What is SyncML?
Synchronization Markup Language (SyncML), now known as Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), is an open-source standard for digital devices to interoperate regardless of manufacturer or brand. For example, SyncML might be used between a cell phone and a computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a network. The advantage of SyncML is that it is platform-independent, making it a flexible solution for connecting digital devices of all kinds. The power of synchronization is that it allows updates on one device to be automatically and instantly reflected in all other devices without manual updating. To a single user at home, this means that synching a PDA to the computer will update the calendar or task list automatically. But what happens if a company wants to update inventory to a field of 200 internationally placed sales representatives? As portable digital devices have become ubiquitous, the languages these devices used to synchronize with computer systems have been largely proprietary.
SyncML or Synchronization Markup Language is an XML-based, industry-standard protocol for synchronizing mobile data across a variety of multiple networks, platforms and devices. SyncML started as an initiative in mid 2000 by major technology companies such as Ericsson, IBM, Palm Inc., Lotus, Matsushita Ltd. (Panasonic), Motorola, Nokia, Openwave, Starfish Software, Psion and Symbian. Their initiative’s goals were to create a universal language from the myriad, proprietary, synchronization protocols used by mobile devices and provide a complete set of synchronization functionality for future devices. The consortium released version 1.0 in December 2000. They then implemented new features and resolved issues with the subsequent version releases, finalizing the protocol with version 1.1 in February 2002. The SyncML protocol is designed with these goals in mind: • As a common language, any device should be able to synchronize with any SyncML service (a networked data repository). • Any ser
SyncML (Synchronization Markup Language), is an industry-wide effort to create a single, common data synchronization protocol optimized for wireless networks. SyncML’s goal is to have networked data that support synchronization with any mobile device, and mobile devices that support synchronization with any networked data. The SyncML structured data layer will use XML wherever appropriate. SyncML is intended to work on transport protocols as diverse as HTTP, WSP (part of WAP) and OBEX, and with data formats ranging from personal data (e.g. vCard & vCalendar) to relational data and XML documents. [1] Which Outlook versions and servers will work with SyncJe for Outlook? Microsoft Outlook 98 or greater Microsoft Windows 95 or greater Works with SyncML 1.0.0 or 1.1.
