The next 12 months are going to be a critical time for the future of mobile business application delivery. With wireless operators preparing to launch faster broadband services and an ever-growing range of advanced new devices ready to take advantage of them, the already large body of business users accustomed to always-on access to tools like email will soon be expecting the same kind of access to applications such as ERP and CRM.

Almost everyone seems to agree that we are on the threshold of the biggest advance in end-user IT service delivery since the arrival of the PC. This time though the PC is not destined to be the star of the show and that, as some corporate IT developers are already discovering, is going to cause some problems. Continue Reading

O2 has signaled its intent to cash in on its market leading position in mobile data services market, and withdrawn unlimited data bundling from its service portfolio. The move is a shock for the 3% of O2 customers whose unlimited data access became a premium service on July 12^th, and its impact is likely to be monitored closely but the company’s competitors who are also keen the raise the profitability of their costly wireless data infrastructure.

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As we all know, the trend towards mobile communications among workers, students, and guests has pressed for the rapid migration from Wi-Fi hot spots for a handful of casual users to Wi-Fi networks for high performance users.  When selecting the Wi-Fi solution for your organization, you need to make certain the architecture is powerful and intelligent enough to not only cover large areas, but also provide the needed user density and bandwidth for mobile computing voice, video, and data – an architecture that can replace wired Ethernet to the desktop.

Several years ago, Xirrus’ founder and CEO Dirk Gates foresaw the proliferation in exciting new Wi-Fi devices and applications, but noted that no one was planning for the success of the Wi-Fi revolution.  Several companies like Airespace and Aruba were building architectures based on thin access points wired to a closet controllers — though these architectures provided better central network management, they failed to provide  the bandwidth and user density needed to replace wired networking to the desktop.

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Fourth Generation Wireless (4GW) is designed to overcome the constraints of older wireless deployments.

A decade and more ago wireless implementations were, of necessity, based on non-standard proprietary technologies. With the emergence of the initial IEEE 802.11 family of standards, manufacturers focused on interoperability. Wireless equipment prices plummeted and the concept became far more viable – particularly for domestic wi-fi communications. Typically, there are one or two access points (APs) and just a few users.

The simplicity and ease of deployment led to this consumer-grade wireless turning up in the workplace, where it was tweaked and adapted to try to accommodate the more robust demands of business. Third-generation wireless evolved to include a centralised controller, able to configure and manage the APs and bringing security and policy management to wireless communication. The essentials remained however: a single cell architecture with the client device roaming between cells. Continue Reading

However, as the Web continues to expand its role in our everyday lives, our demands grow as well. I now expect to be able to access my Web-based BBC News widget from my mobile phone, continue reading an article from that same widget once I’ve powered up my desktop computer, and complete that article once I’m at home and in front of my TV.  My expectations of access, quality and familiarity should not be sacrificed just because I’ve chosen to surf from my handheld device versus my stationary computer. Continue Reading

At a recent meeting with Greg Swift, National IS Director at Grant Thornton one of the largest accounting practices in the UK a number of key imperatives for end users beyond connectivity and coverage became clear.

Devices: The device is key, to control and deliver applications that would enhance the business Grant Thornton decided to standardise on one mobile device (RIM’s Blackberry) for all. This greatly increased the ability to control and push applications as well as having a proven and tested email delivery platform. Continue Reading

Mobile ubiquity – where everything and everyone can and more importantly should be connected is currently transforming how many industries, including Healthcare, conduct business. While the “always on” possibility poses organisations many challenges, it also presents many exciting opportunities.  As healthcare organisations and providers become increasingly digital in both their business processes and day to day medical recording, the move has opened the door for unprecedented improvements around efficient communication. Continue Reading

David Duffett, an Independent Consultant, spoke on behalf of Telespeak at Unified Communications ’09. Taking time out of his busy schedule, David gave a practically-focussed session that covered the current state of play when mixing VoIP with wireless; from the different things some classify as Fixed Mobile Convergence to the process of Least Cost Routing through GSM gateways.
Each of the current technologies were examined in terms of the cost-benefit of the mobility they allow, concluding with a look forward to what might happen if a VoIP PBX could be embedded in a Femtocell.

View David Duffett’s presentation – Listen to David Duffett’s presentation

Smart Working = Mobile (also on campus) – “Because we can work anyplace, anytime”

So says Philip Vanhoutte, Managing Director – EMEA for Plantronics, speaking at Unified Communications ’09. In times of economic distress, flexibility is essential. So UC has come right on time ! It allows smarter working, free of time and space constraints. Technology – for once – is the easy and affordable part. The real challenges lie in a novel perspective on the way we work, manage and trust each other (as managers and associates)

Leave the Office of the 20th century behind and anticipate the Death of the Desk. Get ready for the new business jungle

View Philip Vanhoutte’s presentation – Listen to Philip Vanhoutte’s presentation