AvantGo Inc. has begun shipping the latest release of its AvantGo Enterprise software for extending company Web-based and client-server applications and information to handheld computing devices. AvantGo also formed a partnership with terminal-emulation software vendor Attachmate Corp., which will build E-business packages around the AvantGo technology for resale.

Enhancements to the new AvantGo release improve the software's scalability and manageability. The system, for example, now offers load balancing across multiple servers and server caching for better performance under heavy processing loads. The new release provides Web-based connectivity to non-Web data and applications. Synchronization between handheld devices and company systems can be conducted in real time or on a batch-mode basis through occasional connections. Security is also improved through the use of 56-bit and 128-bit SSL (secure socket layer) encryption technology.

While AvantGo previously ran only on Windows NT servers, it now supports the Solaris and Linux operating systems. The software connects to handheld devices running the Windows CE and the Palm OS operating systems. Pricing for the product begins at $150 per user.