What is text connect

Asks Andrew

A. TextConnect is one of two new products (the other is known as TextBase) that were launched on 12 April by a company called Vinestone.

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Q. What do these products do

A. Both TextConnect and TextBase develop the current potential of SMS or (short messaging systems) text messaging by adding on some new capabilities that have until now been unavailable on mobile phones. These basically allow users to access their calendar and email via their mobile phone and communicate with a PC using instant messaging. It can also receive database records.

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TextConnect connects your PC to a software-messaging server that routes messages to an intended recipient. This message is either sent via a resident network, SMS modem or mobile phone depending on what system the recipient is using (it also works with GPRS). This means, among other things, that you can be notified of incoming emails on your PC in the home or office, access your calendar, address book etc on the move, as if you were sitting at your computer.

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TextBase is more complex. It is intended for business users and allows a user to access its company database - while away from the office. So if you're in sales meeting and need hard data to close a deal you can access price lists, sales figures, advertising rates etc. via your mobile handset instantaneously. TextBase exploits Vinestone's existing Data Services architecture to provide access to any data source imaginable - e.g. corporate databases, process equipment etc.

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Q. How does your business-based computer system know that it's OK to send out this information from its database

A. The computer system will only respond to SMS requests from dedicated mobile phone numbers that have been approved.

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Q. How much will TextConnect or TextBase software cost

A. Vinestone has yet to release any prices but it is believed that each service will cost approximately �40-�50 per month in subscription.

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Q. Who are Vinestone, I have never heard of them

A. Vinestone has offices in the UK and the US and has over 15 years experience in providing a range of statistical software and data management solutions. Its main customers are industrial and research establishments.

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Vinestone's main core products all operate as add-ins to Microsoft Excel - which means that you can adapt the basics of Microsoft Excel to match your business needs.

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Its main core products are known as VEOS, Mesa, Proceed, Matrex and Chemetrica.

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VEOS - allow you to access a corporate database from a mobile device and would be typically employed for use with TextBase and TextConnect. Vinestone describes it as "a self-managing peer-to-peer file-sharing network that also happens to have hundreds of user created applications running on it."

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Mesa - is used for measurement process evaluation/gauge R&R. It allows you to carry out R&R and Measurement Process Evaluation studies by using Excel's spreadsheet functionality, all you do is type in your raw data into the spreadsheet and all analysis and charts are automatically updated.

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Proceed - statistical process control.

Proceed can used on the shop floor and for laboratory and historical data analysis - it uses Excel and adds in its own charting and analysis software.

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Matrex - design of experiments.

Matrex allows you to use Excel to help you design sophisticated experiments and analyse the results.

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Chemetrica - chemometrics.

Chemetrica allows you to use Excel to calculate multivariate analysis used in chemistry, building models where required.

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Full technical explanations and online demos on all Vinestone's products are available online from www.vinestone.com.

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Vinestones UK headquarters are at:

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Willow House, Newhouse Business Park. Grangemouth, Scotland FK3 8LL. Telephone 01324 882 612. Email: [email protected]

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All calls regarding TextConnect and TextBase should be made to 01324 474 144. Email: [email protected].

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By Karen Anderson