Top Trends In Enterprise Wireless
05 Nov 2007
Wireless Data Is Not Yet Mainstream But It's Moving That Direction Quickly
Of all the types of problems facing the help desk, about 35-40 percent are related to the configuration of mobile services. Other problems include connectivity issues, synchronization issues and usability of the device.
-- Patricia Wilkey, Leader of Global Desktop & Mobility for EDS
It took years for personal computers to become a standard piece of equipment provided to new hires. Notebook computers took even longer. Wireless voice phones have not been standard equipment for long, and wireless data devices (for non-vertical markets) are still not considered standard equipment. Yet having access to both voice and data has become a necessity – not only while sitting at a desk. We have become a mobile workforce and mobility requires us to have anytime access to all of our information.
At a recent mobility roundtable event in Chicago, EDS and Microsoft welcomed Andrew Seybold as the guest speaker. Mr. Seybold, founder and principal of Andrew Seybold, Inc., is one of the most respected and influential analysts in the wireless industry today. For more than twenty five years, he has served the industry and shaped initiatives for world leaders of the wireless industry.
Mr. Seybold, along with mobility leaders from EDS and Microsoft, discussed various wireless topics including the five biggest trends in Enterprise wireless.
- Laptops and Smart Phones – Handheld wireless devices are becoming more robust with faster processors, better screens, more storage and better input. Wireless email is a well-established application. Many who carried notebooks strictly for email now use wireless devices instead. Handheld devices offer more robust access to enterprise applications than ever before – and this will only improve. Access to corporate data is now easier, faster and better on handhelds – better security and better control of data. Notebooks are still required for those who need to create work in the field but more notebooks offer built-in wide-area wireless.
- Wide-Area Broadband Wireless – As mentioned above, m ore notebooks offer built-in wide-area/local-area wireless, and wireless data pricing is dropping to new lows. Additionally, notebooks are providing faster data speeds that are more like the DSL/cable experience, requiring fewer customer service calls thanks to easier troubleshooting. One client is being used to handle all forms of connectivity making it easier for field force. And more handheld devices support high-speed wireless data and can be attached as a modem to non-enabled notebooks
- Return on Investment – Corporations are beginning to understand that wireless doesn't cost, it pays. There are now many examples of wireless deployments with good ROI and a higher percentage of pilots being turned into deployments than ever before. ROI worksheets show paybacks in months, not years. Access to ROI data has shortened sales and deployment cycles by corporations. Best of all, systems integrators understand wireless today and are able to help corporations with deployments. Wireless access is clearly a business tool needed today.
- Wireless Convergence – Enterprises are deploying voice over IP (VoIP) wired voice services and experimenting with VoIP in-building wireless. They are beginning to look at wide-area and local-area convergence for both data and voice services to provide seamless integration between in-building and wide-area services. Wireless network operators are moving toward wide-area/Wi-Fi integration for voice and data. The Focus is on in-building Wi-FI/VoIP/data services seamlessly roaming to wide-area voice/data networks. And while there has been a lot of hype about “convergence,” it really is coming, with a limited number of wide-area/Wi-Fi phones available today.
- Wireless Email well established – Wireless email is well understood today and there are multiple solutions available including server based, POP3 and others. Today's wireless email includes opening attachments, viewing HTML email and full PIM viewing and updates. Keywords can be used to perform quick email searches. Email can be pushed out to devices to make network coverage look better and provide better battery life for devices. Finally, the per-customer pricing continues to fall.
What lies ahead for wireless? Wireless devices will become our command-and-control devices. We will use them not only as a phone and for access to information but also to control many aspects of our lives. Our car will recognize our phone and adjust our seats, heating, radio and other functions automatically. Our wireless device will interact with rental cars, hotel TVs and make any PC we use “our PC” for the moment. We will pay our bills, move money and make stock transactions via our wireless devices. When we leave home, our wireless device is the one device we will always take along.
EDS On Mobility
EDS is no stranger to mobility. In fact, EDS currently supports more than 950,000 mobile devices for our clients around the world. We understand that to remain competitive, companies must support the mobile work force. But with mobility comes challenges:
- Security – protecting corporate data outside the company's walls
- Selection – assessing and understanding which devices meet your users' needs
- Support – determining how to and who should support the devices
“In order to develop a plan for the future, it's important to understand your current situation and users, as well as impact to the entire organization,” said Patricia Wilkey, leader of Global Desktop & Mobility for EDS.
EDS Can Help You Implement A Mobility Solution
EDS offers an end-to-end managed mobility solution that delivers voice and enterprise data to users regardless of the geography, device, network and application. Let us help you:
- Optimize the productivity of your mobile workforce
- Improve end-user satisfaction
- Provide consistent desktop experience regarding support, connectivity and security for the end-user
- Reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a mobile workforce
- Increase security, privacy and integrity of data for mobile users
For more information on how EDS can help you implement a mobility plan, contact us today.
About Patricia M. Wilkey
Patricia M. Wilkey is Director of Global Desktop & Mobility for EDS. Wilkey is active in creating global mobile strategies & emerging services readiness for the business enterprise market. She is responsible for developing strategic alliances, creating strategic plans and supporting new business opportunities.
Since joining EDS in 1991, Wilkey has held various positions including Vice President of the Wireless Communications Industry. She became Chief Financial Officer of EDS' wholly owned wireless subsidiary, EDS Personal Communications Corp. (PCC) in 1995. While CFO of EDS, PCC revenue increased at a CAGR of 28 percent and expanded into more than 15 new markets. In 1997, Wilkey was named Unit Controller of global wireless communications, media and entertainment for EDS. She became the Vice President of the Communications, Entertainment and Media global industry group in 1999 where she was key in establishing new ventures and overseeing mega deals.