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Client Types for Siebel CRM

You can access Siebel Business Applications through several different client types (deployment options). Client deployment options differ by the amount and type of software installed on the client computer, the application functionality available to the user, and the network requirements.

The following client deployment options are supported in this release of Siebel Business Applications:

• Siebel Web Client-Customer Applications. (Standard-Interactivity Mode) Siebel Web Client runs in a standard browser from the client personal computer. The browser connects through a Web server to the Siebel Server, which executes business logic and accesses data from the Siebel Database.

  Browsers include a common set of standards and capabilities that translate into a base set of supported Siebel application features (such as frames, menus, and multi-select). A Siebel application running in standard-interactivity mode assumes the availability of and utilizes these standards based capabilities only. These capabilities provide the interaction required by Siebel customer applications. For more information about standard-interactivity mode and browser support for it, see Requirements for Web Client-Customer Applications (Standard-Interactivity Mode).

• Siebel Web Client-Employee Applications. (High-Interactivity Mode) Siebel Web Client runs in Microsoft Internet Explorer from the client personal computer. The browser connects through a Web server to the Siebel Server, which executes business logic and accesses data from the Siebel Database.

  The Siebel high-interactivity client takes advantage of the capabilities of the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. The high-interactivity mode extends the base functionality described in Standard-Interactivity Mode and offers support for additional usability features, such as drag and drop for setting column widths and positions, the ability to select rows and fields by clicking anywhere within the element, and selectively updating portions of the page, based on data that changes. A Siebel application running in high-interactivity mode requires the Microsoft Internet Explorer's advanced capabilities in addition to the base capabilities. For more information about high- interactivity mode, see Requirements for Employee Applications (High-Interactivity Mode).

• Siebel Mobile Web Client. (High-Interactivity Mode) Siebel Mobile Web Client is a portable Microsoft Windows client delivered through a Web browser that is designed for local data access and does not have to be connected to a server. Siebel Mobile Web Client meets the needs of field professionals who do not have continuous access to a network. Siebel Mobile Web Client uses a local database on each mobile device. Periodically, the client must access the Siebel Remote Server through a dial-up wide area network (WAN), or local area network (LAN) connection to synchronize data changes with the Siebel Database on the database server and Siebel File System. This client requires the installation of Siebel software on the user's personal computer.
• Siebel Developer Web Client. (High Interactivity-Mode) Siebel Developer Web connects directly to a database server. It is intended for limited and restricted use by Siebel developers and Siebel administrators, and it requires an installation on the client computer. Developers can use it as a testing platform to validate design and configuration changes, while administrators can perform administrative tasks directly with the database server when the Web server and Siebel Server are not available. Siebel Dedicated Client is supported for use in development and test environments only.
• Siebel Tools Client. Siebel Tools Client is a Microsoft-Windows-based application for users of Siebel Tools.
• Siebel Handheld Client. Siebel Handheld Client is a mobile client for users of Siebel Handheld products. For more information about requirements for Siebel Handheld applications, see Siebel Handheld Applications for Windows-Based Devices.
• Siebel Wireless Client. Siebel Wireless Client runs in a variety of WML and HTML browsers available for mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, and pagers, and does not require any Siebel software to be installed on the client. The browser connects through a wireless gateway, if required, and then through a Web server to the Siebel Server, which executes business logic and accesses data from the Siebel database.