| US software developer MeLLmo has released a free | | | | painful experience; it's like trying to read a spreadsheet |
| application that turns iPhones into powerful tools for | | | | through a straw. You have the information, but making |
| analyzing spreadsheets and reports, enhancing the | | | | sense of it is hard." |
| appeal of Apple mobile devices to businesses.The | | | | RoamBi mimics the way readers' eyes navigate |
| application, named RoamBi, intuitively imitates the way | | | | spread sheets or data laden business reports and then |
| business reports are read and then presents results in | | | | summarizes information in interactive pie or bar charts |
| graphics adapted to iPhones touch-screen size and | | | | or graphs. Applications such as RoamBi promise to |
| capabilities, said MeLLmo chief executive Santiago | | | | help iPhones make inroads in the business market, but |
| Becerra. | | | | BlackBerry is firmly entrenched with a system built to |
| "We are leading the way in more interactive visual | | | | let companies protect data and manage devices, |
| reports that will power people to be more productive | | | | Ryan said. |
| and make the iPhone more attractive to business," | | | | Analysts say that business leaders are reluctant to |
| Becerra said as he demonstrated RoamBi for AFP in | | | | adopt iPhones because there is no platform that gives |
| San Francisco. | | | | managers technical support for networks of smart |
| Corporations such as Kraft Foods, Oracle and | | | | phones that their employees are using. |
| Genentech have deployed iPhones on a large scale, | | | | Company managers also want tools like those used |
| but those companies are exceptions in a work mobile | | | | on Blackberries to regulate smart phone capabilities, |
| telephone market dominated by BlackBerry, a device | | | | such as downloading Internet files, watching videos, |
| made by Canada-based Research In Motion. | | | | and taking photographs. |
| "I can't talk to a vendor today without the iPhone | | | | "The BlackBerry did come into the enterprise the way |
| coming up," said Sean Ryan, a software analyst at the | | | | the iPhone has: executives wanted a shiny new toy," |
| market research and analysis firm International Data | | | | Ryan said. "The iPhone is so fun and compelling that |
| Corporation (IDC). | | | | executives want to have it and get it supported on |
| "It is ever present in people's minds and applications like | | | | some level." |
| RoamBi could drive more enterprise usage." | | | | A RoamBi Publisher that converts spreadsheet data |
| Becerra said he and other MeLLmo founders were | | | | and sends it to iPhones is hosted online as a service. |
| "mesmerized" by iPhone graphics capabilities and its | | | | RoamBi is also part of an AppExchange offered by |
| potential as a revolutionary technology platform. | | | | software-as-a-service star |
| "Mobile phones have been effective at connecting | | | | Basic RoamBi service is free. The year-old company |
| people to people any time or any place, but they have | | | | plans to soon offer a premium RoamBi version on a |
| not been successful at connecting people to | | | | subscription basis and sell a version of the software |
| information," Becerra said. | | | | that can be installed in company servers. |
| "Trying to consume information on mobile devices is a | | | | |