Beefing Up The Mobile Niche
The 4-Mbyte SQL Anywhere Studio 8, which features enhanced query-handling capabilities and data synchronization, also adds 128-bit encryption to protect data in case a laptop is stolen or lost, said Chris Kleisath, director of engineering at iAnywhere Solutions.
"We could obfuscate the data before but not with industry-accepted algorithms. This feature follows the American Encryption Society algorithms," Kleisath said.
With the new priority synchronization feature, field workers can make the best use of available bandwidth. "They can set up unique subsets of data for each user, so when the device is docked, you sync the whole database, and when it's not, it syncs just high-priority things,addresses, inventory," Kleisath said.
While Sybase's market share in mainstream databases has been eroded by Microsoft and Oracle, the company is No. 1 in the embedded and mobile arena, with 68.8 percent market share, according to Gartner Dataquest. Oracle was second, with 11.5 percent share.
Beta testers of SQL Anywhere Studio 8 said performance has been honed as well.
"They've completely rewritten the SQL optimizer, and it uses a lot of new techniques for joining tables. The bottom line is our queries run considerably faster," said Leo Tohill, senior systems analyst for CBORD Group, an Ithaca, N.Y.-based ISV specializing in applications for food-service providers.
Better synchronization is the key selling point for others.
Stanley Associates, an ISV and integrator in Alexandria, Va., uses the current version of SQL Anywhere in an application for the U.S. Army that tracks prepositioned equipment.
"We have databases in 20 locations, all replicating and communicating as the equipment moves. Some movement, condition and assignment data changes frequently, other stuff changes less frequently, so that's a perfect application for priority synchronization," said Eric Burchey-Beyma, technical director at Stanley Associates.
SQL Anywhere Studio 8 is $399 for a single-user version and $999 for 10 users.