The strategy appeals to Guy Mills, VP for information systems at financial-services firm Manulife Financial. Mills says that server-based applications are easily managed but have been too costly to deploy widely because they consume expensive server processing power and network bandwidth. "If you're deploying them in an environment where they're really getting pounded, your costs are going to be prohibitive," Mills says. Offloading some computation tasks to the client makes sense, he adds. He foresees using the technology to extend messaging and other collaborative capabilities to Manulife Financial's 10,000 call-center workers. Still, Manulife will proceed cautiously, he says. "We'd need to see some evidence that shows this architecture could actually reduce costs."
IBM says Workplace Client also will give users more freedom to mix and match applications and operating systems. For instance, those running Microsoft Windows could access Linux apps through Workplace Client. "This breaks the operating system/application connection," says IT analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group, adding that the strategy could help further IBM's wish to drive Linux to the desktop.
Not surprisingly, Microsoft doesn't plan to enable its applications for Workplace. "We believe most users want to take full advantage of the powerful, inexpensive local-processing power that's readily available to them," says Dan Leach, lead product manager for Microsoft Office.
Still, a number of companies are lining up behind Workplace Client. Mobile-device maker Nokia Corp. will incorporate some of the technology into its forthcoming 9500 Communicator, a combination cell phone and PDA. Several software makers, including Adobe Systems, PeopleSoft, and Siebel Systems, have signaled their intention to develop applications that take advantage of Workplace Client.
Discover the benefits of scalable backbone and network services for application and cloud providers.
Network automation is gaining momentum. Here's how you can drive this powerful technology to its full potential.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
