Products FAQ
Q:   How can a rich user experience be developed using web technologies?
A:   Programming applications in the native language of the device is the easiest way to achieve the highest user experience possible in all aspects. But as web languages mature and new technologies such as HTML5 are gaining traction, this gap is quickly shrinking.
    The following are two examples of development frameworks that enable the creation of rich mobile apps using nothing but web technologies such as JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3:
    http://jquerymobile.com/demos/1.0a2/
    http://water.sencha.com/
    For organizations with unique requirements such as three-dimensional graphics for example, web languages may still present a challenge given the lack of ready-made controls and libraries. In such cases, organizations should choose a Mobile Application Platform that can either support and run applications that were developed in a fully native approach, or allow the support of a hybrid approach that uses both native and web languages.
    To review additional mobile applications that were developed using only web technologies, please visit the Open App Market website.
Q:   What skills are required to use the Worklight Mobile Platform?
A:   As opposed to many solutions in the market that consist of proprietary technologies and require developers to learn new skills, the Worklight Application Platform was designed to allow organizations to utilize their existing in-house resources.
    Worklight’s unique development flexibility lets developers choose between using common web development skills such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript and device-specific native code. Furthermore, iPhone developers can use the Worklight Objective-C API to access the Worklight Server, invoke an enterprise information service, record a user activity in an audit log, or perform an authentication sequence. This allows organizations which already developed an iPhone application to benefit from the benefits of the Worklight Mobile Platform.
 
Q:   My organization is considering the purchase of pre-packaged applications. Why are Worklight-powered applications better?
A:   Pre-packaged applications that deliver basic functionality are an easy and quick way to catch up with the mobile trend. Unfortunately, such cookie-cutter approach does not fit every organization. Some companies have unique requirements in the form of customer needs, IT infrastructure, authentication mechanisms, graphical design and more. Others simply wish to innovate and differentiate themselves from the competition.
    Worklight imposes no limitations on the development potential of the application. Using our platform, such organizations are able to develop any cross-platform app they can envision and align it with their own unique requirements and needs.
 
Q:   My company already has an iPhone application. Why should I invest in a mobile application platform?
A:   Several of our customers approached us after already deploying their first iPhone application. Several wanted to develop additional applications for other business units. Others wanted to develop the same application for Android and BlackBerry devices and have the option to expand to other operating systems in the future such as Symbian and Windows Mobile.  Some of our customers used our platform to reach their end-users on non-mobile channels such as tablet, desktop and web environments.
    In addition to supporting potential future projects, the Worklight technology allows organizations to run fully native applications that were not originally developed on the Platform. As a result, organizations not only “save” the value of their past investments but also may increase their return with the Worklight Platform.
 
Q:   How long does it take to install the Worklight Mobile Platform?
A:   The Worklight Platform has been built from the ground up using standard technologies and protocols to ensure development flexibility and ease of use. Setting up the platform can be done in a matter of minutes and requires no training or special knowledge.
    Any developer who masters basic web skills, i.e. HTML, CSS and JavaScript, can immediately start working on the Worklight Platform to create rich, cross-platform applications without any knowledge of device-specific languages. Having said that, Worklight does not limit developers who do command such languages, but rather allows them to use it to complement the application and augment the user experience.
    Application development time varies greatly based on its functional complexity, design schemes and integration requirements, but based on our customers’ experience, on average span between several weeks to several months.
 
Q:   Can my application support new devices or operating systems when they reach the market?
A:   Using the Worklight Mobile Platform, organizations can take advantage of new environments as we support them. Worklight expands its support of new devices and operating systems as they reach the market and prioritizes its efforts based on the popularity of the device and the needs of our customers.
    With regards to new version releases of operating systems, as part of the Worklight Studio, the platform integrates with the SDKs that are provided by the mobile vendors. As a result, not only is the development process streamlined but also new version releases of the respective operating systems are automatically supported by the platform.
 
Q:   My organization doesn’t have any in-house development capabilities. Would Worklight develop my apps?
A:   Our platform was designed to allow organizations and their development partners to easily and quickly develop cross-platform applications without any knowledge of device-specific native code.
    If your organization does not have internal development skills or does not partner with any development shop, contact Worklight and get introduced to a member of our worldwide network of experienced partners.
   
Q:   Are applications built with Worklight external (B2B, B2C) or internal (employee) facing?
A:   The Worklight Platform does not limit the type of applications that can be developed. Using its development tools and integration framework, organizations can access any type of back-end system and design the user interface to any requirement.
    Furthermore, the Worklight server can scale to support not only millions of users but also dozens of applications that can all be managed centrally from the Worklight Console. In effect, Worklight customers can leverage the platform to create, run and manage multiple independent applications for a variety of business purposes, both internal and external facing.
 
Q:   What’s the main difference between Worklight and open-source solutions in the market?
A:   Enterprise mobile applications have a wide set of requirements. Their design needs to align with the user needs and promote the brand, their functionality requires complex back-end integration with multiple systems and authentication mechanisms, they need to be controlled and managed continuously and the data they produce needs to be collected and analyzed.     
    Most open-source solutions in the market offer an application development framework and as such provide a specific features or solve a narrow set of challenges. The Worklight Mobile Platform is a robust, enterprise-grade solution that addresses the needs of enterprises and IT departments throughout the entire lifecycle of mobile application ownership: from an end-to-end development and optimization environment, through a back-end integration layer that is scalable and includes security features, to deployment, run-time management and ongoing management.
    The Worklight architecture utilizes and further enhances such tools. One example is our use of the PhoneGap framework to access native device APIs using standard web technologies over a uniform bridge.
 
Q:   How does Worklight help manage my applications post deploying?
A:   Organizations embarking on a comprehensive mobile strategy should plan to make the mobile channel a formal extension of their business and brand. As such, this channel must be managed and controlled as any other channel.
    Deploying interactive mobile applications to the hands of millions of end users presents several new challenges. First, the volume and frequency of queries submitted to the back-end systems can be overwhelming and demanding. Organizations must be prepared and able to manage the scalable delivery of the mobile interaction.
    Second, once an application has been adopted by the end user, administrators must have a way to monitor and control the normal use and behavior of the application. For example, if for any reason an application requires a critical update, the organization should have a way to convey that need to the end users at a minimum, if not enforce such update on the application. Such capability can save the organization from embarrassment, let alone significant expenses.