Odyssey Software Introduces Athena Device Management Suite Add-In for Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003
Leading Supplier of Mobile Device Management Solutions announces Add-In providing direct access from the SMS Administrator Console to remote devices running Odyssey's Management Suite
ROCHESTER, NY, May 3, 2006 - Odyssey Software, Inc., a leading provider of mobile device management solutions, announced today that at the Microsoft Management Summit 2006 in San Diego, California last week it released an Add-In to the Administrator Console of Microsoft(r) Systems Management Server 2003 (SMS) and Microsoft(r) SQL Server 2005, which provides direct, comprehensive management access to remote devices running Odyssey's Athena Device Management Suite.
The Athena Device Management Suite is designed to extend and complement the management capabilities of the SMS Device Management Feature Pack (SMS DMFP) for Microsoft(r) Windows Mobile and Windows CE devices; and to broaden the reach of the SMS Administrator console to remote devices across any IP-based network - including WWAN, WLAN, Ethernet, and dial-up connections.
"The availability of the Athena Device Management Suite Add-In for SMS is a major milestone for us," said Mark Gentile, Odyssey Software's President and CEO. "It not only underscores our commitment to Microsoft's mobile enterprise platforms, the Add-In also demonstrates how the open and extensible architecture of the Athena Device Management Suite can be applied to directly integrate with, leading enterprise management systems such as SMS 2003."
The Athena Device Management Suite/SMS Add-In enables seamless, direct integration of on-device management functions exposed by the Athena Device Management Suite into the SMS Administrator Console. The advantage of this two-tier architecture is that the solution's scalability, manageability, security and reliability are all inherent with SMS 2003, and are not dependent on proprietary server software or hardware in the enterprise.
In Odyssey Software's implementation, the Athena Device Management Suite is installed co-resident with the SMS Device Management Feature Pack (DMFP) on each remote device running the Microsoft(r) Windows Mobile and Windows CE operating systems. The Athena XML Web Services engine and modular plug-in services can provide remote access to interact with any on-device function. Some of the core remote management capabilities provided by the Athena Device Management Suite include advanced "Remote Tools" functions (including remote control); software metering capabilities; extensive hardware/software asset reporting and management; and enhanced software package delivery/installation - all over any IP-based network to which the SMS Administrator Console has access. Enterprise helpdesk personnel and mobile device users will benefit greatly by these enhancements to SMS 2003 management capabilities for remote devices.
"The Microsoft SMS Device Management Feature Pack provides value in device side management, and what has been the legacy of our strong relationship with Odyssey Software, is their incremental innovation around the current SMS 2003 offering providing additional capabilities." said Felicity McGourty, Director of Product Marketing, Windows Enterprise Management Division, Microsoft Corporation. "The incredible power and connectivity mobile devices bring to enterprises looking to empower a growing mobile workforce, demands rich, integrated management solutions. Microsoft welcomes Odyssey's SMS 2003 integration and the additional value it offers SMS 2003 customers seeking extended functionality in conjunction with the SMS Device Management Feature Pack."
About Odyssey Odyssey Software, Inc. is a recognized leading provider of enterprise-class remote device management solutions for all Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC- and Windows CE-based platforms. The company's Athena Device Management Suite provides all of the essential elements needed for effective remote management of mobile technology: security and access control, device discovery, device health monitoring, interactive troubleshooting and repair, remote control, application provisioning, and detailed asset tracking. More information may be found at http://www.odysseysoftware.com, or by calling (585) 214-2409.
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