Being new to the mobile area in SAP, I asked the question: ‘what is our primary mobile technology and how does it work’. I soon realized we have several NetWeaver mobile offerings and different applications have been delivered using different technologies.Here is a big picture of the mobile technologies we offer, and which applications map to which technologies.
We currently have three major technologies that are used for SAP mobile applications:
- Mobile Browser Client
- Mobile Java Client
- Mobile .net Client
SAP delivers applications that map to the various technologies, so as you get started in SAP mobile it is important to understand which technologies we offer and which applications map to which technologies.
First, just a few comments on each of the technologies:
Mobile Browser Client
- Also called Mobile WebDynpro
- Intended for always connected applications
- Rendered via a browser
- No data is stored on the device, so no offline applications or synchronization is possible
- Development environment is WebDynpro and NetWeaver Development Studio
- Typical device is RIM Blackberry
Mobile Java Client
- Also called Mobile Infrastructure
- Supports offline applications and synchronization
- Data on the device can be stored in a file or a database
- Development environment is Java (JSP/AWT) and NetWeaver Development Studio
- Typical device is PocketPC
Mobile .net Client
- Used only for CRM
- Database and full application are supported on the device
- Supports sophisticated synchronization
- Development environment is Microsoft Visual Studio
- Typical device is a laptop
For more detailed information on each of these techologies, refer to http://service.sap.com/nw-mobile SAP delivers many mobile applications. Additionally, you can create your own applications. The following lists each technology and the major mobile applications that are delivered on that technology.
Mobile Browser Client (Mobile WebDynpro)
- Mobile Sales Online with CRM (MSOn)
Mobile Java Client (Mobile Infrastructure)
- Mobile Asset Management (MAM)
- Mobile Asset Management for Utilities (MAU)
- Mobile Sales for Handheld (both ERP, R/3 and CRM)
- Mobile Service for Handheld (both ERP, R/3 and CRM)
- Mobile Sales for ERP and R/3
- Mobile Direct Store Delivery (DSD)
- Mobile Time and Travel
- Mobile Procurement
Mobile .net Client
- Mobile Sales Companion
- Mobile Sales
- Mobile Service
For more information on delivered mobile applications refer to http://service.sap.com/mobile.
As you begin to evaluate mobile offerings in SAP, you must realize the difference in the types of technologies we offer to figure out which technology best meets the needs of the business problem you are trying to solve.
