BackWeb rolls out Offline Access Server 4

BackWeb Technologies on Monday rolled out its Offline Access Server Version 4, which is designed to offline-enable Web applications such as portals, intranets, and extranets or any ASP, ASP .Net, or J2EE applications.

Previously called the BackWeb ProactivePortal Server, the company’s flagship product name was changed to reflect the extension beyond portals to include a variety of Web applications.

Also new in Version 4 is the BackWeb Developer Studio, an Eclipse-based visual development environment that lets developers build, test, and deploy offline applications without modifying the code or changing how the application works, according to BackWeb officials.

The new integrated visual development environment lets a developer offline-enable applications with point-and-click tools, said Eli Barkat, BackWeb Chairman and CEO.

“This lets us extend beyond the portal environment to any kind of intranet or Web application,” he said. “It reduces the number of steps and puts everything in one development environment.”

The typical process of running Web applications offline involves rewriting multiple applications that reside on the database, which can be an expensive process, Barkat said.

“[BackWeb] integrates through HTML. It is as simple as going to HTML template and adding HTML instructions that explain what needs to go offline. We deploy a thin plug-in to the laptop. The user then has offline access,” he said.

Looking into future, BackWeb plans to extend its offering beyond laptops to include a variety of handheld devices. The company also is working on offline data storage technology that will increase performance for wireless users.