Synchronisation & Data Transfer; Syncml - An Open Standard For Synchronisation - Sony Ericsson P900 White Paper

Synchronisation & Data Transfer P900/P908 White Paper, December 2003
Synchronisation & Data Transfer
In everyday life, access to an updated calendar and details of friends and business colleagues is greatly
appreciated. To be truly mobile, users must be able to carry their important information with them. Equipping
mobile phones with Personal Information Manager (PIM) programs like calendars, task lists and address
books gives users access to their most important data anywhere and anytime. The information is kept
updated by synchronising with the information at the office or at home. The growing use of groupware such
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as Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes means that more and more meetings are booked electronically in
daily business life.
The P900 uses the SyncML protocol for synchronisation. This means that it has compatibility to synchronise
with a wide variety of devices over a number of different communications media.
SyncML – An Open Standard for Synchronisation
SyncML Background
Leading the way in providing remote synchronisation capability, Sony Ericsson realises that interoperability
of remote synchronisation is of utmost importance if mobile data usage is to become as widespread as
generally predicted. That is why Ericsson, along with IBM, Lotus, Motorola, Matsushita, Nokia, Palm Inc.,
Psion and Starfish Software, founded the SyncML initiative in February 2000. Supported by more than 600
software and hardware developers, the SyncML initiative seeks to develop and promote a globally open
standard for remote synchronisation, called SyncML. Unlike many other synchronisation platforms, SyncML
is an open industry specification that offers universal interoperability. Because it uses a common language,
called XML, for specifying the messages that synchronise devices and applications, SyncML has been
called the only truly future-proof platform for enabling reliable and immediate update of data. The benefit for
the end user is that SyncML can be used almost anywhere and in a wide variety of devices, regardless of
application or operating system. In October 2002, the SyncML Initiative Ltd merged with OMA, and the
ongoing work regarding the SyncML standard is now carried out in OMA.
What is SyncML?
SyncML is the common language for synchronising all devices and applications over any network. SyncML
leverages Extensible Markup Language (XML), making SyncML a truly future-proof platform. With SyncML
any personal information, such as E-Mail, calendars, task lists, contact information and other relevant data,
will be consistent, accessible and up to date, no matter where the information is stored. For example, a
calendar entry made to a mobile device on a business trip is equally available to a secretary in a network
calendar. SyncML is the ultimate choice for remote synchronisation.
The P900 uses SyncML for both local synchronisation (for example, with a PC using Bluetooth or a cable
connection) and remote synchronisation over HTTP.
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