September 19th, 2008
Celio Redfly - access virtualization using smartphones
Celio Corp has a different take on how to offer mobile staff access to applications and data, one that is based upon making use of the power of Windows Mobile-based Smartphones. This way mobile staff members can access pocket office (Outlook, Word, Excel and Powerpoint) using a much larger screen and keyboard.
Here’s what they are saying about their approach:
The REDFLY Mobile Companion™, from Celio Corp., is revolutionizing the Mobile Virtualization and Remote Access industry with its ability to provide a larger screen and keyboard enabling workers to expand their smartphones into fully functioning mobile terminals.
The company’s flagship product is the award-winning REDFLY Mobile Companion, a ground-breaking new device that extends the Windows Mobile smartphone platform to a larger display, keyboard, and touchpad mouse using REDFLY’s universal software and hardware technology.
REDFLY is a critical new solution to the enterprise mobile market because it gives mobile terminal functionality to the smartphone without increasing Total Cost of Ownership, the security risk of data loss or network access because all data and applications remain on the smartphone. For the first time, smartphone users can access a virtualized desktop or applications via their phone using a portable and wireless device with an 800 x 480 pixel screen, full keyboard, touchpad and eight hours of battery life.
REDFLY works well with the industry’s current smartphone remote access and virtualization offerings including Citrix® ICA®, Microsoft’s RDP, Stoneware’s webOS, Citrix® GoToMyPC® and LogMeIn.
Snapshot analysis
Although I haven’t used Celio’s device, I have utilized the power of a Windows Mobile-powered device in the ways that the company suggests. The HTC Advantage that I used to carry often gave me all of the computing power necessary to access Kusnetzky Group applications, my Email and present my slides at conferences. My Windows, Mac and Linux laptops got to stay home and keep one another company while I traveled.
It’s an amazingly freeing feeling to breeze through airport security without having to wressle with a laptop. Cell phones (including smartphones) don’t need to be extricated from a traveler’s briefcase to be X-rayed at the security checkpoint.
Celio isn’t the only company to have developed a Smartphone companion device. Palm’s Folio is an example of failed attempts of the past. Celio is well aware of what went wrong with the Folio and has done its best to develop a device that is easy to use and gives the user a laptop-like experience using the combination of a SmartPhone and the REDFLY.
Another form of competition the company faces is from enhanced smartphones. These devices offer larger screens and keyboards. The key differentiator that Celio would point out is that the use of these devices have often meant sacrificing some of the best features of having a small, efficient smartphone. As I found out, it’s just about impossible to put a device that has a 4×6 inch screen into a pocket. Celio would suggest keep your “pocketable” mobile device and use the larger screen and keyboard only when access to organizational applications is needed
I also have to point out that I wasn’t a fan of Windows Mobile 6. It’s user interface, without the help of third party add-on software, was clunky and unpleasant. That’s why I’m using a different device now. Celio would be wise to offer support of other handheld operating systems. Apple’s iPhone, Palm’s Treo and Symbian-based devices ought to be on their roadmap.
If you’re a person that “goes mobile” often, you ought to learn about this type of computing by visiting the Celio website.
Daniel Kusnetzky is a member of the senior management team of The 451 Group. He is responsible for research and publications on a broad array of technology topics. He examines emerging technology trends, vendor strategies, research and development issues, and end-user integration requirements. You can follow Dan on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 09/19/08
