Electrolux Group, a producer of powered domestic and professional appliances, has selected Extended Systems' XTNDConnect Server data synchronization software to enable centralized management of mobile devices across its global network.

Electrolux said it will deploy XTNDConnect Server to enable users to synchronize data (e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks and other files) between mobile devices and the corporation's Lotus Notes Groupware application. The companies said XTNDConnect Server was chosen because it is device-agnostic and will allow the Electrolux IT department, Electrolux IT Solutions, to centrally manage any type of PDA brought into the enterprise. "The advantage of using XTNDConnect server is that we are ready for future take up," said Dan Danielsson of Electrolux IT Solutions. "No matter which devices people choose to use, and even if we go from GSM to 3G, we have a solution that meets our needs."

"The Electrolux Group is an immense organization located in 150 countries that needed a centralized platform to allow careful and effective management of mobile devices while avoiding security risks," explained Extended Systems Vice President Raphael Auphan who oversees Extended Systems' European operations. "Electrolux experimented with other solutions but was not able to find one that met its requirements until it evaluated XTNDConnect Server."

Under a pilot program, the companies said senior management at Electrolux has been using XTNDConnect Server with a mix of mobile devices, including Hewlett-Packard iPAQs, Palms and other PDAs running the Pocket PC and Palm operating systems. Now, said Auphan, Electrolux IT Solutions is launching the centralized PDA platform worldwide to all Electrolux employees.