Free iPhone App from Sentinex Connects to Infor ERP A+

Published: April 13, 2010

by Alex Woodie

i/OS software developer Sentinex is offering users of Infor's ERP A+ an iPhone application that allows them to view data and reports from the ERP application, the company announced recently. The software, which is based on the company's i2i (iPhone to System i) offering, is free of charge to A+ users.

Sentinex has been developing its i2i software since Apple released the iPhone a year and a half ago. The company's i2i collection is composed of four pre-built "connector widgets" that install on the i/OS server and provide connectivity to mobile phones equipped with Web browsers (not just the iPhone).

These mobile applications include:

• i2i Data Lookup, which provides a "mobile electronic catalog" of items stored in an i/OS ERP system
• i2i Data Entry, which allows users to view and create or modify data from a mobile phone
• i2i Dashboards, which uses Google Charts software to render i/OS data via pie charts, bar graphs, maps, and gauges
• i2i Reports, which allows users to view their standard RPG-based reports from a mobile phone

Each widget provides another way for mobile users to get at i/OS applications and data, without the time and expense of modifying existing applications. i2i works with any mobile phone that supports a full Web browser, not just the iPhone.

In this i2i demo from Sentinex, a user is presented with an iPhone interface for looking up items offered by an African art company.

Earlier this month, the Belvidere, New Jersey, company announced a free version of its i2i Lookup gadget designed for use with the Infor ERP A+ software (which was formerly Daly.Commerce's Application Plus).

This new i2i Lookup gadget will give Infor ERP A+ users in the wholesale and distribution industries a "mobile electronic catalog" that allows sales personnel and customers to look up pricing, availability, and other information, the company says. The i2i Lookup gadget also features the Auto-Suggest capability for quicker entry of search terms, and can work even when there is no network connection back to the System i server.

"Your System i has a wealth of data, but access is limited," says Trevor Seeney, the head developer and president of Sentinex. "Business grows when people can access your System i from anywhere using an iPhone. Distributors who rely on the Infor ERP A+ package are invited to help themselves to a free i2i widget download to generate a mobile electronic catalog of their products."

Sentinex says a minimum level of technical aptitude is required to download and configure the software. Customers are free to customize the look and feel of their i2i apps, including changing the colors and the logos. i/OS-based sign-on security is provided as an option.

"What differentiates Sentinex in the marketplace is that we're offering load-and-go iPhone connectors that directly access IBM i applications and/or data while others are offering toolkits to intercept 5250 data streams for users to condition for the browser," states Peter Mullin, managing director for Sentinex. "Our business thrust recognizes that reality of our System i community where so many System i shops are ill equipped and resource strapped to learn and deploy new Web technologies and toolkits on their own.

In addition to developing Web software for i/OS, Sentinex develops i/OS security software, including the ScreenSafer/400 product that is distributed through its business partner, Kisco Information Systems.

i2i requires OS/400 V5R2 or higher. For more information on the i2i gadgets, see the company's Web site at www.sentinex.com.

                     Post this story to del.icio.us
               Post this story to Digg
    Post this story to Slashdot