Funambol
Encyclopedia
Funambol is an American corporation that earns revenue from its dual-licensing business model that includes commercial software
and free open source
mobile data synchronization
software based on the Funambol core project.
and open source mobile synchronization server that provides push email, PIM
(address book and calendar) and media (pictures, video, music) data synchronization, and device management for wireless devices, leveraging standard protocols such as SyncML
. For users, this means BlackBerry
-like capabilities on commodity handsets.
Funambol is also a development platform for mobile applications. It provides C++
and Java
client APIs and server side Java
APIs, and facilitates the development, deployment and management of any mobile project.
Funambol consists of several components, including:
Commercial software
Commercial software, or less commonly, payware, is computer software that is produced for sale or that serves commercial purposes.Commercial software is most often proprietary software, but free software packages may also be commercial software....
and free open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
mobile data synchronization
Data synchronization
Data synchronization is the process of establishing consistency among data from a source to a target data storage and vice versa and the continuous harmonization of the data over time. It is fundamental to a wide variety of applications, including file synchronization and mobile device...
software based on the Funambol core project.
Funambol-based companies
Funambol has been used as a base source code for different providers for use to end users. The source code is modified, refined, and readapted to different mail environments. For example, ThinkPost.net bases its BlackBerry sync software on Funambol and provides an alternative for aftermarket BlackBerry sync using the Funambol source code as a base.Funambol project
The Funambol core project is a freeFree software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
and open source mobile synchronization server that provides push email, PIM
Personal information manager
A personal information manager is a type of application software that functions as a personal organizer. The acronym PIM is now, more commonly, used in reference to Personal information management as a field of study...
(address book and calendar) and media (pictures, video, music) data synchronization, and device management for wireless devices, leveraging standard protocols such as SyncML
SyncML
SyncML is the former name for a platform-independent information synchronization standard. The project is currently referred to as Open Mobile Alliance Data Synchronization and Device Management...
. For users, this means BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
-like capabilities on commodity handsets.
Funambol is also a development platform for mobile applications. It provides C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
and Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
client APIs and server side Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
APIs, and facilitates the development, deployment and management of any mobile project.
Funambol consists of several components, including:
- Funambol Data Synchronization Server: a mobile application server providing synchronization services for wireless clients and PCs, including push email.
- Funambol Device Management: an Open Mobile AllianceOpen Mobile AllianceThe Open Mobile Alliance is a standards body which develops open standards for the mobile phone industry.- Principles :Mission: To provide interoperable service enablers working across countries, operators and mobile terminals....
Device ManagementOMA Device ManagementOMA Device Management is a device management protocol specified by the Open Mobile Alliance Device Management Working Group and the Data Synchronization Working Group...
server to remotely manage mobile devices. - Funambol Connectors: gateways to file systems, databases, email systems, and applications for two-way synchronization with existing data assets.
- Funambol Client Plug-ins: protocol extenders and clients for Microsoft Office Outlook, Mozilla ThunderbirdMozilla ThunderbirdMozilla Thunderbird is a free, open source, cross-platform e-mail and news client developed by the Mozilla Foundation. The project strategy is modeled after Mozilla Firefox, a project aimed at creating a web browser...
(experimental), Mozilla SunbirdMozilla SunbirdMozilla Sunbird is a free and open source, cross-platform calendar application that was developed by the Mozilla Foundation, Sun Microsystems and many volunteers...
(experimental), Windows MobileWindows MobileWindows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
, BlackBerryBlackBerryBlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
, PalmPalm OSPalm OS is a mobile operating system initially developed by Palm, Inc., for personal digital assistants in 1996. Palm OS is designed for ease of use with a touchscreen-based graphical user interface. It is provided with a suite of basic applications for personal information management...
, iPodIPodiPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
, iPhoneIPhoneThe iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and Android so users can synchronize their email messages and PIMPersonal information managerA personal information manager is a type of application software that functions as a personal organizer. The acronym PIM is now, more commonly, used in reference to Personal information management as a field of study...
data (address book, calendar, tasks and notes) with the server. - Funambol Software Development Kit: tools to develop sometimes-connected mobile applications on devices (in JavaJava (programming language)Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
- Java SE and Java ME - and C++C++C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
) and to add data sources to the server.
History
The Funambol project was started in 2001 by developers because of the lack of an open source Java implementation for mobile device data synchronization. The original name of the project was Sync4j, later changed into Funambol. The Funambol project has gone beyond the original server engine, and now includes administration tools and client-side SDK for Java and C++ development.Industry recognition
The project has been recognized by industry groups and industry analysts worldwide with several awards:- New Product Innovation Award: Open Mobile Cloud, by Top Mobile Industry Analyst Firm, November 2009
- Best Mobile Services, Delivery Platform Finalist, by GSMA Global Mobile Awards, February 2009
- Best Emerging Mobile Startup, Expert Jury Award, by Mobile Monday Peer Awards @ 3GSM, February 2008