Synchronization today - SyncML

However, the ability to synchronize data has been limited by various sets of proprietary protocols, each functioning with only a few specific devices, systems, and data types.

The limitations that these non-interoperable technologies have placed on the access to, and delivery of data have restricted the true mobility of mobile phone users. SyncML aims to provide a solution to this problem.

The Synchronization Solution for the Mobile World
Along with our partners in the industry, Nokia is at the forefront of a new initiative to create an innovative solution to synchronization problems. SyncML aims to deliver an open, industry-wide specification for the universal synchronization of remote data and personal information across multiple networks, platforms, and devices.

Our aim is to develop and promote a single, common data synchronization protocol that could be used in every compatible device and application.

A Universal Protocol with Universal Benefits
SyncML is intended to be a common synchronization protocol leading to three major results. It will allow electronic communication devices to reach more types of networked information, new synchronization services will be created for consumers, and the choice of interoperable data synchronization products will be expanded. Ultimately, by defining a common protocol, SyncML leads to more effective communication services for consumers, and a larger market potential for developers and manufacturers.

Consumers and End-Users
Due to the large variety of computing and communication devices in use today - for instance, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and Web-based calendars - the ability to synchronize them is in the end-user's best interest, because most of the devices share similar applications.

SyncML enables universal synchronization between all compatible devices, allowing real-time, up-to-date access to calendars, to-do lists, and contacts - no matter what device they carry with them, or which applications they use.

Device Manufacturers
While device manufacturers want to work with technologies that facilitate the data access needs of all users and service providers, in practice a device will only support one data synchronization technology. This fact is a result of constraints of storage space, memory, power consumption, and cost.

Device manufacturers will find great benefit in a common protocol making devices compatible with a broad range of applications, services, and transmission technologies. The protocol would enable them to market devices that are more feature-rich and easier to configure and use.

Service Providers
Service providers moving into the growth area of application hosting are particularly concerned that a proliferation of synchronization technologies will make it impossible to support their customers in a cost-effective manner. To support the range of data types and devices in use, service providers must install and configure multiple server infrastructures, as well as maintain and update them to preserve compatibility and performance.

Using SyncML as a single solution for data connectivity can solve these problems, and at the same time it could reduce the financial risks of committing to a single solution.

Application Developers
With SyncML, developers can create applications that are able to connect to a more diverse set of devices and networked data. Additionally, using one common data synchronization protocol reduces the costs of supporting multiple synchronization technologies, and provides developers with flexibility in evolving the networked data repository while maintaining backward compatibility.

This flexibility makes installation easier, making the applications more attractive to service providers.