The wireless way, the Intel and IBM way

By Alun Williams

Posted on 30 May 2002 at 17:42

IBM and Intel have announced an agreement to target the development of wireless apps under the terms of a pan-European programme.

The idea is to help drive the take-up of wireless applications based on the IBM WebSphere Platform and Intel server processors, such as the Itanium and the Xeon, as well as the Pentium 4.

Under the initiative, the two technology giants will select companies (independent software vendors) to take part in the programme - those undertaking innovative development for both consumer and enterprise systems - and help to coach them through the development process.

'The ability to introduce new services quickly and reliably is essential to drive wireless e-business adoption among enterprises,' said Guido Bartels, director of wireless e-business, IBM EMEA. 'This new IBM and Intel collaboration will speed application integration, meaning that software developers can offer the assurance that their solutions will 'bolt on' to networks easily and cost effectively.'

The announcement was made at the Intel Developer Forum in Munich.

The EU is paving the way for a wireless Europe in its recently announced eEurope 2005 Action Plan which aims among other things, to ensure spectrum availability for fast wireless networks in member states.