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For an increasing percentage of the population work is something you do
rather than somewhere you go and technology is making this change in
working practice hasten.
Enterprises today are
increasingly
measured, in success
terms, on the basis of
how quickly and
accurately they can
respond to customer
requests and changes in their business.
However, despite the availability of
a plethora of communications tools and
information systems, access is all too
often managed over disparate networks
and systems which do not readily grant
access to the information necessary to
make an informed decision.
We increasingly need to view these
tools as enablers to a ‘business process
value chain’, which means effective
business transactions working end-toend
efficiently and quickly so that
customers can interact with the
enterprise and the enterprise can execute quickly.
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| HTC X7500 -
Microsoft Windows Mobile® 5.0
Wi-Fi
Integrated and detachable full
keyboard
8GB hard drive |
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Customers don’t want to wait these days they expect to be able to make contact with an enterprise on the phone, web, email and for this to be an easy process and the response to be swift.
The challenge is to enable knowledge workers to access businesscritical information in a common format, whichever tool they are using – desktop, desk phone, laptop, PDA, mobile phone or smartphone.
Mobility, whether in an office, home environment or ‘on the road’, is therefore a huge issue for enterprise – not just in terms of enabling productivity enhancements, but in terms of controlling cost.
Whilst the notion of mobile working is not new the sheer volume of mobile workers in the UK and the advances in technology now ensure it is an affordable, efficient and accepted way
of working.
Gone are the days of complicated
and slow dial-up connections, often
involving pieces of hardware and
cables. With the introduction of
broadband speeds, always-on
connectivity, various data card form
factors to suit all laptop connectivity
options and reasonably priced data
tariffs, all the elements are in place for
users |
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Data Cards |
Originally data cards were designed to
only connect to a laptop’s PCMCIA slot.
However, advancements in technology
now mean that connectivity options
now include connectivity via PCMCIA
or Express Card slots or via a USB port.
Add to this the option of WLAN and the
choices become even greater.
The leading data card
manufacturers such as Sierra Wireless,
Novatel Wireless, Option Wireless Technology and Huawei have
introduced data cards to meet these
connectivity types.
In years to come, it is likely that all
laptops will have embedded data card
technology, but for the time being, a
data card is still the preferred option
with much choice available.
The cellular networks are not
always best placed. Users tend to rely
on the cellular networks to meet their
data card needs, but they do not always
have the complete product range to
cover all connectivity options or the
hands on support.
Cellular networks are at different
stages of development, therefore users
may not always get the fastest speed
actually supported by their data card.
This is further compounded when
moving around the globe, from city to
city.
As one would expect, most users
simply want a data card that they plug
in and can start using within minutes.
They do not want to be inconvenienced
with user manuals and trying to
configure technical settings.
Next GenerationThe early adopter of the original mobile
PC data card would have scoffed at the
idea of today’s true mobile broadband
speeds and stable connection.
Even in the mid 90s, speeds were
painfully slow (up to 9.6kbps) and connections would regularly drop out through poor data coverage or temporary blips when going through tunnels. The ‘always connected’ capability of more recent technologies such as GPRS and 3G have resolved such issues, making the experience less stressful, more trustworthy and therefore more workable for a business user.
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The Merlin XU870 HSDPA 7.2
ExpressCard is one of the latest
additions to the Merlin product line
with form factor flexibility fitting both
ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54
slots. It offers the flexibility of HSDPA,
UMTS, EDGE and GPRS capability.
The Merlin XU870 HSDPA 7.2
ExpressCard provides high-speed
connectivity with data speeds up to 3.6
Mbps and ultimately 7.2 Mbps, with a
software upgrade.
It has an integrated antenna system
design that incorporates an external flip
antenna, maximising data speed
performance and allows for stronger
network signal reception. |
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Realistic Mobile Broadband Experience |
The main manufacturers of data
cards, Option, Novatel Wireless
and Sierra Wireless have released
HSDPA/HSUPA versions of their
data cards in the different form
factors (USB, Express and
PCMCIA). Combined with the
various data tariffs, they can now
provide a realistic mobile
broadband experience,
whatever the physical
connection of the laptop. This
however, leads on to the
question of whether a user
would actually require
broadband at home, as a
USB modem (with an
unlimited tariff) will connect
to both the laptop away from
home and also the home-based PC.
Current data cards support GPRS,
3G and HSDPA technology, with the
most recently launched data cards also
supporting HSUPA. This ensures they
remain future-proofed and not only
meet the current, but also the
foreseeable future needs of the mobile
networks.
Future USB modems will have dual
functionality, meaning they will not
only support the latest network speeds,
but also act as a memory stick. The next
generation is therefore geared to offer
mobile broadband speeds whilst acting
as a portable memory device - a
compelling proposition. |
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The Office in Your Hand |
In the mid 90s, the latest breed of what
would now be more commonly known
as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants),
were spreading amongst executive
users. Brands at the time included
Psion, Palm and a number of Microsoftbased
devices.
As PDA phones and smartphones
advanced in their capability, so have
the number of brands available which
now include HTC, BlackBerry, E-TEN,
Palm, Samsung, HP, Toshiba, Nokia
and so on.
One can also
consider the re-badged
products from the network
operators. However, their product
portfolios tend to be somewhat limited
for corporate customers and they are
not always well supported.
Form factors continue to vary from
the classic mobile phone (i.e. Nokia
E65), to the PDA design with QWERTY
keyboard (i.e. HTC S710 or Samsung
i600). Compact or large 2.8” viewing
screens with touch screen capability
are also an option. In addition, devices
can include WLAN, MP3, camera
quality video, GPS and now also hard
drives (i.e. HTC Advantage).
Users also have the choice of
Operating System, including Microsoft
Windows Mobile, Pocket PC, Windows
CE, Palm OS, BlackBerry and Symbian
OS to complement their company
systems and working practices.
Device applications are now freely
available, adding further value, but the
main advancement has been ‘Push’
email, using software such as Nokia
Intellisync.
Various device manufacturers now
allow a degree of ROM customisation
through their accredited value-added
distribution partners. This ultimately
enables the reseller community to
brand or customise their customers’
device (e.g. add their corporate logo or
enter GPRS/WAP/MMS and email
settings), a service once exclusive to
the Networks.
The device market, whilst
dominated by the corporate sector, is
not exclusive to them, as more of the
wirelessly connected consumer
generation look to purchase devices. |
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Hard Copy |
There is a common misconception that
some old technologies are no longer
required or are close to extinction. An
example of this being good old
fashioned fax. Many ‘techies’ or ‘early
adopters’ naturally look forward and wish to
embrace and
understand new
technologies, often overlooking
fax, believing it to be ‘old hat’, but how
many offices still have a fax machine?
There are still many occasions
when there is a requirement to send
and receive a hard copy. This is also
the case when working out of the
office, with requirements for proofs of
delivery, sending signed order forms,
purchase orders and other businesscritical
documentation.
Mobile working is an ever
increasing requirement for remote
workers and simplicity, user
indifference to new equipment, staff
capability and training are always
considerations often overlooked.
Indeed, complex managed servicebased
solutions may not always be
ideal or easy to justify.
Mobile GSM phone/fax machines
have been around for a number of
years now, with leading brands such
as Possio continuing to carve out a
niche, having deployed thousands of
mobile fax machines already within
the UK.
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GRETA FACTS
290 mm x 150 mm x 50 mm (W x D x H)
1000g
AC/DC adapter included
Internal NIMH-battery
Triple band Siemens MC55
Paper capacity 15 metres roll
(approximately 50 A4 or letter size
print-outs)
Thermal printer
Fax
Telephone
Copier |
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More recently they have launched the GRETA, as a follow up to the extremely successful Possio PM70. This unit is not only a hard copy send and receive fax machine, but is also a printer and scanner and the user can also make and receive phone calls via an earpiece. This is a simple to deploy solution.
Fax is widely understood of course, so training on the unit is straightforward. It is ideal for SOHOs, the construction sector and other temporary or remote sites, the marine industry and the transport industry.
Specialised accessories such as
mounting brackets and in-vehicle
chargers increase the number of user
types, therefore making it an option for
a courier sending back PODs right
through to the executive ‘road warrior’
who can use the GRETA for sending and
receiving orders and printing off
information whilst out on the road. |
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