Also, recent reports on mobile trends seem to be overlooking the push of mobile-computing vendors into the business-to-employee space. Despite getting the brush-off from analysts and the mainstream press, mobile computing for B2E makes sense -- just ask your salespeople what they wouldn't give for dependable, real-time access to inventory databases.
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Grab your Real Player and tune in to hear our discussion on infrastructure and development issues involved in building a reliable wireless application.
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If yours is one of the majority of enterprises needing guidance on mobile strategy, today's your lucky day. We discuss the role of mobile computing in the enterprise and the issues involved in deploying support for mobile access to existing applications -- both Web-based and back-end legacy systems. And we examine the issues in development, deployment and the technologies, and offer solutions to assist you in your mobile initiatives.
In reply to a recent reader poll in which we asked what mobile applications you support or plan to support, we got a wide range of answers, with e-mail and field applications, such as data collection, leading the pack. As for devices, 66 percent of you said notebooks -- no surprise there -- but other choices include e-mail pagers, PalmOS and PocketPC devices, cell phones with microbrowsers, and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)-enabled and smart phones.
We also evaluate several synchronization and device-management options, designed specifically for mobile computing environments (see "Enable Your Mobile Apps"). And we discuss the solutions to the issues facing those of you building up your infrastructures to support synchronized mobile computing initiatives.
We'll get to the business case later. For now, let's look at what vendors are up to. Handspring recently entered a multitude of partnerships intended to enable the move of mission-critical business applications, including CRM (customer-relationship management), ERP (enterprise resource planning), e-mail and SFA (sales-force automation), to its line of handheld devices.
Aether Systems provides a variety of horizontal and vertical solutions, with many more planned. Mobile devices running Microsoft Windows CE already offer a variety of productivity tools based on Microsoft's pervasive Office suite of tools, and support for additional applications commonly found on the desktop is growing rapidly as vendors seek to satisfy the demand from mobile users.
PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems and SAP also have begun to tailor their systems for mobile-device access, making it easier for enterprises to embark on mobile initiatives (see "Full Fledged Business Apps Make PDAs Indispensable").
Application Choices
Many horizontal applications are available for mobile platforms. Horizontal applications, defined as those generic enough to be used across industries -- messaging, e-mail and collaboration tools are examples -- often fall into the productivity category of business applications. The business driver for enterprise mobile deployment for the work force, however, will be the availability of vertical applications -- those that have customized functionality and, in many cases, are tailored to a specific industry. Applications generally considered vertical include ERP and CRM, CIS (customer-information systems), and inventory-control systems. Air2Web, AvantGo and a few other vendors provide vertical application support for mobile platforms.
What types of applications are suitable for mobile deployment? As we noted earlier, horizontal applications such as e-mail, instant messaging, Web browsing and calendaring are not only suitable but already pervasive throughout the mobile community. PDAs, notebooks, pagers and even watches can deliver these types of horizontal applications, providing a lower cost of initial implementation.
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on Mobile-Enabled Software.
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Vertical applications are more difficult to move to mobile environments. Certain types of vertical applications, specifically those in the hospitality and health-care industries, are available for purchase. Before moving a piece of vertical-market or custom-built software to a mobile device, though, you must consider whether the benefits will outweigh the cost.
Moving vertical applications to any new platform almost always requires some changes to your business processes and additional training for end users, plus the cost of development, deployment and changes to the infrastructure. The move to a mobile platform for vertical applications is not unlike an ERP implementation, so determine up front if the long-term ROI will be worth the investment. Will the move lead to increased customer satisfaction? Employee productivity? Reduction in staff or general costs of doing business? If the answers are yes, the cost can be justified over time and a business case made for the move.
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