Event
Summary
Diversinet Corp., a provider of m-commerce security infrastructure, said
Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with San Diego-based Novatel
Wireless Inc., a wireless Internet company, to integrate Diversinet's
security technology with Novatel Wireless' Minstrel family of Wireless
Palmtop Modems.
Market
Impact
Novatel Wireless who has just filed a statement of registration for an
Initial Public Offering is addressing a core component of the wireless
industry, which is glossed over by many, Security. Novatel will OEM Diversinet's
end-to-end client software coupled with a Passport Certificate Server
on the back end or server side producing a secure wireless environment
through the use of X.509 certificates.
Following
the purchase of a Minstrel Wireless Modem for use with the Palm Pilot
Platform users must register with a Diversinet certificate management
server to take full advantage of security features.
User
Recommendations
Both Novatel Wireless and Diversinet are active in WAP forums and communities,
and have input into the shaping of standards. The Minstrel Wireless Modem
from Novatel Wireless is a solid unit in and of itself, however the addition
of secure certificate transactions will increase sales as end user comfort
levels are increased. In order for WAP to take the next step, two things
must be addressed, security and bandwidth. Diversinet has been successful
in addressing wireless security and only time will alleviate the bandwidth
hurdles faced by today's wireless industry.