FileMaker, Inc. has a few surprises for attendees of this week’s Macworld Expo. The company is previewing FileMaker Mobile 2 Companion and more. FileMaker Mobile 2 Companion is designed to work with Palm OS-based PDAs and runs on Mac OS X. FileMaker expects to release the new software some time in the first half of 2002.
Billed as the first integrated database for Mac OS X, FileMaker Mobile 2 Companion enables you to transfer and synchronize data between FileMaker Pro databases and Palm-compatible PDAs. It works in conjunction with Palm’s recently introduced Palm Desktop 4.0 for Mac OS X, which has been released as a public beta. New features include pop-up menus, resizable columns and date and time picker.
FileMaker will also show attendees of the expo how to integrate FileMaker Pro 5.5 for Mac OS X with Microsoft’s Office v.X suite. FileMaker noted that Word X, Excel X and Entourage integrate directly with FileMaker Pro 5.5.
Also on display is FileMaker Solution Framework. The set of customizable business solutions is free to download and enables users to track contacts, as well as manage invoices and products.
FileMaker is also showing off FileMaker Pro-based solutions produced by four different members of the company’s FileMaker Solutions Alliance (FSA), a consortium of 2,000 developers worldwide. Solutions on display include a custom Lasik eye surgery product, database analysis system, picture gallery Web site creation tool and more.