Embedded Client v5.5 leapfrogs legacy device management with modularity, standards-based approach and ease of implementation
Sunnyvale, CA, June 15, 2009 – InnoPath Software, the leader in mobile Over-The-Air customer care, today announced the commercial availability of its Embedded Client v5.5, a modular, next-generation OMA-DM standards compliant device management and software update client for handset vendors. The client is a combination of InnoPath’s on-device foundation, the Device Management Engine, and the company’s Device Update Agent.
The Embedded Client v5.5 builds on InnoPath’s eight years of experience in client development and multiple patents on diff generation and compression technology. It provides significant performance and diff file size enhancements, with FOTA package file sizes up to 73% smaller than earlier clients. In addition to the diff size enhancements, update time and memory use have also been optimized. InnoPath’s approach of incremental improvement has resulted in across the board performance enhancements with each release. The company’s utilities allow the OEM to tune the diff package in order to optimize for different parameters, such as package size or update time. This flexibility is important, allowing operators to deliver the best possible subscriber experience within the constraints imposed by limited memory and CPU on the device.
The new release of Embedded Client also delivers enhanced capabilities in the following areas:
Firmware Version Rollback
Symbian Image Diff-Update Support
Dynamic File System Support
Background Update
As the only DM vendor with both a client and a server solution, InnoPath understands the challenges operators face due to the increasing sophistication of devices entering their networks. This sophistication is driving the demand for the ability to update devices to fix problems as issues occur. A recent approach pioneered by InnoPath, where devices are updated during activation, is driven by time to market demands where devices leave the factory with known issues.
In tier 1 deployments, InnoPath has seen the use of FOTA increase over fourfold over the last 12 months. The size of update packages has also grown substantially due to the number of issues addressed per update. Reliability is also a key concern, with InnoPath-driven mass FOTA campaigns successfully updating an industry-leading 96% of devices targeted.
The standards-based Embedded Client delivers InnoPath’s Mobile Update FOTA capability to CDMA, GSM, and in the future LTE operators making it easier for an OEM to choose a single vendor for device management. And, in conjunction with a simplified IOT process for OEMs, the new Embedded Client is designed to simplify porting onto new mobile OS platforms, reducing time-to-market.
The client architecture also provides a platform where additional device management modules such as Device Hardware Control (DCMO), Software Manager (SCOMO), and Lock & Wipe (LAWMO) can be deployed, activated and used on devices in the field, an industry first. The client’s modularity also permits operator-specific customization at point-of-sale, speeding time to market.
Caring for devices using legacy systems becomes more costly as devices become more complex. Many of the latest phones shipping with the InnoPath Embedded Client focus on high-revenue data services and include unique features such as detachable keyboards, e-ink keyboards and ruggedized construction. The Embedded Client simplifies the support process for the following sampling of recently commercialized featurephones:
LG: Versa VX9600, enV3 VX9200, Glance VX7100, enV Touch VX11000, VX8360, VX5500, Chocolate GiG VS8560, and canU-F1100
Samsung: Alias2 SGH-U750 and Smooth u350
Nokia: Mirage 2605, Intrigue 7205, and 8208
Pantech: CDM8975 and Matrix PRO C820
Many mobile operators (i.e., in Europe) who have chosen devices which include a FOTA client from others vendors haven’t been able to launch a successful FOTA service due to an inconsistent user experience and poor DM client quality. InnoPath regards FOTA as a mission critical service. As the only vendor providing a complete, end-to-end, client-server solution, the company is in a unique position to deliver the reliability and interoperability required by mobile network operators.
“Historically, many phones with legacy FOTA clients have created more problems than they have solved. Once the phone was introduced into the network, it was game over for the client. It couldn’t be updated even if it was released with known issues,” explained David Ginsburg, InnoPath Vice President of Marketing. “The game has changed with InnoPath’s Embedded Client; delivering the quality, flexibility, self-updatability and extensibility that future proofs the device and reduces lifecycle support costs.”
InnoPath also provides an ActiveCare Client for mobile operators leveraging the same Device Management Engine for Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android, BREW and other operating systems. The client can be factory loaded or pushed to phones already in the field, bringing advanced support and management functionality to devices currently on the market. This client, announced at the Mobile World Congress in February, is also commercially available.
InnoPath’s ActiveCare for frontline customer care is the first ‘killer’ OTA management application that leverages both the Embedded Client’s modularity as well as the operator delivered ActiveCare Client. It places operators in the driver’s seat, allowing them to customize the customer’s care experience based on their actual device capabilities.
About InnoPath
InnoPath, the global leader in advanced Mobile Device Management, helps operators and mobile device makers reduce support costs while providing a better end-user experience by offering a unique end-to-end over-the-air customer care solution. Our products reduce support call time and help drive call avoidance. InnoPath’s extensive experience in production Tier-1 networks helps ensure rapid and successful deployments in large, complex environments. With a proven value proposition, the payback time for an operator deploying our solution is usually less than one year. Our customers include AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Samsung, LG, KDDI, Tata Teleservices and China Telecom. For more information, visit www.innopath.com .
