Check Point plans to introduce a software client that makes it possible to access non-web applications via hand-held devices over Internet-based SSL VPNs.
The SecureClient Mobile software on the hand-helds links up with Check Point's VPN-1 and Connectra SSL VPN gateways and enables users to access more than web-based applications via browsers on their hand-helds.
The client works only with devices based on the Windows Mobile software platform.
The client enables pushing emails to remote devices so users are notified if they receive an email rather than waiting until they log on to check for it.
Sessions between the remote devices and gateways are kept alive by the gateway for a period set by the customer even after the remote device has fallen out of range of a wireless access point.
If the user re-establishes connections with a different access point on the same Wi-Fi network, the gateway will resume the same session without the user having to log on again.
This session persistence can also be used to shift sessions from Wi-Fi to cellular links on the fly. So when a device falls out of range of a Wi-Fi network as the user leaves the building, for example, a cellular connection can replace the Wi-Fi link. This requires service provider or corporate infrastructure to set up and bridge the cellular call between the hand-held and the gateway.
Other SSL VPN vendors, Aventail for instance, have some or all of these features in hand-held clients.
Check Point SecureClient Mobile is sold in a range of packages with the price per seat dropping with larger bundles. So for instance a 25-user license costs US$2300 and a 1000-user license costs US$40000.
