IBM United States
Software Announcement 201-235
August 21, 2001

IBM WebSphere Transcoding Publisher Version 4.0 Delivers Great Pervasive Computing Functions

ENUS201-235.PDF (42KB)

(Corrected on October 23, 2001)

The Ordering Information section is revised.

At a Glance

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher extends the reach of existing Web- or XML-based content to new environments. Enhancements include:

Additional transcoding support for:
- HTML to VoiceXML, which makes Web pages accessible from a voice-only phone!
- HTML to PalmOS HTML for Palm.Net devices!
- Machine Translation, which makes your Web pages available in ten languages!
- Enhanced content annotation
Integration with WebSphere Edge Server Cacheing Proxy that provides Native cache support, SSL support, and HTTP 1.1 support
Advanced integrated tooling includes: XSL Stylesheet Editor with robust search and sort management capabilities and External Annotation Editor
WebSphere Application Server support (check Web site for particular version) and WebSphere Everyplace™ Suite Integration

For ordering, contact:

Your IBM representative, an IBM Business Partner, or IBM Americas Call Centers at 800-IBM-CALL (Reference: YE001).

Overview

WebSphere™ Transcoding Publisher V4.0 for Multiplatform dynamically adapts existing Web content and optimizes it for delivery to mobile devices, such as mobile phones and handheld computers. This award-winning, server-side solution bridges data across various formats, markup languages, device types, and networks. It allows companies to reach their mobile customers, business partners, and employees on a variety of devices.

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher allows organizations to communicate with their mobile customers and employees with the information that already exists in their information systems. Since transcoding is done in real-time, there is no need to maintain multiple sets of Web pages for each type of device.

While minimizing support costs, WebSphere Transcoding Publisher takes advantage of those Web pages you have already designed, speeding the deployment process while minimizing support costs of mobilizing Web content.

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher lets you:

Extend existing Web content to new devices — Reach new markets and provide new services without re-authoring content.
- Leverage existing investments in HTML- and XML-based content to reach wireless Internet users
- Avoid the expense of creating multiple versions of Web sites by dynamically adapting content for a wide range of devices
Streamline Web content delivery — Optimize limited bandwidth of wireless networks:
- Respond to the limited storage capacity of internet-enabled phones
- Eliminate, rescale, and/or reduce the quality of images for efficient delivery to devices with limited display capabilities
- Integrate with the industry-leading WebSphere platform
Customize content presentation for end users. Users receive content tailored to the capabilities of the devices and networks they use.

Key Prerequisites

For Microsoft™ Windows NT^® and Windows^® 2000 servers:

PC with a minimum of 512 MB of memory
Pentium™ II, or higher, processor
350 MHz, or higher, with 50 MB available disk space

For AIX^® on RS/6000^® and Sun Solaris:

50 MB of available disk space with 512 MB memory
333 MHz, or higher

For Linux versions: Pentium II processor with 350 MHz and 512 MB available memory

Planned Availability Dates

August 31, 2001, when ordering with Lotus part numbers
September 14, 2001, when ordering with IBM program numbers

Description

The recent explosion of pervasive devices, such as cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) has escalated the opportunity for individuals and organizations to do business and share ideas. According to a forecast by International Data Corporation (IDC), by the end of 2002, there will be more subscribers capable of accessing the Internet with wireless connections than through traditional wired connections. IDC predicts that almost 1.3 billion people worldwide will be connecting through Web-enabled mobile phones by 2004, compared to just 700 million people with wired connections.

However, the chief obstacle to ubiquitous computing comes from the technology itself. Multiple formats, markup languages, device capabilities, and network constraints threaten to limit the promise of pervasive computing. The potential of e-business will be realized only when there is a way to bridge disparate data seamlessly, transcending multiple data protocols, devices and users.

Developed from cutting-edge technology at IBM research labs, WebSphere Transcoding Publisher consists of interrelated components that provide an open, extendable, standards-based platform for adapting data to the pervasive environment.

The primary components are:

A set of standard content adapters (transcoders)
An administration console with the ability to control device profiles and decision criteria for intelligent content modification
A developer's toolkit that provides specific GUI-based tools, sample programs, and detailed documentation to help the customer add or build customer adapters
A pluggable infrastructure that allows transcoders to leverage the same core devices and enables new plug-ins to be quickly integrated

This award-winning solution helps organizations manage the complexity of supporting new devices and markup languages in their e-business pursuits, while allowing them to focus on their core strengths. Solution flexibility provides an easy-to-use method for communicating and exchanging information among handheld devices, traditional PCs, and back-end systems. By adapting dynamically existing content for new environments, WebSphere Transcoding Publisher:

Extends existing content to new devices so you can reach and service your customers, employees, and partners without re-authoring
Streamlines delivery so content is served efficiently to a variety of devices across disparate wireless networks
Customizes content presentation so users can receive content tailored to the capabilities of the devices and networks they use

Extend the Reach of Content

It is increasingly important to extend the reach of Web content to users on nontraditional clients. Consider the mobile user who wants to get weather updates or perform bank transactions from a pervasive device, such as a cell phone or an automobile-based browser. More importantly, consider the mobile employee who needs to access key customer information while in front of an important client. Having instant access to this key information can be very powerful in providing better customer service and ultimately stronger customer retention.

The Web-savvy customer expects a solution today that provides a user-friendly experience and convenient access to information. The challenge is that Web content is typically written in HTML, not the specialized markup languages required by the new pervasive devices. WebSphere Transcoding Publisher addresses this challenge by adapting content designed for desktop users and conveniently making it available to mobile users with pervasive devices.

The standard transcoders that come with WebSphere Transcoding Publisher handle the following transformations:

HTML to Wireless Markup Language (WML)
HTML to iMode (a variant of compact HTML)
HTML to Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML)
XML to various outputs through the use of XSL stylesheets
Image adaptations including:
- Rescaling and/or reducing quality of images
- Replacing images with links
- JPEG images to GIF and wireless bitmap
- GIF images to JPEG and wireless bitmap
- Support for Windows bitmap and PNG
HTML to Voice XML for delivering Web content to voice-only phones
HTML to ClipperML for Palm.Net devices
Machine Language translation that translates English to ten popular languages

The standard WebSphere Transcoding Publisher transcoders can be used independently or in conjunction with one another for more complex content transforms. Additional transcoders developed by third-party vendors, IBM, and customers can be inserted easily into the WebSphere Transcoding Publisher standards-based framework. The robust toolkit provides excellent samples and clear documentation to allow developers to create and/or modify transcoders, XSL style sheets, device profiles, and external annotation files.

Streamlining the Delivery

The new pervasive devices include cell phones, screen phones, voice-capable browsers, and personal digital assistants, such as Palm Pilots, IBM WorkPads, and Microsoft Windows CE devices. Industry reports predict that the adoption rate for these devices will continue to rise at an accelerated pace. Moreover, business and consumer users are quickly integrating these devices into their everyday business and leisure habits. The challenge, therefore, is to make information available on these devices to provide valuation information when and where they need it.

The challenge is to not only deliver data and applications in an e-business world filled with unpredictable variables, like non-standard device types and markup languages, but also to deliver the content efficiently across the network. After all, the value of data in the mobile computing world is directly tied to the timelines and convenience of accessing the information. In addition, certain business realities, unique to the wireless Internet, must be taken into account. For example, it currently costs $3.47 (U.S.) to send a megabyte of data over the cellular network, compared with $0.013 (U.S.) over wired phone lines, according to the Mobile Wireless Internet Forum Coalition.

Does this mean that users will prefer the wired internet because of costs? No. The convenience and future potential of the wireless Internet is compelling users to migrate to the wireless Internet.

However, organizations need to streamline the delivery of their content to mobile users so the information is provided in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. Businesses need to consider certain variables, such as:

Network bandwidth (LAN, phone line, wireless)
Size of the data packets
Network architecture and configuration
Ease of integration with other software applications

The capacity of the network and the size of the data packets affect the timeliness of the content delivery, for example. The specific network infrastructure will determine where and how the content transformation technology should be deployed within the network to optimize the transformation process. And the ease of integration with existing software applications affects the response time and effectiveness of the overall mechanism.

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher helps solve these challenges by streamlining delivery in the following ways:

Converts HTML to simplified HTML
Converts images to links that retrieve those images or eliminates images altogether
Reduces image scale and/or color level to make images smaller, easier to transfer and quicker to render on constrained devices
Converts simple tables to bulleted lists
Removes features not supported by certain devices, such as JavaScript or Shockwave applets
Responds to the limited storage capacity of many WML, HDML, and iMode phones by subdividing content into small sections that can be viewed more efficiently, a process known as deck fragmentation
Reads network profiles so that the content can be transcoded according to network constraints
Offers several flexible deployment options within the network
Offers an open, pluggable framework that allows it to extend as new standards, protocols, languages, and devices continue to emerge

Customize Content Presentation for End-Users

Not only does WebSphere Transcoding Publisher extend content, it also customizes content presentation so users can receive content tailored to the capabilities of the devices and networks they use. It can also deliver content based on end user preference information made available through an LDAP server or other data source.

Why is it so important to deliver a personalized view of content to the end-user? The Gartner Group predicts that by 2003, more than 30 percent of consumer-facing, application user interfaces will be designed to favor emotional experience over user efficiency. In other words, pervasive computing is not about browsing the Internet but about delivering user-based, content-optimized for wireless devices.

Again, the primary driver for mobile Internet use is time and convenience. Receiving only the information needed in a friendly, personalized manner is the ultimate objective of the wireless Internet user. WebSphere Transcoding Publisher addresses this requirement by allowing customization of content delivered to users to make content selection decisions:

Annotation — Tailor Web pages for a device without programming by using an XML-compliant annotation language for selecting and tailoring content. The new GUI-bases External Annotation Editor provides an easy way to annotate Web pages.
Clipping — With some Java™ programming, write clippers to select content to be delivered to the device. This allows a cell phone user to retrieve only the relevant portion of a Web page, such as the daily stock price from a page filled with other contents.
Stylesheets — Customize XML content, which has no inherent presentation format, for specific users and devices. The new GUI-based XSL Stylesheet Editor provides a simple, intuitive way to create and manage your style sheets.
Device profiles — Allows for more detailed device-level personalization of content. For example, WebSphere Transcoding Publisher can recognize devices and respond accordingly with content that has the optimal format and resolution for each device.

Accessibility by People with Disabilities

For WebSphere Transcoding Publisher offering:

The following features support use by people with disabilities:

Operation by keyboard alone.
We support font enlargement and high-contrast display settings.
We support screen readers and screen magnifiers tested for use by people with visual impairment, to the extent provided by Java Swing.
We support speech recognition products tested for use by people with mobility impairment, to the extent provided by Java Swing.

Euro Currency

This program is not impacted by euro currency.

Product Positioning

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher is the most versatile Web content transcoding tool ever! This award-winning solution quickly and easily extends the Web content designed for the desktop to pervasive mobile devices.

For chief technology officers and business line executives who need to extend Web content and applications to mobile devices, WebSphere Transcoding Publisher is a server-based adaptation solution that minimizes deployment time and cost. Unlike other transcoding products, it eliminates the need to re-create existing Web content and transforms content dynamically to suit the variety of mobile devices available.

Without transcoding technology, organizations would have to re-author content for each device type, markup language, and source content. Instead, they can deploy WebSphere Transcoding Publisher to adapt dynamically source content to match the requirements of the particular devices in their environments. This becomes increasingly important as business and consumer users increasingly integrate pervasive devices into their business and leisure habits.

Why are customers asking for our solution?

They see enormous benefits in:

Reaching new customers
Improving customer satisfaction
Enabling mobile employees to:
- Quickly respond to customer needs
- Enhance productivity
Real-time communication with partners and suppliers
Maximizing return on investment
Deploying solutions quickly
Positioning themselves for the future

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher can also retrieve information on how specific users want content presented to them, so you can have personalized transcoding based on user information. Also, LDAP administration is now included in this product.

Available September 14, 2001:

Multilingual
- English
- Italian
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Polish
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Korean
- Simplified Chinese
- Traditional Chinese
Japanese

Trademarks

: WebSphere and Everyplace are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
: AIX and RS/6000 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
: Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation.
: Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
: Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
: Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
: Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

Offering Information

Product information is available through Offering Information (OITOOL) at:

http://www.ibm.com/wwoi

Publications

No hardcopy publications are shipped with this program.

Displayable Softcopy Publications: WebSphere™ Transcoding Publisher publications are offered in displayable softcopy form. Two books are available online:

Administrator's Guide
Developer's Guide

Technical Information

Hardware Requirements

For Windows NT^® Servers Version 4 with SP 5 or 6a or for Windows^® 2000 Servers (with or without SP1):

Pentium™ II system with a minimum of 512 MB of memory.
350 MHz, or higher.
60 MB available disc space. Up to 100 MB might be required to download and install product updates.

For AIX^® V4.3.3.10, or later, V4 release:

60 MB available disc space. Up to 100 MB might be required to download and install product updates.
RS6000 Power PC, 375 MHz for uni-processor, 332 MHz for multi-processor.
512 MB memory.

For Sun Solaris V7, or later:

Ultra Sparc, 333 MHz.
60 MB available disc space. Up to 100 MB might be required to download and install product updates.
512 MB memory.

For Linux Versions:

512 MB available memory
Pentium II processor with 350 MHz, or higher
512 MB memory

Software Requirements

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher operates on the following software operating systems:

Windows NT Server (V4 with SP5 or 6a) that supports JDK 1.3
Microsoft™ Windows 2000 Server that supports JDK 1.3
AIX Version 4.3.3.10, or later, that supports JDK 1.3
Sun Solaris Version 7, that supports JDK 1.3
Red Hat Linux 6.2, that supports JDK 1.3
SuSE 6.4, that supports JDK 1.3
Caldera eServer 2.3, that supports JDK 1.3
Turbo Linux 6.0, that supports JDK 1.3

Note: If running as a servlet, WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5 is required.

To use centralized configuration data, you must have SecureWay^® Directory, V3.2 installed. Contact your IBM representative.

Limitations: WebSphere Transcoding Publisher V4.0, running as a servlet, is supported on the following platforms:

Microsoft Windows NT server
Windows 2000
AIX
Sun Solaris

Planning Information

Packaging: Each package contains:

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher CD-ROM
Proof of Entitlement (PoE)
License Information (LI) Booklet
International Program License Agreement (IPLA) Booklet
IPLA pointer sheet
Year 2000 Service Reminder
Service Key Card

This program when downloaded from a Web site, contains the applicable IBM license agreement, and LI, if appropriate and will be presented for acceptance at the time of installation of the program. The license and LI will be stored in a directory such as LICENSE.TXT for future reference.

Security, Auditability, and Control

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher uses the security and auditability features of the particular operating system that it runs on.

The customer is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application systems and communication facilities.

Ordering Information

The price of WebSphere Transcoding Publisher V4.0 is based on the number of processors in the system executing all or any part of WebSphere Transcoding Publisher. In the case of symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system, the user must also acquire the "one processor install entitlement."

Build-to-Plan Program (when ordering with Lotus part numbers)

WebSphere Transcoding Publisher Version 4.0 — Multilingual (part number 29P4188)

Passport Advantage Numbers

The following are the new Passport Advantage numbers that was part of the July 10, 2001, announcement on the changes to passport advantage and the new Software Maintenance Agreements. To learn more about these announcements, refer to Software Announcement 201-202 , dated July 10, 2001.

                                                  Part
Description                                       Number
 
WebSphere Transcoding Publisher                   D5BHVLL
 
  Version 4.0 LIC/SW Maint 1 Anniv
WebSphere Transcoding Publisher                   D5BHWLL
  Version 4.0 LIC/SW Maint 2 Anniv
WebSphere Transcoding Publisher                   D5BHXLL
  Version 4.0 Trd/Lic/SWMaint 1 Anniv
WebSphere Transcoding Publisher                   E1BHYLL
  Version 4.0 SW Maint Rnwl 1 Anniv
WebSphere Transcoding Publisher                   D5BHZLL
  Version 4.0 SW Maint Aft Lic 1 Anniv

                                                  Part
Type Package/Language                             Number
 
WebSphere Transcoding Publisher V4.0 -- Media Packs
 
Media Pack/Multilingual                           BB000LL
Media Pack/Japanese                               BB001JA

Build-to-Order Programs (when ordering with IBM part numbers)

                                                  OTC(1)
                                   Program        Feature
Description                        Number         Number
 
WebSphere Transcoding              5765-F06       0003
  Publisher Version 4.0
  (Multilingual)
  Per Installs with 1 Year
  Software Maintenance

                                                  Media
                                                  Feature
Description                                       Number
 
Language Registration No Charge:                  2935
Multilingual Media Choice No Charge:              5809
  CD-ROM

¹: One-time charge

Software Maintenance Programs: Maintenance IASP PID — 1 Year (5733-M25)

                                                  Software
                                                  Maintenance
                                                  Charge
                                                  Feature
Description                                       Number
 
Use Authorizations:  (to be orderable in quantity)
  SW Maintenance No Charge                        2503
    Registration
  SW Maintenance 1 Year                           2504
    Renewal
  SW Maintenance 1 Year After                     2505
    License

Maintenance IASP PID — 3 Year 5733-M26

                                                  Software
                                                  Maintenance
                                                  Charge
                                                  Feature
Description                                       Number
 
Use Authorizations:  (to be orderable in quantity)
  SW Maintenance 3 Year                           2515
  Registration
  SW Maintenance 3 Year                           2516
    Renewal
  SW Maintenance 3 Year After                     2517
    License

Software Subscription for AIX 5692-SSO

Customers who purchased protection for WebSphere Transcoding Publisher (5724-A13) under Software Subscription for AIX (5692-SSO), are entitled to receive WebSphere Transcoding Publisher Version 4 (5765-F06) at no charge. Eligible customers should add the applicable CD media supply feature number from the table below, to their existing 5692-SSO record.

                                                       CD-ROM
                                                       Media
                              Eligible                 Supply
                              Billing                  Feature
Description                   Features(2)              Number
 
From WebSphere Transcoding    0016                     0584
  Publisher V3 (5724-A13)     0017
  To WebSphere Transcoding    0018
  Publisher V4 (5765-F06)

²: Denotes billing features that customer must have previously purchased in order to receive this upgrade at no charge. The billing features must currently be on a customer's record as proof of eligibility.

There are no withdrawals with this announcement.

Customization Options: Select the appropriate feature numbers to customize your order with delivery options desired. These features can be specified on the initial or MES orders.

                                                    Feature
Description                                         Number
 
Expedite Shipments
 
Local IBM office expedite                           3445
 (for IBM use only)
 
Customer expedite process charge                    3446
 ($30 charge for each product)

Expedite shipments will be processed to receive 72-hour delivery from the time IBM Software Delivery and Fulfillment (SDF) receives the order. SDF will then ship the order via overnight air transportation.

Terms and Conditions

Licensing: IPLA. Proofs of Entitlement are required for all authorized use.

This software license includes Software Maintenance, previously referred to as Software Subscription and Technical Support. The following agreements apply for maintenance and do not require customer signatures:

IBM Agreement for Acquisition of Support (Z125-6011)
Addendum for Support (Software Maintenance) for Select iSeries and pSeries Programs (Z125-6495)

LI Form Number: There is no form number for the LI booklet for IPLA programs.

Limited Warranty Applies: Yes

Program Services: Available until August 31, 2003

Money-Back Guarantee: 30-day, money-back guarantee

Copy and Use on Home/Portable Computer: No

Volume Orders (IVO): Yes, contact your IBM representative.

Passport Advantage Applies: Yes

Passport Advantage Subscription Applies: Yes

Upgrades: Customers can acquire upgrades up to the currently authorized level of use of the qualifying programs.

IBM Operational Support Services — Support Line: Yes

AIX/UNIX^® Upgrade Protection Applies: Yes

Entitled Upgrade for Current AIX/UNIX Upgrade Protection Licensees: Yes

AS/400^® Software Subscription Applies: No

Variable Charges Apply: No

Educational Allowance Available: Yes, 15% education allowance applies to qualified education institution customers.

Prices

Contact your IBM representative for charges information for this announcement.

Order Now

 Use Priority/Reference Code: YE001
 
 Phone:     800-IBM-CALL
 Fax:       800-2IBM-FAX
 Internet:  ibm_direct@vnet.ibm.com
 Mail:      IBM Atlanta Sales Center
            Dept. YE001
            P.O. Box 2690
            Atlanta, GA  30301-2690

You can also contact your local IBM Business Partner or IBM representative. To identify them, call 800-IBM-4YOU.

Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.