San Diego, Calif. — (press release) — IBM today announced the immediate availability of a Java based software tool kit that allows developers to create applications and services for a variety of web-enabled devices. The new tool kit, called the Service Management Framework, is one of the few available today that is designed to be fully compliant with the OSGi (Open Service Gateway initiative)… Specification Release 1.0 announced here today.

The OSGi Specification is an open industry standard for connecting a new generation of “smart devices” to the Internet, including everything from home appliances and set-top boxes to game and medical devices. With a common programming interface like OSGi, businesses will be able to provide repeatable web-based services to their customers. For example, home appliance manufacturers will be able to offer remote diagnostic services that let them maintain and in some cases repair household machines over the Internet without ever having to dispatch a maintenance crew.

The IBM Service Management Framework tool kit allows device manufacturers and service providers to start today to create these and other kinds of services for embedded devices. In addition, IBM Global Services has developed a services practice to help customers develop applications, integrate gateway solutions to their back end servers, and manage the deployment of early gateway projects.

“Almost every imaginable device — from game machines to medical devices — is being equipped with microprocessors and connected to the Internet. The IBM Service Management Framework will reduce time to market for device manufacturers to build new features into their products, as well as create a vast opportunity for service providers to deploy Internet-based services for any number of devices,” said Jon Prial, Director of Marketing for IBM's Pervasive Computing Division. “IBM's announcement today is part of our continued support of open standards to help drive pervasive computing solutions.”

The Service Management Framework tool kit can be downloaded at no charge, here. The tool kit provides lifecycle management of network-delivered applications and includes the IBM VisualAge Micro Edition development tools, virtual machines and runtime environment for embedded Java applications.

IBM developed the Service Management Framework tool kit in conjunction with its recently announced WebSphere Everyplace Suite, a complete server software for delivering mobile Internet solutions. WebSphere Everyplace Suite features a variety of functions for delivering content and services to pervasive devices, including the IBM WebSphere Transcoding Publisher, which automatically “translates” Web data into an appropriate format that can be read from handheld devices and Tivoli Subscription Manager that lets businesses easily track and manage devices while providing a personalized environment for their employees and customers. It also has robust data synchronization capabilities to keep data current across multiple devices and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) functionality for wireless Internet access.

 
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