Asynchronous Web - its coming!

Recently came across an interesting post by Steve Maryka on Asynchronous Web at theserverside.com. Sure we have been experiencing asynchronous Ajaxified web pages for a while, but Steve presents a nice overview of different approaches to achieve asynchronous calls given the limitations of HTTP protocol. Long polling (where a client side script polls for update and the servlet returns only when there are updates) has been a relatively new development and application servers and standards are playing a catch up to support thread blocking servlets. Besides there are limitations of client side browser connections to the same domain, for example 2 in case of IE. In terms of possible usage, there are plenty with list containing the usual suspects like stock portfolio, inventory updates etc.

Now how does this affect the mobile browser world, sort of always connected devices that can leverage such technology to provide a power notification mechanism? Club it with protocols like SyncML where the asynchronous call acts as the notification mechanism for SyncML session to be activated and the possibility just skyrocket. With powerful smart phones and full internet capable browsers provided by projects like Moblin, it is going to be busy time for developers ahead. Time to pick up some of these skills.