what can be left on the server. Synch vs. Browse pros and cons; as well as the "Blackberry model": connecting as needed.

I think one of the most important points made during this session was: