Enterprise Mobility World

Mobile trends for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:27:00 +0000

This year promises to be yet another exciting year for the mobile industry, here are my predictions for 2012

1. A new order for smartphone operating systems

Of the many mobile changes to come in 2012 we will see a shift in the top three smartphone operating systems. At the moment it’s Android which leads the way, followed by Apple’s iOS, and then BlackBerry in third. But these aren’t good times for BlackBerry maker RIM, and they’ll get worse as the year progresses.

The number of BlackBerry users was globally down by three per cent at the end 2011 from just a few months ago. Eastern world market demand of low cost handsets is not sustainable for RIM, which has traditionally targeted the high-end corporate market. It also faces more fierce competition from iPhones and Android devices, previously questionable for use in the enterprise. Premium BlackBerry devices remain as expensive as any top end mobile, and the controversial data outage towards the end of last year didn’t help its reputation. Added to this, its new operating system isn’t due out until Q4 2012, meaning those at the end of their mobile contracts in 2012 may well consider a different device.

The new smartphone OS and new entrant to third position will be Windows Phone 7.5. Since entering the marketplace with its range of Lumia devices, Nokia has been predicted to sell around 40 million devices in 2012. New Window Phone devices from Samsung, HTC and LG will propel Windows to a global third place position by the end of 2012.

2. LTE woes to continue in the UK

The UK has been known as pioneers of mobile technology, but this mantle is slipping. Roll-out of 4G communications infrastructure has shown the UK to be more of a laggard, thanks largely due to threatened litigation from O2 and Vodafone who are concerned that rivals Three and Everything Everywhere would be given preferential treatment. The result has been further delays to the 4G spectrum auction, which was originally intended to happen in 2009. For the first time carriers from the USA and Asia are ahead of the UK in standardising and deploying LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks. With an auction finally pencilled in for the end of the year, the UK now faces the prospect seeing no broadly available LTE services until 2014.

3. Contactless mobile payments to gain traction
This summer will see a concerted effort by Visa and Samsung to use the 2012 Olympic Games as a marketing platform for contactless payment solutions using NFC (near field communication) technologies. With a considerable marketing spend behind activities, it should act as rocket fuel to drive understanding and uptake in the consumer and corporate space. In Las Vegas, CES announcements included many from major manufacturers committed to producing NFC-enabled phones in 2012.

4. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) & Consumerisation set to flourish

As the UK economy predictably fails to kick-start in 2012, the impact of BYOD and Consumerisation of mobile technology will be felt ever more keenly. A recent Forrester report stated that businesses IT spend last year grew by 11 per cent, but predicted a growth of 5 per cent for 2012. With significantly less available to spend on IT, there will be a greater onus on maximising the existing devices of employees through new business models. Eliminating a layer of cost and introducing efficiencies can be achieved without considerable investment, and a number of organisations are set to find out how.

Manufacturer LG and VMware have partnered to introduce “virtual environments” which give Smartphone and tablet devices access via a corporate servers and applications in a controlled and secure fashion. Related to this will be a growth in secure corporate app stores, which will help to support
the new infrastructure.

5. Further breaks found in the Corporate Cloud

Corporate organisations examining infrastructure costs and projected spends will focus anew on cloud-based solutions. The potential to migrate and mobilise day-to-day systems within the cloud promises benefits of cost, given the charge per use, and simplicity in terms of delivery.

Barriers to large scale adoption include the lack of corporate strength SLAs, meaning mission-critical applications will remain within the enterprise until such time that they improve. As a result, it’s likely to be the less critical applications migrating first, to prove the concept, such as email, ecommerce sites, office systems and potentially CRM systems.

6. UK smartphone penetration to surpass 50 per cent

New research from Ofcom stated that 48 per cent of all phones sold in the UK is a smartphone. With UK penetration of smartphones currently standing at around 30 per cent, low cost smartphones are beginning to attract a new type of buyer. Smartphone penetration will soon increase to over 50 per cent, freeing up new, rich media services for those that want them. However, there will always be a fraction of the population which sees see no reason to want a smartphone.

7. Text messaging to decline

The growth of IP-based messaging such as Apple’s iMessage, instant messaging, Facebook and chat clients will all combine to chip away at SMS revenues. The proliferation of new smartphones and new devices mean more operating systems are available which support IP-based messaging. Added to this will be behavioural changes such as increased use of Facebook and Facebook-specific chat clients with a richer messaging experience.

Although still popular with certain demographics and certainly still with massive range of different applications, overall volumes of SMS text messages will begin to dwindle.

8. Keep taking the tablets

The rise and rise of tablets will show no sign of slowing. With 261,000 device shipments across Western Europe in August 2011 alone – according to CCS Insight, the tablet market is still a drop in the ocean compared to mobile phones. But their surge in popularity will continue through 2012.

The birth of a Windows 8 tablet later in the year will present new challenges to the dominant iPad form factor and iOS, as will the new ‘ice-cream sandwich’ Android OS, which is set for release. Increased competition will inevitably lead to more affordable price brackets, with BlackBerry’s Playbook already made available for under £200. Forecasts have even suggested we’ll own more than one tablet each.

9. Smart tablets to get a good corporate wrap
“Wrappers” will become a key way of accessing corporate information on smart tablet devices, using terminal services or running Virtual Machines. Terminal services, while not yet a truly mobile methodology as it requires a reasonable network speed through a WiFi network, will summon more efficient methods of delivering terminal services onto mobile devices throughout 2012. This will ultimately be supported by 4G, but don’t hold your breath for that.

But as Tablets become increasingly powerful, the possibility of running Virtual Machines (VMs) containing a selection of corporate applications becomes very real. Such technologies will also accelerate BYOD in the workplace.

10. HTML5 to help bypass app stores

The late Steve Jobs did much to make Flash incompatible with the internet browsers of Apple’s devices, because the technology is used to create and enhance applications and can weaken the App Store offering if used within browsers. This subsequently helped the success of its App Store, allowing apps to do things that weren’t possible inside Apple’s Safari browser. The birth and development of HTML5 now gives the opportunity for comparable features and functions to be hosted within the internet browsing session of a range of devices, including iPhones and iPads.

Amazon’s recent creation of a Kindle web store for iPad reflects a deliberate attempt to evade the mandatory revenue share with Apple, using an HTML5 solution, while the Financial Times is also attempting something similar. Such efforts will become more commonplace this year.

2012 will see HTML5 being established as the corporate tool of choice for secure app stores to be created by individual companies. This brings opportunities back to developers and means the big consumer application stores stand a good chance of being gradually frozen out.

Public sector needs to retire the quick-fix and embrace integrated solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:39:00 +0000

With austerity measures currently being put in place across the public sector, deployments of integrated smart technologies could finally begin to spread through fragmented systems. Acceptance should now spread quickly, but it has taken time.

Business leaders like Lord Digby Jones have long been vocal about local governments’ management of IT, suggesting that extra human resources are often thrown at problems, rather than innovative technologies. The result is high costs, inefficiencies and arguably over-staffed departments.
Recessionary pressures to reduce costs means a belated, broad acceptance of new solutions is imminent. This should be welcomed, and the need for rapid implementation should be encouraged.

However, before doing so public sector bodies would do well to take a step back and consider the bigger picture of their organisations. Diligently assessing technology which suits the needs of a whole organisation is infinitely preferable to selecting once piece of software which does a sound job in a specific department.

A large UK business consultancy found that an English local authority employed no fewer than eleven disparate IT systems within a single business unit. Individual IT systems were designed and deployed to deliver care and transport services to a small community of adults with special needs. Attempts to unify the solutions were minimal.

But with the range of flexible and affordable technology available today, this no longer has to be the case.

An ideal approach would involve maximising investment in both people and technology, whilst narrowing the chasm between private and public sectors. It’s a chasm bred from the misconception about business objectives. A key shared objective of any organisation, whether in the private or public sector, is to take a quality service and deliver value to its customers. Methods of achieving this in the private sector can easily be transplanted into the public sector.

To do this, I would advocate a process of enterprise mobility-led business rationalisation. Put simply, a new resource can be absorbed throughout an organisation to compensate for a reduced headcount in the form of a single mobile platform. This can be integrated with existing IT solutions to give instant wireless access across a range of portable devices which are already in use. Mobile must be a major consideration within an overall IT strategy.

Areas of local government that stand to benefit include social housing, environmental health, occupational therapists, highways, pest control, education, courts, social services, building services.

There’s a sustained need to encourage public sector organisations away from simply applying more manpower, and instead look to private sector organisations for advice, solutions and examples of best practice. Technology exists today which enables organisations to get it right first time with a single-platform approach and no high-cost, specialist devices. There’s no reason why a residential warden can’t use the same system as a care worker.

It all begins with openness, acceptance, and a wider vision of what can be achieved.

Affordable technology for low cost labour - achieving ROI in Facilities Management

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:33:00 +0000

In the first of a series of items concentrating on specific sectors, Steve Reynolds examines how Facilities Management businesses can set about achieving return on investment from a nominal technology spend.

It’s a well-established fact that deploying smart mobility solutions helps businesses in Facilities Management to reduce paperwork, streamline processes and reduce associated overhead costs.
While this is now broadly accepted, in today’s ever cost-conscious world Return On Investment (ROI) finds itself increasingly under the spotlight. There is a legitimate concentration on low cost efficiencies amongst organisations in the FM sector. This means extra attention should be given to the type of work carried out and the environment where it is conducted.

One of the biggest challenges in deploying new technology is justifying the investment costs to a board of directors primarily concerned with maximising investment and producing a tangible ROI. Improved customer satisfaction and similar intangible benefits are no longer enough to win sign-off.

Times of austerity make it increasingly hard to justify high value solutions for low cost labour.

So what can be done?

So how can FM organisations achieve return on an investment in the latest technology? Firstly, ensure it does tangibly improve business performance. Secondly, ensure that it doesn’t cost the earth.

Any organisation seeking to maximise technology expenditure will be working to an agreed standard with its customers. For basic wage-level staff like cleaners, routine and timely job cycles are important; as is compliance and health and safety. Giving such staff expensive mobile devices, even if it secures an agreed standard, can be considered an ROI gamble.

But affordable new mobile technology can allow FM organisations to select an appropriate platform to meet an agreed standard. Existing devices can be used, possibly of those already owned by staff, enabling them to conduct the necessary compliance checks, and deliver customer information to the office in real-time.

In addition to operational information, a cleaner might note an order for more bleach, which can be registered and dispatched to the relevant point. A hospital environment might contain a number of workers from porters to senior technicians. Where it’s critical for facilities to keep working at optimum levels for a range of different staff, a single, simple platform approach should be adopted.

One size fits all

A mobile platform should grow into business and flow down onto appropriate devices, whatever those devices are. In the new age of mobile no business should look to deploy specialist devices into specific pockets of an operation without considering the bigger picture. That is, other workers whose needs might not be prioritised as highly. Advancements in technology means there is no reason why mobile can’t be spread equally throughout a whole organisation, as soon as it is deployed.

Instead of a piecemeal approach to technology deployment, FM organisations should be examining their mobility strategies by assessing what single software solution is available to fit comprehensive business objectives and improve performance across the board.

Specialist technology providers with one solution for one type of device which fits one area of business: clearly offer a limited service. With the need to maximise technology investment and provide tangible ROI, the wiser choice is a single solution which supports everything and everyone.

Preparing for consumerisation

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:10:00 +0000

The growing Consumerisation of IT has been mentioned in various guises across recent Smartalk items, but what do we mean by the term, and is it a force for good in business? Steve Reynolds explains.

The Consumerisation of IT began, albeit in more vague terms, when employees first began to use their own personal equipment for purposes of their paid employment. For most this meant being able to access email and carry out basic working tasks using their home personal computer. But today’s range of mobile, laptop, desktop and tablet devices mean this has grown considerably more complicated.

The wave of demand
The Consumerisation of mobile IT centres on people using personal devices for day-to-day work on behalf of the organisation that employs them.

This behaviour is being driven by the number of consumers purchasing smartphones. According to WorldPanel comtec 70 per cent of phones sold in the UK during the second quarter of 2011 were smartphones, meaning just over 40% of the population now owns one (Financial Times 24/10/2011). Add to this the 5.3 billion globally connected devices (GSMA), and that 28% of UK consumers have indicated an intention to buy a tablet device in 2012, and you begin to understand the nightmares of IT Managers.

What makes this especially challenging is when employees have better equipment than that provided to them by their employers. As a result there is often pressure on IT departments from staff asking why they can’t use their superior technology for work.

A recent New York Times item explained how the IT department of Kraft Foods hands out a stipend for employees to buy whatever laptop they want from Best Buy, Amazon.com or the local Apple store. The item also cites a survey published by Forrester Research, which found that 48 per cent of information workers buy smartphones intending to use them for work, without considering what would be support by their employer.

Integrating consumer devices into business is far from a simple process. Challenges include employees selecting higher end devices that are not supported: purchase decisions which frequently see form weighted over function. At TBS we are observing cases where BlackBerry devices have been provided to our customers’ staff for email use, but staff then buy iPhones which they prefer to use for email and the richer multimedia experiences they claim it offers.

Business acceptance also remains a key issue. In the enterprise space a service engineer with a smartphone but no other device is already well equipped to conduct field service tasks, therefore he wants to use his device to make life easier.

How it can be accommodated
So how can businesses deal with this consumerisation? After accepting the concept by making work accessible via home PCs, the heart of the matter now revolves around smartphones and tablets.

We need to be creative and calculated in the ways smartphone access is allowed. The latest version of Windows Phone 7 (WP7) has full integration with Sharepoint, enabling businesses to give remote access via Windows Phones, simply and securely. As more businesses move towards Cloud based technology, more remotely accessible corporate information will develop and gather users, allowing consumer devices to access data in a secure and seamless way.

The risk of infection
As with all things in IT, careful consideration must be given to security and device management. The use of consumer app stores can be a challenge for any IT department as rough applications could cause security issues. Applications found in the Blackberry, Apple and Window Phone app stores are subjected to stringent checks, to prevent the release of rogue applications. But this is not necessarily the same with Android, leading to a greater risk of insecure applications and potentially malware being accidentally placed on a device.

Malware and privacy can be a huge problem with Android applications, due to the lack of control and monitoring at the app store level. Android malware threats have also been forecast to increase by a factor of 60 over the next six months, which could see the number of Android mobile malware samples increasing to 12,000 by March 2012.

This isn’t to entirely discount the platform, but risks should be seriously evaluated.

Making it work
In the current state of the economy it makes perfect sense to use every piece of technology available at a neutral cost to business. Why not let employees use their own equipment, if your business can benefit and if it makes their lives easier too?

It’s vital to have a policy in place which clearly sets out the devices that are supported, and those which may pose problems. Being clear from the outset gives IT departments the best springboard for establishing and maintaining systems for the benefit of everyone involved.

Opening the Windows: will 8 be a breath of fresh air?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:08:00 +0000

After being shared with developers and scrutinised by the press, TBS Managing Director Steve Reynolds speculates on the impact of Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows 8, which is set for release in 2012.

It’s clearly still early days for Microsoft’s new Windows 8 Operating System, but the signs are already extremely promising. If they get it right, Windows 8 could potentially leapfrog all other operating systems in its path.

But as much as it’s an exciting time for Microsoft, it’s also a nervous one. The early launch of Windows 8 to developers has exposed gaping holes and inconsistencies in integration. In the beta version a control panel still exposes users to the old system of keyboard and mouse, whereas touch and gesture prevails elsewhere. Clearly it remains a beta version, but consistency will be vital to longer term success.

Also important will be the new power management system which enables the operating system and hardware to function when it is in “connected standby” mode, similar to the way smartphones work. The challenge facing laptop technology is that during power-saving mode everything is switched off and the device cannot accept and process new information until it is woken by the user.

To assist with “always on” design, Windows 8 has been built to support ARM chipsets. This enables significantly lower powered, smaller form factors with superior power management for extended battery life. For the enterprise and task-orientated fieldworkers this is a key turning point, both for mobile operating systems and for mobile computing as a whole.

Windows 8 stands to be the first operating system which caters for multiple form-factors, meaning a single system can be repurposed across tablets, desktops and laptops. Given the technological advances involved in reaching this milestone, it’s not difficult to envisage a Windows 8 mobile device in the near future.

For the enterprise space this could provide a unified platform which alleviates compatibility pain and offers a single solution which can perform efficiently across a whole business. Having the same OS for engineers with smartphones and for executives with tablets and laptops would allow for security and device management policies which are more coherent and inclusive.

User Experience
The new desktop version of Windows 8 benefits from the significant amount of User Experience design which was first seen in Windows Phone 7, known as METRO. This helps the system lean towards a multi form-factor OS.

Now that design is becoming as core to software development as programming functionality, considerations of User Experience are more critical than ever. There’s a greater need to create visually pleasing software applications, which are a pleasure to use in order to complement the radical new experience that Windows 8 promises to deliver.

Microsoft remains tight-lipped on the 2012 release date for Windows 8 and I suspect it will be well into 2013 before we see the Windows 8 derivative on mobile devices. In the meantime I don’t anticipate fierce competition from another operating system that can deliver these capabilities across all form factors.

The Android operating system is great for mobile devices and for tablets, although Google’s fast developing Chrome OS feels cut adrift from the Android strategy; and Apple will continue to win the hearts and minds of consumers. But the general disconnection between web strategy and smartphone strategy means Windows 8 will have an open run at the enterprise space.

As a result, businesses will find it hard to look anywhere else.

Effective tablets for local government

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:09:00 +0000

In previous Blogs we looked at the benefits of introducing different form factors for the enterprise: mobile devices, PDAs, netbooks and tablets. Now Steve Reynolds concentrates on tablets themselves and particularly how they can help in local government operations.

Bury Council was recently criticised about its plan of spending £9,000 on iPads for refuse collectors. Forced to make savings of £18million, the council said the tablet devices were intended to be mounted on vehicle dashboards to guide crews around new routes.

A report in The Sun appeared to be weighted against the idea, citing opponents of the scheme who claimed it was a waste of money.

Although exposure was given to the claim that collection rates, customer service and recycling would be improved, I think that the generally negative tone of the item was because the appropriate information wasn’t supplied, which was probably because staff had only a modest appreciation of the need.

While the council defended itself in a later article in The Guardian, it should assertively broadcast how the technology is transforming processes and making them more efficient.

A council spokeswoman told The Guardian: "For a modest investment of £9,000, this technology should save us many thousands of pounds, provide residents with a better service, and promote recycling.”

The project was predominantly intended to address the number of missed collections and revisits, but this is only part of the potential improvement.

Bury council could be seen as public sector pioneers in creatively reducing fixed costs and increasing efficiencies. If implemented properly, the technology could;

improve efficiencies
reduce the number of refuse vehicles required and lower their running costs (through route-optimisation)
reduce headcount (though a less publicity-friendly headline)
lower administration costs
improve health and safety practices

A speculative equation suggests investment would easily be recovered in the first month alone.

22 refuse trucks manned by five people each puts the council’s annual investment in refuse collectors’ wages at around 2 million pounds. If a £9,000 project makes the workforce one per cent more efficient, removes paperwork and lowers the administrative headcount, the savings will quickly come rolling in.

“Splashing out”

The idea that such investment is ‘splashing out’ is flawed.

It’s my personal view that the public sector tendering process has been problematic for a long time. There isn’t enough knowledge in the public sector and the private sector experience should be used more. As a result of distance between the two, deployments in the public sector have been oversimplified and weak.

The UK government’s track record with technology is poor, and has frequently suffered from questionable implementation. The Police Force was granted £30 million to spend on mobile data in 2009, a large proportion of which was dedicated to equipping its force with BlackBerry devices.

We can only speculate on what business cases are produced to support such implementations. Clearly, a Blackberry-centric strategy had limitations and weren’t agile enough to be used for quick vehicle checks or crime reports – although the Thames Valley Police Force had a very different experience when it adopted PDAs for crime reporting.

This over-dependency on a consumer-style cellular voice and text message system brings serious challenges at times of high traffic. During the 7/7 terrorist attacks on London, mobile communications were significantly compromised because the public cellular networks couldn’t cope with the extreme demand placed on them both by the public, and by the emergency services.

As with the introduction of any new technology, there are always risks, and we should be wary of saying new technology can cure all local government ills. It can’t and of course there may be pitfalls. Bury council’s decision to use iPads may not necessarily be appropriate for the challenging environment where they are being used. As a result these consumer-intended devices could be prone to frequent damage, resulting in regular replacement, leading to similarly damaged business benefits.

Private and public – working together

When it comes to public sector implementations, private sector business should be looked to as a reference point and as a benchmark. Process is often ignored and manpower has been reactively used to address a problem. Standards, best practice and commercial realities arrive too late.

Local government, councils and public sector bodies must learn lessons by working more closely with the private sector. Today’s austerity measures and government cutbacks mean these bodies should be behaving like businesses, now more than ever.

Informed adoption of tablet technologies is a positive move to replace paperwork and reinvent process. £9,000 pounds is actually a small price to pay to improve the efficiency of refuse collection in the Bury area, and to encourage more recycling. It’s not a massive expenditure.

Your mobile data: under lock and key

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:04:00 +0000

The subject of mobile security is currently under a violent spotlight with phone hacking being revealed at the highest level. In this item, CEO of TBS, Steve Reynolds answers questions about security in enterprise mobility.
Q. With the phone-hacking scandal engulfing the news at the moment, how can businesses be sure that the enterprise level data travelling through mobile channels is secure?

SR. The current phone-hacking scandal revolves around voicemail, which is much easier to access than raw mobile data. A generic voicemail pin number is given to mobile users, who are encouraged to change it by mobile networks. But most people don’t. This enables anyone to dial your mobile number, press a few keys and listen to your messages. It’s clearly an issue to people in public eye, and serves to remind us all that we really should change our pin numbers.

In the enterprise space, the data exchanged is extremely secure. Standard 3G network protocols and GPRS networks support encrypted data communications, while most developers even use a second layer of encryption to ensure data is as secure as possible. An alternative is to use closed user group SIMs, allocated by a network to a single point of access – otherwise known as a VPN tunnel. This is an encrypted pipe which nobody can hack into, giving the best security available over a wireless connection.

A risk which we’ve touched on in earlier Q&As is that of executives bringing smartphones and tablet devices into the workplace and asking for them to be connected to enterprise servers which gives access to email and files. Security at this level requires another layer of third party security system to counter potential data breaches.

Q. Sony’s recent issues with PlayStation customer data underlined the risks of data extraction and rogue applications being downloaded onto devices. How can these risks be mitigated in the enterprise space?
SR. Businesses should be concerned with open platforms where fewer safety checks and validation processes are in place. This makes it possible to download rogue applications and malicious viruses that are able to remove data. When taking smartphones into the enterprise, we recommend using generic device management to limit the use and freedom of downloading applications. TBS has device management and security integrated within all products as standard. This is a priority for all enterprise based smartphone usage, and especially for our customers such as Group4Securicor and ADT, operating in security and managing high profile alarm systems.

Q. How can large amounts of data contained on devices be protected throughout the course of a working day?

SR. Basic device security must be considered in terms of passwords and protection, in case of loss, damage or theft. A minimum of pin protection should be set up, while additional ‘remote wipe’ functions allow for the content of a device to be erased from a separate point, helping to give another layer of security.

There are two key ways of protecting data. One is through data synchronisation, whereby all data is synchronised (or synched) to server system. In this case, if all data on a device is lost, it can be re-synched back to the device, or to a new device, directly from the server.

The other method of protection is to treat a device as a transitory information store. This means that the majority of information is stored on a server, and ONLY the data being used at the time of a task will be held on the device. Once a task is completed, all data is synched away from device, back to the server.

Q. How can we protect information from being modified by potentially unscrupulous fieldworkers?
SR. Data contained on a mobile device should always be accessible through a larger workflow system, or IT database. If task data has been completed and stored in an encrypted database, it cannot be viewed or edited retrospectively. Fieldworkers cannot get access using a file system to delete or change any data, ensuring safe and traceable working practice.

Q. With the proliferation of smartphones and blurring of platforms – mobile, laptop, tablet; won’t security become more difficult?
SR. Security becomes more complicated with multiple Operating Systems and creates a permanently shifting security target for IT departments. While any IT department should embrace smartphone technology rather than shy away from it, this is easier said than done.

What we recommend is the publishing of a list of phones or tablets which executives can securely use within the working environment. This serves to focus control and security to a manageable number of handsets and Operating Systems, and means no staff are disappointed by any incompatibility.

Ultimately all security is subjective. What some organisations consider secure, other organisations will not. So it’s important for mobile devices to be flexible in how they can be locked down, which is where the flexibility of applications can help.

Taking the tablets: different form factors key to enterprise success

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:02:00 +0000

TBS Managing Director Steve Reynolds takes a closer look at the need to supply different solutions for different form factors across organisations.
Q. Steve, why is there a need to accommodate tablet devices? Aren't they just a new consumer platform fad?

SR. Tablet devices have grown to create a whole new paradigm as a device platform, and this is reflected by an increased interest in both the consumer and the corporate space. As I said last month, we’re seeing executives buying devices on their credit cards and taking them into the office asking why they can’t be more widely used in business.

The reason for this lies in the operational flexibility they offer. A larger, sleeker form factor with intuitive finger input can extend the style of using a traditional mobile sized device. It offers a less cumbersome way of working than a laptop, incremental portability over netbook and more capability than a mobile phone. Tablets can also be ruggedized and protected much more cost-effectively than laptops. Those are the key reasons why we’re seeing an increased demand for tablet-based solutions, and why we need to accommodate those demands.

Q. Will there be a transition and fragmentation in use. Do you advocate TBS customers using different form factors for different tasks?
Our customers currently have the option to use a range of devices: Windows Mobile, Windows 7 laptop or tablet. In the majority of cases ‘one platform fits all’ is not a term which readily applies. Field service teams repairing cables and pipes might need a basic level of information which can easily be accommodated on PDA style device. Meanwhile, the same organisation might have surveyors requiring more detailed information to plan and construct around complex projects. In this case, a laptop is the more suitable client.

We’re dedicated to supporting clients across multiple platforms and know that extra value can be given with the adoption of different form factors. A ruggedized laptop may not be flexible or cost effective, where a tablet is. A mixed estate of devices offers flexibility which is vital in catering to specific needs across all departments of large organisations.

Q. You also mentioned last month that device boundaries will blur. How and why will this happen, and what will be the effect of this blur?
Boundaries will blur when desktop systems become mobile-aware. Tablet connectivity is currently superior to laptops due to the employment of mobile operating systems, as opposed to the desktop operating systems which are employed on netbooks or laptops. Radio connectivity in tablet devices means they can always be connected, giving an extra degree of flexibility.

This is reflected in Windows 8, which looks and feels like a mobile platform, and enjoys a significantly better connectivity experience than its predecessors. Over the course of the next 18 months to 2 years, we’ll see laptops developing richer operating systems which are also mobile aware. The result will be a blur in device boundaries.

4. So different form factors are the future, but will one eventually rise above the rest to be all things to all people?

I personally don’t think one form factor will emerge to take over everything. Operating systems will blur but the most popular device in the consumer space will always be the phone. In the enterprise space the phone will still rule, closely followed by tablet technology, and then laptop technology. Laptops are currently favoured over tablets, but I expect to see enterprise embracing tablet technologies over the laptop in the long term.

5. Will this make enterprise solutions simpler, or more complicated?
This simplifies solutions without question. Applications will run much more intuitively because they are specifically designed for a platform. The Times application on the iPad makes for a better consumer experience and this smooth design experience can be extended through to enterprise applications.

Emphasis will be on design, user experience and ease of media consumption; rather than raw development. The successful companies embracing mobile are the ones who recognise this.

All Systems Go ?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:02:00 +0000

Mobile news is currently rife with talk of the latest smartphone Operating Systems, but how many are ready for enterprise deployment? TBS Managing Director, Steve Reynolds, gives his view.

Q: We keep hearing news about the number of new mobile operating systems and particularly the rise of the Google Android OS. Is the growing variety of choice having an impact on enterprise solutions?

SR. What we’re seeing in the marketplace is a lot of focus on innovation in consumer smartphone operating systems. There’s a lot of noise out there which, as always, can make it tough to gauge what’s significant and what isn’t. What isn’t in dispute is that the smartphone market growth is phenomenal. It’s quite possible that we’ll see another 1000% growth on top of what we have now.

Q. What does this mean for smartphone manufacturers?

SR. Manufacturers are at the point where they need to differentiate through genuine innovation. LG is launching its 3D phone, and there’s been considerable attention on the birth of smartphones with integrated Near Field Communications (NFC) functionality this year.

Manufacturers need to also be aware of form factors creeping up on the smartphone. At executive level in the enterprise space many devices like tablets are used covertly, or ‘unofficially.’ It’s only a matter of time before enterprise demands more from manufacturers’ technology stack, and consumer functions formally and securely percolate through to enterprise class devices.

Q: Why has Android become the consumer OS of choice?

SR. It’s the consumer OS of choice for many reasons. Android is an open source platform that’s been adopted across device manufacturers who are each seeking to differentiate and the open nature of the system gives greater opportunity to do this. High end, sophisticated devices are being produced alongside entry level, affordable smartphones like those from Samsung. This has defined the consumer difference.

Q. Is Android ready for use in the enterprise?

SR. There are considerable challenges for the Android OS before it is fit for enterprise purpose. With open source systems come legitimate concerns over lack of control. The current Android marketplace for distributing applications has a minimal form of quality testing, with reports suggesting that as many as 4 in 6 applications risk breaching data confidentiality regulations. Added to this are challenges around security, remote device management and whether Android devices are more vulnerable to being hacked. We don’t want to see another Sony PlayStation scenario with mobile data.

But there is promise. Developers can program enterprise applications to protect businesses from these threats. The next 12 months will see enterprise-focussed organisations like TBS develop applications which are sensitive to OS weaknesses.

Q: With the breadth of choice, what should I consider in selecting an OS for an enterprise solution?

SR. We should be careful to distinguish between enterprise solutions and field mobility here.
For many in the corporate space, enterprise solutions can mean email and messaging systems alone. These requirements can be adequately accommodated in iPhone and Android systems – provided there is an appropriate level of security installed on devices. Perimeter passwords offer protection, while technical policies can control the types of applications which can be downloaded.

However, field mobility organisations demand the flexibility to grow and adapt their solutions according to tight specifications and specific business needs. Rather than purchasing applications from a marketplace, many organisations select developers who can provide bespoke applications which future-proof investment through innovation roadmaps.

Remote device management and perimeter security has been a key requirement for enterprise based solutions over the last decade. For those managing large fleets of vehicles or construction teams in remote environments, this is critical. Windows Mobile 6.X has largely stood alone in supporting these requirements up until now.

Q. Are businesses limited by the availability of operating systems and devices, or is there enough choice?

SR. If anything there is too much choice at the moment. Everything from Android’s rise, to Palm’s Mobile OS, to Nokia’s disposal of Symbian hints at an overarching consolidation which could ultimately converge to just 3 or 4 systems.

Multiple OSs with multiple Software Development Kits makes for a frustrating and confusing development experience, but the advent of HTML 5 heralds a real cross-platform development leap forward. Notwithstanding current limitations in its low level control of devices and an absence of rich control, in time it will lead to more fluent programming.

Q. What is the TBS development strategy for accommodating the OS market evolution?

SR. It’s imperative for TBS that we support as many smartphone operating systems as possible to give our customers the chance to innovate. To this end we have an intensive programme underway to provide solutions on all of the major smartphone systems, in addition to tablet devices. With device boundaries set to blur in the future, our goal is to ensure TBS customers can use multiple form factors and are given the ultimate flexibility to adapt solutions in line with their businesses.

Canadian mobility briefings declared a success

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Feedback “resoundingly positive” following business events in Vancouver and Calgary

Leaders in field mobility technology have been well received by Canadian businesses at Microsoft headquarters in Vancouver and Calgary. In addition to the market leader and host of the event – TBS Enterprise Mobility, representatives from Canada-based partners, Ideaca, Qdata, Microsoft and Motorola also presented at the Mobilized Workforce Management ‘Lunch & Learn’ seminars.

Presentations outlined the wide and narrow field mobility opportunities for Canadian businesses. TBS explored the benefits of innovation in workforce management practice, Ideaca focused on how to effectively mobilize Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), while Motorola and qdata concentrated on Enterprise-class devices and device management

Steve Reynolds, Managing Director of TBS Enterprise Mobility, commented: “The briefings presented an opportunity for Canadian businesses to hear how workforces of all sizes and across all sectors are being efficiently managed using mobile technology, lowering costs, increasing productivity and reducing the burden of paperwork”.

“TaskMaster helps our customers to achieve levels of reporting, cost control, and customer service that just aren’t possible using manual, paper-based processes. The objective of these briefings was to show Canadian businesses how they can enjoy these efficiencies too.”

Practical examples of solutions complemented the chance to question a panel of experts, learn about all the technologies available and network with an elite selection of mobile executives.

NFC at your convenience

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:25:00 +0000

Mobile support for NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies has been gathering unavoidable momentum during this first quarter of 2011. Device manufacturers and OS providers have been pinning their proximity-based technology colours to the mast with promises of integration in new devices and within new technical systems, for both consumer and enterprise markets.

Nokia will produce several NFC-enabled devices in 2011, including Windows Phone 7, Google is conducting tests with its Android Operating System and high profile retailers in the US and Motorola will launch an NFC version of the MC75a later this year. Now Samsung has shown its hand too.

Visa is developing an application enabling NFC mobile payments on the official Samsung 2012 device, to be revealed this year. The partnership of the official Games’ sponsors will facilitate payment experiences in London experiences for items up to £15 in value, enabling faster and more convenient transactions. There are already over 60,000 locations where contactless payments are accepted in London, and this is expected to substantially rise by the opening of the Games.

By the 2012 Games the consumer appetite for NFC solutions promises to be larger than ever. Juniper Research has forecast that one in every 6 mobile subscribers will have an NFC enabled device by 2014.

However, economies of scale will drive adoption and mass consumer penetration of NFC devices and solutions will not achieve widespread ubiquity in developed markets for several years yet.

But it is a technology that businesses in the enterprise space can and should be preparing for today. It’s even a technology which businesses can and are reaping the rewards from today.

It’s often the case that effective mobile enterprise is learned from experience in the consumer space. With proximity-based technologies like NFC however, it could be that the consumer market can learn from ground already made in the enterprise space.

RFID solutions, an NFC relative which works in a technically different way, have been in place for some time in the enterprise. These are often used for tracking and asset management by logistics organisations. But the NFC opportunity is potentially broader.

Using tags and short-range radio devices works effectively when it’s critical to prove correct action has been taken, for example by maintenance staff working on hazardous electrified rail lines. Labels or barcodes can be tricky to attach and are difficult to use, but engineers using handheld devices with snap-on NFC readers and suitable software makes for an elegant solution.

NFC is ultra-low cost RFID which stands to provide numerous innovative uses for a range of different businesses.

- Ticketing and Transportation (micro-payments)

- Barcode enhancement

- Active tags which store and communicate information (vehicle damage records)

- Safety systems

- Asset management

- Fleet management

- Equipment rental

- Time and attendance

There are many effective uses for both NFC and RFID, and they don’t have to be glamorous, expensive, incorporate payments, operate on a huge scale, or even in the mass market. That can wait.

What can help now is a wider awareness and understanding of the technology, the problems facing different groups of people and understanding which technology offers the best fit.

TBS field mobility experts announce Canadian business briefings

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:58:00 +0000

TBS Enterprise Mobility to lead seminars in Vancouver and Calgary with backing from Motorola, Microsoft, Ideaca and Qdata.

European leaders in field mobility technology will deliver a workforce management briefing to Canadian businesses at Microsoft headquarters in Vancouver (March 9^th) and Calgary (March 10^th).

With the European market for field mobility solutions firmly established as one of the most advanced and competitive in the world, Canada is braced for a new wave of smart technology from across the Atlantic.

An experienced and successful market leader in Europe, the United Kingdom’s TBS Enterprise Mobility will host the briefings. In association with UK Trade & Investment, TBS will present Mobilized Workforce Management - ‘Lunch & Learn’ seminars in Vancouver and Calgary, supported by its partners Ideaca, Microsoft, Motorola and Qdata.

TBS Enterprise Mobility produces TaskMaster, an innovative workforce management platform designed for the Windows Phone operating system and commonly deployed on Motorola devices for field worker enterprise.

Steve Reynolds, Managing Director of TBS Enterprise Mobility, commented: “We’ve helped customers such as G4S (Group4Securicor), VINCI Facilities and Balfour Beatty to achieve levels of customer service which were not possible using manual, paper-based processes.

“The briefings will detail the mobile computing solutions available, using case studies to illustrate how businesses have increased the productivity of field staff, improved data quality and reduced costs using TaskMaster,” he added.

Practical examples of solutions will complement the chance to question a panel of experts, learn about all the technologies available and network with an elite selection of mobile executives.

Attendees will hear how real business issues have been resolved using carefully tailored mobile computing solutions, delivering quick return on investment.

For more information on the events visit www.mobilizeyourworkforce.info

Pressure at the pump - let enterprise mobility oil the wheels

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 02:19:00 +0000

How the smart technology can offset rising fuel prices

With fuel prices rocketing around the world, global organisations are being forced to consider new ways of reducing their consumption and operating more efficiently.

Crude oil pushed above US$92 a barrel on Monday 4^th January 2011 to its highest since October 2008. It closed up 17 cents at $91.55. Meanwhile Oil peaked at $147.27 on July 11, 2008, before diving to nearly $32 during the global financial meltdown six months later.

Economist Ed Yardeni said in a research note that he "would not be surprised to see the price of oil over $120 a barrel by midyear." Although other analysts believe any spike above $100 could be short-lived.

The rising cost of fuel is both undeniable and unstoppable. The compilation of high level numbers like this, in addition to our day-to-day encounters with the petrol pump as consumers, gives more than enough evidence.

However, the prices might also have a crippling effect on global business.

Just as prices at the pump are important to every motorist, fuel cost is critical to successful enterprise. Thousands of medium to large sized organisations across the world manage fleets of vehicles, permanently responsible for reacting to customers’ needs. Whether those needs are in delivery, collection, maintenance, installation, building or facilities management, considerable mileages are put on the clock every day.

Use Case – how to make a £3m price increase disappear

Service companies with a fleet of 200 cars and an average of 40 miles per gallon in 2007 could have expected an annual fuel bill of 5.9 million pounds (GBP). Today, in 2011, that bill would come to 8.86 million pounds, a rise of almost 3 million pounds in four years.

As a hypothetical example: a field service company performs five jobs per day at an average invoice value of 150 pounds per job. Based on a very conservative 10% productivity increase (TBS witnesses an average of 25% increase) each engineer would increase their earnings by an average of £75.00 per day.

Over a 12- month period, this would equate to incremental earnings of 3 million pounds, thereby offsetting incremental fuel costs and achieving extra profit for the company.

This saving can be added to by applying a conservative 10% fuel saving, gained by reducing the number of customer re-visits, journeys to and from depots, improved allocation of work and SatNav-aided route planning. A further £864,000 in fuel costs can be saved.

TaskMaster drives savings

With the intelligent application of an effective, customised mobile strategy, any organisation operating a fleet of vehicles can be protected from rising fuel prices. TBS Enterprise Mobility offers TaskMaster, a robust and flexible platform with a range of features to facilitate the monitoring of vehicles and drivers.

TaskMaster contains integrated SatNav and route optimisation features, in addition to Personnel Safety Locator and RFID technologies for asset management. A fully configurable design means implementations are specifically tailored to cater for the needs of individual businesses.

To find out how your business could benefit, please drop a line to sales@tbsmobility.com

Mobile industry united in vision for 2012 Games

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:03:00 +0000

On Friday 3rd December a selection of mobile and digital industry executives converged upon the Deloitte Academy in London to discuss the role of mobile in the 2012 Games.
Organised by The Mobile Data Association (MDA) and supported by the Digital Communications Knowledge Transfer Network (DCKTN), Deloitte helped to crystallise the opportunity for the mobile industry, and for the UK as a whole. Having been a key contributor to the successful bid and as a member of workstream committees, Deloitte was strongly positioned to frame mutual cross-industry objectives and vision.

Additional speakers from a range of organising stakeholders also explained the potential for activity within and outside of sporting venues, as well as the limitations, hurdles and legacies of a powerful 2012 Games experience.

Presentations were delivered by spokespeople from O2, the BBC, organising committee LOCOG, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London and the GSMA.

The World looks to the UK

With over 15,000 accredited journalists expected from all corners of the world, the event stands to significantly shift global perceptions of the UK’s technological capabilities. Stakeholders intend to project an image of a vibrant, creative, energetic multicultural country which provides cutting edge digital experiences.

In providing such experiences, basic rules must be adhered to and best practice guidelines followed. Brand protection and marketing rights were outlined by LOCOG, while the BBC offered its own best practice advice, in addition to insights into content consumption and the exponential rise in reach of new digital media.

Transport for London discussed the power of its open data policy in stimulating innovation through the production of mobile applications using transport data and the Greater London Authority informed how the London Underground is working with mobile network operators to install signal on the Central and Jubilee lines.

United fronts

Siena Pakington and Amanda Farnsworth from the BBC underlined the value of bringing the UK together with brilliant coverage across a range of platforms, driving digital content while offering personalisation and choice. The growth of IPTV services such as YouView (formerly Project Canvas) aims to democratise the viewing of web and television content, and to better control consumption.

Many speakers stressed the value of a collaborative industry. Open sharing of information and unified lobbying has the power to remove barriers and overcome obstacles in delivering superior, immersive user experience. Combined strength and accord will help rebrand Britain to the world, moving away from old fashioned stereotypes.

Protecting the brand

LOCOG’s Emma Young explained how the brand is the organising committee’s most valuable asset. To fund the Games LOCOG ‘sells’ its brand to sponsors and merchandise licensees, therefore if any party used London 2012 logos or associations with the Games for free, the funding model would not work.

Parliament granted LOCOG special legal rights under a 2006 act to prevent ambush marketing.

Given its primary responsibility for all services in the operation of the games, LOCOG’s mobile mission is firmly concentrated on the need for products and services to be proven and robust at the first attempt.

Mobile developments

A joint operators group for the Games is working towards securing shared 2G and 3G infrastructure for the public in Olympic park, facilitated by LOCOG. The requirement for solid mobile coverage is a priority illuminated by the rise in visits to official websites. 105m visits to the Beijing site was bettered by 291m visits to the Vancouver site for the following Winter Games. 50% of all Canadians were said to have visited the site, while the mobile site received 8.7m visits and 1.25m downloaded the official mobile application.

LOCOG aims to deliver a number of mobile applications across the different development platforms for 2012, starting with WOW, the application from official partner Samsung, on Samsung’s Android-operated devices.

Open data to stimulate innovation

Transport for London’s Vernon Everitt extolled the virtues of open data for developers to provide applications and services which improve the travel experience. Much of TfL’s remit concerns coping with increased capacity, large-scale events and making sure their transport keeps moving. By freeing arrival and departure board data, status of tube lines and route planning data, developers have created new applications and better experiences.

The introduction of the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme saw TfL open up the location data of docking stations. Four new mobile applications were published by independent developers in a short space of time.

Stimulating innovation was said to depend on the quality of openly offered data, and on the syndication of real-time information through specialist technical interfaces to publishers and broadcasters such as the BBC.

The Games Legacy

A panel session of speakers outlined their vision of the Games legacy. How people consume real-time data on the go, the nature of athlete engagement via social media and sustained best practice were all cited as potential long-term benefits of activity.

Prospective hurdles were considered to be fear, losing control of the message, damage to reputation through misuse of data. However, with open stakeholder engagement and considered focus, none were considered to be insurmountable.

The next 600 days..

With the clock now ticking down towards the beginning of the Games, it's now time for the talking to stop and concerted industry activity to begin. The MDA has created a closed, invite-only discussion group with the intention of providing a forum for bringing together 2012 stakeholders around mobile projects. Submit your discussion group request along with the nature of your interest here. http://tinyurl.com/23l6blbAn event in March 2011, again coordinated by The MDA, will incorporate the official mobile partner of the Games, Samsung, and explore opportunities around the branded device and related applications. This event will form part of a series of meetings intended to achieve hard results by generating rich mobile experiences leading up to, during and after the Games.

Protecting our Nurses with mobile technology

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:52:00 +0000

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 introduced a new offence of corporate manslaughter which applies to corporate bodies in both the public and private sectors. It only applies in circumstances where an organisation owed a duty of care to the victim under the law of negligence. The offence can be punishable by an unlimited fine and orders for remedial action.

This law makes it easier for an organisation to be found guilty of manslaughter through the result of gross failings of senior management. The definition of ‘senior management’ is not limited to the board of directors and includes those who have a significant role in the management of the whole or part of an organisation.

The law does not affect the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act or its associated health and safety regulations in any way. All employers must still comply with their duties under existing health and safety legislation. The HSWA imposes a duty on employers to "ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare at work of all its employees" and to ensure that persons not in their employment are "not exposed to risks to their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable".

In addition, there are hundreds of health and safety regulations which set out more specific health and safety duties. For example, under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must carry out a 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment of their activities.

As a result of this new law, duty of care and traceability must become a priority to senior managers in any organisation both in the public and private sector.

The problem

A recent report by Hallamshire University in 2007 highlighted that nurses are particularly at risk, the report concluded that Two-thirds of respondents (66.1%) stated that their employer did not know their whereabouts or only 'sometimes' knew their whereabouts when they were working. However, approximately three-quarters (78.8%) stated that their employer did have the details of their vehicle.

More alarmingly More than a third of respondents had been assaulted or harassed in the last two years and 6.2% stated that they had experienced a physical assault. Not all incidents were reported to managers; indeed only 44.6% of verbal assaults were reported to managers and only 86.5% of physical assaults. More than a quarter of physical assaults were regarded as racial in nature.

Another concerning statistic was that more than one-third of respondents (38.3%) stated that they rarely or never carried out a risk assessment ahead of a client/patient visit and 72.5% stated they 'never', 'rarely' or only 'sometimes' received all the information they needed about the risks associated with a visit.

Deployment of enterprise mobility solutions will assist in meeting with duty of care obligations: risk assessment and lone worker protection.

Risk assessment

Risk assessment has become a key process in the protection of the mobile workforce. A risk assessment is an important step in protecting the workforce as well as complying with the law.
A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm whilst undertaking job functions. This allows the decision to be made as to whether or not enough precautions are being taken or whether more should be taken. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.

A correctly deployed enterprise mobility solution will provide any mobile workforce with an effective tool to undertake risk assessments at key stages of their daily duties whilst out of the office. Not only this, the enterprise mobility solution will provide a traceable record for each risk assessment undertaken for that all important proof of compliance.

So how does this work ?Enterprise mobility could be used say for district and mobile nurses; using PDAs to undertake a start of day vehicle risk assessment. This works by forcing the nurses, to enter vital risk assessment data at the start of day on the condition of the vehicle prior to the nurses receiving their days work on the PDA.

On arrival at the patients home the nurse is presented with a risk assessment which is specific to the patient which must be completed before any work is carried out.

In the case of mobile workforces undertaking anything from emergency medical asstance to social care, the use of enterprise mobility to provide job specific risk assessments is set to become the duty of care tool of choice.

The whole risk assessment process can easily be built into any enterprise mobility solution and will work for every known field worker discipline.

Lone worker protectionSenior managers face significant challenges in their responsibilities for lone workers. As a minimum they must;

Undertake appropriate health and safety risk assessments

Make provision for lone workers who may be faced with a risk of violence.

Put contact procedures in place for emergencies so that the alarm can be raised and prompt medical attention provided if there is an accident or an attack.

Ensure lone workers are medically fit and suitable for the lone-working role they have been assigned.

Enterprise mobility can assist in providing the solution. Using PDAs with built in GPS and software that can provide real time status updates, workflows can be built to provide a good level of protection for lone workers

Panic button and safety alert functionality

Using the GPS in the PDA we can accurately track the fieldworkers so at any time during the working day the exact location of all mobile staff is known.

A simple panic button function on the PDA can send a message for help to a central location giving the location of the fieldworker and also make a voice call to a call centre so that any abusive conversations can be recorded as evidence.

This feature can be further automated to protect the fieldworker who is undertaking work on site. When a nurse arrives at the home of a patient, they tap the screen on their PDA which will trigger a status message containing the date and time of their arrival, the GPS coordinates and the postal address of the location.

This information is sent from the PDA to a call centre. On activation of the on status message, the PDA software starts an inactivity timer which monitors the nurse’s usage of the PDA. For instance, if the PDA is used as expected to enter information whilst in the patient’s home, the PDA alarm mechanism remains inactive. However, after a predetermined period of inactivity a message will appear on the PDA screen asking if the field worker is OK. If the nurse answers no or fails to respond to the message, the PDA will raise an alarm back at the call centre. Under normal nurse activity, the PDA will not alarm and on completion of the visit the safety alert mechanism will turn off until the social worker arrives at the patient’s home.

Conclusion

The Corporate Manslaughter Act has increased the need for health based services to provide duty of care on their employees whether mobile or otherwise and makes it easier for local authorities in breach to be prosecuted.

Proof of compliance will ultimately become a necessity and it will be up to senior managers to prove duty of care policies and procedures are working and are being used by their employees. Paper systems are problematic as mistakes can be made and paper proof can easily be lost. use of enterprise mobility solutions in providing duty of care compliance and lone worker protection will therefore become more prevalent over the next 18 months.

If you have already deployed an enterprise mobility solution or if you are planning to do so, ensure that you build in duty of care into your mobility workflows.

Met Office Windows Phone 7 application to deliver personalised forecasts

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:14:00 +0000

Your Weather includes calendar and allows users to confirm and share weather Your Weather, the new Met Office application developed for Windows Phone 7 by TBS Enterprise Mobility, promises to deliver the most personal user experience ever given by a weather application.

In addition to favourite locations and events features, Your Weather offers a calendar to forecast the weather where users are scheduled to be on any given day. It also gives users the ability to confirm and share their weather.

Core Features

Five-day forecasts

Dynamically updated forecasts and severe weather warnings

Ability to rate forecast accuracy

Ability to confirm and share weather

Intuitive interface

The application will be available to download from the Windows Phone Marketplace at an initial price-point of 59 pence. A premium version of the application may be introduced to the Marketplace at a later date, adding new functionality to incorporate allergy notifications, or event-based alerts.
Your Weather adds to the Met Office roster of mobile applications, following the launch of its application for the iPhone and iPod Touch earlier this year.

Microsoft Gold Certified partner and Windows Phone specialists, TBS Enterprise Mobility provided the Met Office with a full application development service, including planning, design, programming and tracking for the Your Weather application.

Steve Reynolds, Managing Director of TBS Enterprise Mobility, said: “We’ve worked closely with the Met Office to develop an application which capitalises on Met Office data to go beyond the usual weather app. Our combined goal was to create a utility-centric application that becomes behaviourally integrated.”

Your Weather complements the range of multimedia services offered by the Met Office, the UK’s National Weather Service. Its mobile website and applications are supported by a traditional website providing news and warnings via RSS newsfeeds. Users can also view news videos on a YouTube channel, receive the latest forecasts through widgets on Vista, Firefox and iGoogle, follow @metoffice on Twitter, connect via www.facebook.com/metoffice or subscribe to email alerts.

Texting for efficiency

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:02:00 +0000

Mobile technology is allowing housing associations to save money on their maintenance bills. Please read a recent interview it did for PSE magazine

As public bodies look to make significant efficiency savings, it has become clear that in some cases they are going to have to think well outside of the box. However, there are savings to be made by employing more straightforward ideas.

Recently housing associations have begun to increase efficiency in their front line maintenance services by ensuring that people are at home when their engineers call round. And they have done this simply by texting people the night before.

“It makes perfect sense when you think about it,” says Steve Reynolds, chairman of the Mobile Data Association.

“By simply sending residents a text the night before to remind them that a workman is calling the next day housing association are able to make substantial savings, by avoiding at least some of the wasted trips that would have normally been made. The system does not eradicate waste completely from the system, but it can significantly improve the situation.”

This reminder service has proved invaluable for some housing associations as the costs of sending out a maintenance team to an address soon add up, when fuel costs and time which could have been spent on other jobs is taken fully into account.

“Sending out workmen needlessly obviously creates waste and can potentially disrupt their broader working plans as new dates have to be arranged once a calling card has been left at the address.

“But by sending a text to someone in the household, outlining when the workmen are due to arrive, housing associations are giving residents the chance to let the association know not to call, thereby removing what could prove to be a rather costly, but ultimately wasted exercise.

“It is such a simple, but genius way of acting as an aid memoire and you are finding it being used more and more by the public sector. It is all about using the simplest, lowest common denominator of communication, because every kind of phone can now receive a text message. This maximises the inclusion as older residents do not even have to own a mobile phone to receive the message.

“When you consider the cost of implementing a system similar to this, it does not even compare with the savings which you will be making because of it.”

Apart from saving themselves money, housing associations can use text messaging services to streamline their services, making them more convenient for residents, too.

“Say a resident is at work which is 15 minutes away from their home. This means that instead of them having to take a day off work, they can simply ask the housing association to send them a text when the engineer is 15 minutes way from their home.”

By helping associations avoid wasteful behaviour, texting technology can also reap great benefits for the environment, helping local authorities work towards reducing their carbon output.

“Simply having to leave a calling card at a property can be a costly exercise. When you add up the cost of the paper and printing the calling cards, then the trees which have to be cut down to make them, along with the fossil fuels which are used up in travelling pointlessly to that property in the first place, all these cost soon adds up.

“So if you consider the situation from a holistic perspective, you can see that by implementing a simple solution, a housing association can reap significant rewards, both from a cost perspective and environmentally.”

As technology progresses and becomes more widely used by residents, housing associations will be able to make better use of that technology to save both money and carbon.

“Looking to the future, soon local authorities and housing associations will be to take advantage of all of the possibilities which devices such as smartphones can offer as more of the population becomes comfortable using them.

“Many public services are making more services available online but the problem is that not everybody has access to the internet at home. But as internet usage on mobile phones becomes more commonplace, it means that public organisations such as housing associations will be able to extend the services they offer to residents through their mobile phones, thus eliminating the potentially discriminatory nature of current internet services.”

3D TV: a mobile solution?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 22:47:00 +0000

With under two months until the FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa, sporting and technology excitement is reaching fever pitch. The tournament promises to demonstrate the range of ways football content can be consumed both on compact mobile devices and on larger screens across the world.

Three generations of MDA Chairmen examine the evolution of sporting media content and the impact of new technologies in this item.

Ken Blakeslee formerly with Nortel, Vesta Ventures and now with Web Mobility Ventures was MDA Chairman 1995-1998
Mike Short, Vice President Telefonica Europe/O2 was MDA Chair 1998-2008
Steve Reynolds Managing Director, TBS Enterprise Mobility and Current MDA Chairman.

The views are intended to stimulate wider debate on the future of mobile, sports broadcasting rights, and their enjoyment.

FIFA World Cup - the action on your mobile
Debate about watching football on 3D TV seems to miss the bigger picture – how do fans want to enjoy sport content and become as involved as possible? The 3rd screen of mobile is more relevant to sports entertainment than ever before.

“The separate screens of TV, Internet and Mobile have developed along different trajectories,” said Mike Short. But boundaries are blurring as they all begin to converge. This convergence presents new opportunities around delivery mechanisms, interactivity and ways of enjoying sport.”
This can span from simple score alerts via SMS, team news on the mobile internet and match updates via a mobile application, all the way through to the most cutting edge.

“Massive events like this drive technology and excite new media evangelists,” explained Steve Reynolds. “At the recent Gadget Show Live, a number of 3D-based PC gaming products were demonstrated, together with mobile 3D eyewear which connect to mobile devices, delivering an authentic 3D media experience. Considerable investment from manufacturers and large visitor numbers at the show gave strong signals about the potential of mobile 3D.

“Price and availability of 3D media may prove an obstacle, but low cost mobile-connected eyewear solutions could offer a reasonable entry level point to drive user adoption.”

However, peripheral hardware extensions might not be necessary to enable a 3D Mobile experience in the future. Manufacturer, Sharp has produced a 3D mobile display that does not require users to wear special glasses. It offers image quality close to 2D liquid crystal display and poses the question of whether 3D could become standard on mobile devices.

Back in the present, the mobile screen is already being used for mobile internet video downloads and catch-up clips. Access to sites such as Youtube and BBC iPlayer have been encouraged by flat rate mobile data tariffs and the growing availability of wireless connection points, occasionally as a dual mode cellular/wifi.
As well as connectivity flexibility, the visual size of media is becoming less rigid. Ken Blakeslee points out, “we are less constrained today by the size of the screen thanks to an increasing number of accessories like eyewear and pico projectors, which are becoming available.”

The MDA believes sports media content should be made accessible to a global mobile audience on every technology level. The FIFA World Cup should provide an example of what a major sporting event experience can offer the average sports fan in the 21^st Century. But an even larger test lies ahead.

One 2012 Olympics = Twenty FIFA World Cups?
“In 2012 the UK will greet 17,000 athletes from 205 nations, competing across 300 events and 35 Olympic Sports,” said Mike Short. “Up to 9 million spectators have been estimated to visit.” That’s according to the official organising committee.

These figures dwarf those of the FIFA World Cup finals, where 32 countries will compete, therefore presenting proportionally greater opportunities.

We should look at the FIFA World Cup as a mobile media test bed for London 2012. Let’s closely consider the mobile services which will operate to serve and complement the World Cup experience across the globe.

Britons send 11 million text messages every hour

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:41:00 +0000

The continued growth of messaging is highlighted by a 2009 daily average of 265 million text messages and 1.6 million picture messages. 2009’s text message total was 96.8 billion, while over 600 million picture messages were sent across the whole year.

London, UK, January 28th 2009: The Mobile Data Association (MDA) has welcomed new evidence of the UK’s ever growing appetite for mobile messaging, illustrated in its latest report.

Covering Text Messaging (SMS) and Picture and Video Messaging (MMS) activity for 2009/10, the mobile trade body’s report contains statistics aggregated from each of the UK’s Mobile Network Operators.

Seasonal drivers still appear to propel the use of Picture Messaging, with 4.5 million picture messages being sent on Christmas Day itself, while Network Operators’ figures also indicated an upturn in picture messaging during the recent cold snap.

Text messaging traffic over the recent festive period continued to rise proportionately.

Christmas Day Increase on New Years Eve/Day Increase on

2009 2008 2009/10 2008

441,805,870 31% 874,033,799 21%

Assessing the findings of the MDA’s report, Rob Bamforth, Principal Analyst at Quocirca, said: "New generation touchscreen handsets and the bundling of SMS messages into many tariffs has made texting easier, and seen its role develop. Now it is not only a convenient medium for a quick chat with friends, but also a way of participating in television voting and raising funds for needy charities. When a powerful call to action is given, the population of the UK often turn first towards their mobile phones."

Steve Reynolds, MDA Chairman, said: "These statistics show that even with new social media forms of messaging such as Twitter and Facebook, people are using SMS as a social messaging tool because of its simplicity and ubiquity. There remains a significant and still developing role for text messaging. In a seemingly relentless tide of status updates, tweets and pokes, the UK population’s love affair with mobile messaging for instant, on-the-go communication continues to deepen "

Reynolds concluded, "The majority of mobile phone users know how to quickly send a text message, wherever they happen to be. It will still be some time before the same can be said for other social messaging forms."

Q4 2009 Statistical findings

Text Messaging (SMS)

Total number of text messages (SMS) sent in:

2009 total 96.8 billion

2008 total 78.9 billion

2007 total 56.9 billion

These SMS statistics can be broken down as follows in 2009:

Year on year growth (2009 vs 2008): 23% growth

Number of text messages sent per day: 265 million

Video and Picture messages (MMS)

Total number of picture messages (MMS) sent in:

2009 total 601 million

2008 total 553 million

2007 total 449 million

These statistics can be broken down as follows in 2009:

Year on year growth (2009 vs 2008): 9% growth

Number of MMS messages sent per day: 1.6 million

The mobile revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:04:00 +0000

The growth of mobile phones has been nothing short of breathtaking. According to the GSM Association on the 11th February 2009 worldwide there were 4 billion mobile phone/ mobile device connections out of a total global population of 6.6 billion. The GSM Association predict by 2013 will reach a staggering 6 billion connections. In the UK there are more connected mobile phones than people and phones outnumber PC’s by a factor of 3 to 1.

Despite the world economic recession, mobile connections are continuing to grow.
Over the last eight years or so, mobile phones have become very sophisticated with even a basic phone has the capability of storing a massive amount of data such as diary, names and addresses, playing music, taking and sending pictures, email, text messages, browse the mobile worldwide web etc. The richness of these devices is set to grow, and one of the most significant future developments will be the inclusion of Near Field Communications (NFC) on the mobile phone, this exciting technology will mean in the not too distant future we will be able to use our mobile phones to make credit card style payments using NFC contactless wireless technology. It is a well known fact that when most people leave home in the morning to head to work the three items they will not leave home without are their mobile phone, money and keys. NFC technology has the potential to replace both the money and the keys. Arthur D Little predict by 2012 over 170 million NFC handsets will be in circulation worldwide.

Whether you love them or hate them mobile phones need to form an intrinsic part of your business strategy now, not only from an operational perspective but also from a sales and marketing perspective or you will be left behind.

From an operational perspective mobile phone technology can have a positive impact on your business.
1. Mobile email
2. Mobile enterprise access
3. Enterprise mobility

Mobile Email
Email has become the corporate messaging tool of choice, If you have not already done it providing mobile email to employee’s that spend more than 20% of their working week out of the office will result in business benefit. Mobile email allows employee’s deal with important issues fast, removes the backlog of email on their return to the office, allows the flexibility respond to email any time anywhere, and more importantly improves customer satisfaction.
There is a vast array of mobile technologies that can facilitate mobile email from Smartphone’s to laptops with 3g dongles. Looking at Smartphones the Blackberry used to be the email tool of choice for the road warrior, however over the last 2 to 3 years there has been challengers to offering direct connectivity into enterprise email systems such as Microsoft Exchange, these devices offer flexibility and that all important choice. These are Apples IPhone, Windows Mobile devices, and recently Google Android handsets and Palm Pre the first mobile Linux phone.

Mobile Enterprise access
Laptops and Netbooks can also provide mobile email when wirelessly connected either via wireless LAN or via a GPRS or 3G network using either in internal GSM modem or and external USB 3G modem. Not only can you access your email on the move but also connect directly back into your company’s IT enterprise allowing access to whole host of information whist on the move. With the cost of Netbooks with 3G connectivity at less than £250.00 and all you can eat 3G tariffs for around £10.00 per month. The return on investment of a net book computer is in less than one month of purchase.

Enterprise Mobility
If you have task oriented fieldworkers then you should consider an enterprise mobility solution by replacing the paperwork they complete in the field with hand held devices and electronic forms can have a huge positive impact on your business, it commonplace to achieve a 25% improvement in efficiency whist reducing fixed costs Process replication should be your initial strategy in which existing paper based processes are replicated using mobile technology. This is achieved by creating workflows to identify which parts of your field worker processes will deliver the biggest return on investment. Businesses can expect to gain around 25% improvement in productivity whilst reducing the fixed costs of the business. In almost all cases, removing the cost of processing paper-based forms should give you a tangible ROI to prove your business case. It’s easier to do that, than to try and measure the return on intangible benefits such as productivity. Make sure in your business case you include the total cost of ownership, which should include items such as costs for the support of your field workers and their mobile technology, both in the early days of use and for any longer term support issues.

1. Operational efficiency
2. Improved productivity
3. Process compliance
4. Real time reporting and accountability
5. Competitive advantage

Mobile Marketing
Now you have mobilised your business from an operational perspective, you need to consider using mobile to get your message out to your potential customers. Philip Kotler said “The most important thing is to forecast where customers are going and to be in front of them”. Remember in the UK mobile phones outnumber PC’s by a factor of 3 to 1. Web usage on mobile phones is growing rapidly, on average 17.5 million people in the UK access the mobile internet using their mobile phone. Smartphone’s such as the IPhone account for 43% of internet access of all mobile phones. Despite this only 8% of businesses have a mobile web site strategy. Businesses need to take into consideration that the world is going mobile and as a result your web presence and future marketing and advertising strategies must reflect this. To see if your web site is suitable for the mobile internet revolution this web site will provide a free automatic assessment http://ready.mobi/index.html if your web site gets a bad score you should consider changing your web site to make it mobile friendly especially if you’re your web site allows customers to buy your products. There are many organisations out there that can help with the conversion and several tools available that can automate this process.

Mobile Payments

As I mentioned in my introduction the next step innovation in the mobile revolution will be mobile payments.In the not too distant future we will be using our mobile phones to buy everything from train tickets (replacing the current Transport for London Oyster card) to coffee from Starbucks. Electronic ticketing will become commonplace on mobile phones this new technology will take off around 2011/12 and will really change all of our lives businesses need to be aware of this technology and assess whether or not this will impact them and start planning support/adopt. NFC in mobile phones will change the world; it’s a well known fact that when people leave home in the morning to head to work the three items they will not leave home without are their mobile phone, money and keys. NFC technology has the potential to replace both the money and the keys.

Mobile Olympics update

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:56:00 +0000

The London Olympics in 2012 will be one of the biggest social occasions the UK has witnessed since the coronation of 1953. This once in a lifetime event will provide an opportunity for visitors, spectators and followers, with their picture-capable mobile phones, to share their Olympic experiences with friends, family, broadcasters and publishers.

Through careful planning and consultation with all industry stakeholders, we have the chance to capitalise on an opportunity that was not fully exploited in Beijing in 2008. With a coordinated approach, a much richer and consistent mobile experience can be achieved to compliment the London Olympics in 2012.

By engaging those wanting to contribute content, as well as those who wish to consume it, broadcasters and internet players are offered an extra dimension of diverse material from an immensely wide human resource.

With the prospect of several hundred thousand international visitors to London in Summer 2012, it is vital that they see the London games as a Digital Media games which fully embraces mobile. By 2012 it is expected that five billion mobile devices will be in use worldwide, offering a means to share personal memories live from the Olympics. This represents an enormous opportunity for the mobile innovation.

The Opportunities

The opportunities for using mobile technology are many and varied.

It is clear that what is put into place for the 2012 events, the fundamental mechanisms, must provide a lasting legacy. To optimise the 2012 legacy for a Digital Britain, efforts and investment made now should continue to bear fruit for many years to come. .

Towards a personal Olympics

By the end 2010, all new mobile phones will be mobile internet and mobile email ready, and enjoy sophisticated camera functionality as standard. Mobile social networking and sharing moments with friends and family will be commonplace.

Visitors to the 2012 London Olympics will expect to record and share their own personal memories of the games. This “of the moment” dynamic view will provide a great opportunity to experience the Olympics in a unique way. Examples could include creating a “MyGames2012” portal, where visitors can upload and share their Olympic experience in a controlled manner.

Other mobile focussed sites could include competitions for the best content, pictures or video, while Olympic athletes themselves could have a Facebook style personal contact area for their fans. This could ultimately generate a unique national archive of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Mobile Media coverage

The Beijing Olympics had unprecedented internet media coverage, including significant coverage for mobile internet devices. Large media organisations such as NBC and the BBC provided live 24/7 mobile web, mobile alerts and mobile video coverage. The MDA saw a 500,000 increase in the number of mobile internet users during the two weeks of the Beijing games. However, the BBC reported that only 2% of their broadcast content was consumed on mobile devices. We need to learn from the failings of Beijing and ensure that, in the lead up to the games, we promote, educate and generate demand for mobile centric content and applications.

By 2012 tariff changes and device functionality will ensure Mobile Internet and streaming media will be commonly used by upwards of 40 million in the UK. This new wave of mobile consumers will demand more innovative mobile content: from a medal award ceremony for Team GB, to action replays of the best action.

This all means that the wireless operators must ensure that capacity planning anticipates the popularity of the Olympics. Wireless provisioning in and around the stadia will need to encompass GSM based bearers, as well as WiFi, WiMax and Bluetooth - which can all be used to distribute local event-based content and information.

One significant consideration with media coverage is the cost associated with viewing this content, especially for overseas visitors. Data roaming costs need to be transparent to the user, or at a fixed cost throughout their Olympic experience.

Transport and Ticketing

Mobile phones are currently being used for purchasing small items and trials of mobile payment systems are proving successful. However, by 2012 not all mobile phones will support the enabling technology known as Near Field Communication’s (NFC).

By 2012 we will be using our NFC enabled mobile phones on the underground and public transport systems of London as an Oyster card replacement. There are significant opportunities to combine mobile internet, GPS location and mapping to provide visitors with a raft of facilities. These include travel plans (using public transport), smart routes avoiding congested areas, booking facilities for hotels and restaurants, sightseeing activities and information, tickets for the games and real-time security alerts.

Localised mobile content and public transport services are already active. The London Borough of Newham recently launched their own mobile portal, which allows users to find a live music event or a restaurant, then plan a route with the public transport system. This type of application will be developed further with the blending of location based services and mobile payments, delivering a rich but intuitive solution for the Olympic visitor.

Summary

Opportunities for integrating cellular and WiFi mobile services into programming around the 2012 Olympics is vast. If planned well, it affords a major opportunity to integrate these services into future offerings, and lay the foundation for a national archive.

The Mobile Data Association MDA, with its industry-wide network of mobile expertise, is already working with many key stakeholders to provide guidance and support in the planning and phasing of these opportunities

These are just a few possibilities for the Olympics, but the opportunities around a comprehensively mobile London 2012 Games is potentially limitless.

Mobile Plenty of life ahead for RFID and NFC

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:18:00 +0000

Here is a recent article published by Rob Bamforth of Quocirca. I think this article presents a balanced view on the future of NFC technologies;

RFID and its close cousin near field communications (NFC) have both been touted for great and sexy futuristic applications. These range from the tagging and tracking of all consumer goods to the conversion of mobile phones into all purpose 'super wallets' where simply waving the phone at the checkout would pay for your items.

The idea with RFID is quite simple. If you can apply sufficiently low-cost tags to items you can replace the line-of-sight constrained barcode with something that can be read automatically over a range of a couple of meters. This opens up applications from stock control and in-store anti-theft detection, to esoteric ones like domestic fridges that automatically add milk to the shopping list when the last carton is removed, or rubbish bins that notice something should have been recycled.

The problem with this sort of futuristic ideal is that while cost per tag is falling, the cost and complexity of large deployments of tags, readers and the changes this brings to business processes rises with scale. The benefits may be significant when this occurs but they also get harder to identify and quantify. While visible at board level, many individual cost centres will not see significant benefit, making large scale RFID projects harder to justify, so most deployments have been on a smaller scale where value is well defined and clear.

A similar picture is true with NFC, although some large deployments, such as Transport for London's Oyster card, have very worked well, as they are closed applications and have the support of an entire infrastructure. The idea of similar technology on all mobile phones has potential and could ultimately yield plenty of interesting applications but there are a lot of vested interests and agendas that would have to be aligned first.

Mass market, high tech RFID and NFC applications will have their place at some point in the future. However the use of tags and short-range radio devices to read them can work effectively today in applications where it is necessary to prove that the right action has been taken with a specific object.

The technologies could prove quite useful for compliance applications. This might sound boring compared to waving your phone at shopkeepers but they are often of critical importance, and therefore can have huge benefits, usually in mitigating or avoiding risks - including saving lives.

Consider the needs of maintenance staff working on electrified rail lines, for example. When the power line being worked on is switched off, it has to be attached to the ground to avoid a current being induced by other nearby power lines. The heavy duty 'earthing' straps are critical to safety and preventing damage, so deployment must be well controlled, but they also have to be removed before power goes back on. Several straps will be used over the course of one maintenance session, and by a number of engineers, so it is critical to account precisely for all of them.

The difficulty is how to positively identify each strap and know who checks them out. Each one is a weighty coil of 2cm diameter cable, with heavy-duty clamps at each end. Labels or barcodes are difficult to attach and become difficult to use in the challenging outdoor environment next to the tracks.

However, a product based on radio tags read by nearby readers fits the bill by giving each earthing straps a unique identity. The engineers then use handheld devices with a snap-on NFC reader and suitable software to link each specific cable to a specific engineer.

At some point developments will be taken a stage further and GPS will be used to provide the specific location for each cable while it's in use. All of this information is logged for audit and alert purposes to ensure workers' safety and avoid damage to tracks and power lines.

Tags can also be used to validate the location of the tag reader itself. For example security guards can have tag readers attached to the handheld mobile devices they may already be carrying as they patrol. Tags embedded around the perimeter and at vulnerable points of the areas the guards are employed to secure can be identified and read, ensuring that a guard has passed a particular point at a certain time. This provides an audit trail showing the security process has been complied with.

In each case the reading of a tag is providing a time, person, proximity and location stamp for a business process that depends on repetitive tasks. This will provide authentication to validate a process for compliance purposes but can also protect assets and perhaps lives. In constraining the solution to meet specific business needs, even the most advanced technologies can be deployed in a cost effective manner.

These applications, provided in this case by customers of one of the UK's mobile data specialists, TBS Mobility, demonstrate not only that there are valid uses for NFC and RFID but that they do not have to be expensive, huge or mass market. It's just a matter of understanding the problem and then looking at what technology might fit.

Despite the many doom-and-gloom predictions for RFID and NFC, it is really more about just getting on with what is necessary.If you like Rob's report there are more like it here; www.quocirca.com

By Rob Bamforth, 2 December 2009 10:00

Radio and tagging technologies have loads of promise - though the applications may not be quite what you were expecting, says Quocirca's Rob Bamforth.
RFID and its close cousin near field communications (NFC) have both been touted for great and sexy futuristic applications. These range from the tagging and tracking of all consumer goods to the conversion of mobile phones into all purpose 'super wallets' where simply waving the phone at the checkout would pay for your items.
The idea with RFID is quite simple. If you can apply sufficiently low-cost tags to items you can replace the line-of-sight constrained barcode with something that can be read automatically over a range of a couple of meters. This opens up applications from stock control and in-store anti-theft detection, to esoteric ones like domestic fridges that automatically add milk to the shopping list when the last carton is removed, or rubbish bins that notice something should have been recycled.
The problem with this sort of futuristic ideal is that while cost per tag is falling, the cost and complexity of large deployments of tags, readers and the changes this brings to business processes rises with scale. The benefits may be significant when this occurs but they also get harder to identify and quantify. While visible at board level, many individual cost centres will not see significant benefit, making large scale RFID projects harder to justify, so most deployments have been on a smaller scale where value is well defined and clear.
A similar picture is true with NFC, although some large deployments, such as Transport for London's Oyster card, have very worked well, as they are closed applications and have the support of an entire infrastructure. The idea of similar technology on all mobile phones has potential and could ultimately yield plenty of interesting applications but there are a lot of vested interests and agendas that would have to be aligned first.
Mass market, high tech RFID and NFC applications will have their place at some point in the future. However the use of tags and short-range radio devices to read them can work effectively today in applications where it is necessary to prove that the right action has been taken with a specific object.
The technologies could prove quite useful for compliance applications. This might sound boring compared to waving your phone at shopkeepers but they are often of critical importance, and therefore can have huge benefits, usually in mitigating or avoiding risks - including saving lives.
Consider the needs of maintenance staff working on electrified rail lines, for example. When the power line being worked on is switched off, it has to be attached to the ground to avoid a current being induced by other nearby power lines. The heavy duty 'earthing' straps are critical to safety and preventing damage, so deployment must be well controlled, but they also have to be removed before power goes back on. Several straps will be used over the course of one maintenance session, and by a number of engineers, so it is critical to account precisely for all of them.
The difficulty is how to positively identify each strap and know who checks them out. Each one is a weighty coil of 2cm diameter cable, with heavy-duty clamps at each end. Labels or barcodes are difficult to attach and become difficult to use in the challenging outdoor environment next to the tracks.
However, a product based on radio tags read by nearby readers fits the bill by giving each earthing straps a unique identity. The engineers then use handheld devices with a snap-on NFC reader and suitable software to link each specific cable to a specific engineer.
At some point developments will be taken a stage further and GPS will be used to provide the specific location for each cable while it's in use. All of this information is logged for audit and alert purposes to ensure workers' safety and avoid damage to tracks and power lines.
Tags can also be used to validate the location of the tag reader itself. For example security guards can have tag readers attached to the handheld mobile devices they may already be carrying as they patrol. Tags embedded around the perimeter and at vulnerable points of the areas the guards are employed to secure can be identified and read, ensuring that a guard has passed a particular point at a certain time. This provides an audit trail showing the security process has been complied with.
In each case the reading of a tag is providing a time, person, proximity and location stamp for a business process that depends on repetitive tasks. This will provide authentication to validate a process for compliance purposes but can also protect assets and perhaps lives. In constraining the solution to meet specific business needs, even the most advanced technologies can be deployed in a cost effective manner.
These applications, provided in this case by customers of one of the UK's mobile data specialists, TBS Enterprise Mobility (www.tbsmobility.com ), demonstrate not only that there are valid uses for NFC and RFID but that they do not have to be expensive, huge or mass market. It's just a matter of understanding the problem and then looking at what technology might fit.
Despite the many doom-and-gloom predictions for RFID and NFC, it is really more about just getting on with what is necessary.

The 2010 Deloitte TMT Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:42:00 +0000

The 2010 Deloitte TMT Predictions provide an in-depth look at the emerging issues that will impact the Technology, Media and Telecoms;

Telecommunications sectors in the coming year.

Technology predictions
Technology has never been changing so rapidly, what does your business need to know?

Telecommunications predictions
As Telecommunications evolve, what does your business need to know?

Media predictions
Media continues to change and grow, find out what will impact your business needs.

Downloads

Download copies of the 2010 Predictions reports.

eTicket to ride

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:21:00 +0000

Enjoy a recent interview I did for a rail industry magazine

The advancement of technology has revolutionised the way in which railways around the world now operate. One area of this is revolution is the emergence of digital ticketing, reports Richard Mackillican

The advancement of technology has revolutionised the way in which railways around the world now operate. One area of this is revolution is the emergence of digital ticketing, reports Richard Mackillican

The last few years have seen rail companies taking the plunge into a totally new area of customer service which enables passengers to forego the normal system of buying a paper ticket at the train station.
“In terms of mobile ticketing the industry is on the edge of a breakthrough,” explained Steve Reynolds, Chairman of the Mobile Data Association, “However, as an industry, rail is a little behind others in regards to using mobile technology to issue tickets.
“Of course there are some great examples of it working, such as Transport For London’s Oyster card, which perfectly illustrates how mobile data can be used to enable a more flexible way of travelling.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that everyone travelling on the rail network in the future would want to top their card up then waft it on top of a terminal as they go past, but then again buying a ticket on the internet is not a simple process either.
“It means that you either have to have the tickets posted to you, which given recent events can not be completely reliable, or pick them up at the station - meaning more printed paper tickets.
“Of course then you have to insert that ticket in the gate, which may not be accepted if it is an advance ticket and requires guards to be standing by barriers checking tickets. So the rail industry has a long way to go in terms of ticket issuing and could learn a lot from the airline industry.
“British Airways issues electronic tickets these days, and Lufthansa use text ticketing, which is even better. This means that if you want an e-ticket , Lufthansa send it straight to your mobile phone, which is scanned when you check in.”
Of course this kind of approach is far more environmentally friendly than continually printing off single-use paper tickets which require wood to be cut down and a huge amount of energy to be expended processing the pulp into tickets.
“Aside from its environmental benefits, this kind of technique also helps to stop littering.” added Steve. “If you look outside train stations now, you often see tickets strewn across the floor if the machines aren’t working properly.”
“Mobile ticketing on the UK rail network is between five and ten years behind where they should be. Though this isn’t necessarily true of Transport for London, who have gone along way to resolving these kinds of issues.”
Bringing the rail industry in line with other transport sectors would take a lot of time, effort and investment to achieve; Steve believes that it is certainly achievable.
“If you consider British Airways as a case study,” he continued, “They use e-ticketing and have around 40,000 employees in 30 to 40 countries around the world. Millions of people travel with them every year and they still manage to make the system work, so why not rail operators too?
“If on trains you have many season ticket holders, mobile ticketing could be used to provide better levels of service. The whole concept of issuing tickets on trains must be considered.”
Implementing such systems requires a huge amount of planning for the companies involved; therefore it would be important for them not to rush into anything.
“Initially it would have to be a phased approach.” explained Steve, “But to go from the situation as it is at the moment, to being able to receive a text message barcode ticket would be great.
“Of course this would mean a change in the infrastructure used, but if you compare it to the one already in place, then it’s going to be more financially efficient in the long term.
“If you go to any train station throughout the length and breadth of the UK, there will be around five or six extremely expensive ticketing machines in each one, with queues of people. Then there will also be a ticket office issuing paper tickets, so all of these costs add up both financially and environmentally.
“But, if you consider that nearly everyone who travels by train will have a mobile phone on their person and will be reasonably savvy with that technology, then there is certainly room for efficiencies to be made through simply texting tickets through to those phones.
“One would have to consider the elderly when implementing these types of systems, so it would be important to have dual systems to begin with, with more traditional ticketing options still available.
“Therefore I think that the first step should be to give passengers the option to print their own tickets, which requires scanning infrastructure in place. From there the industry could move onto electronic ticketing using mobile technology. Then further down the line, once mobile payments become pervasive, the industry could look at mobile payment methods, so that they can buy the tickets as well.”
The rail industry, like other sectors, is enduring the tough economic conditions which have a negative affect on passenger number growth. However, if the industry embraces the use of mobile technology, then it will be able to reap huge financial rewards from no longer needing much of the current infrastructure. It would also make the system run more smoothly according to Steve.
“Having bar code readers at the barriers rather than ticket readers would mean the whole process runs more smoothly for the rail industry,” He said. “It would also mean less demand for staff at ticket offices and less paper used in tickets, so it’s better for the environment.”
Of course this kind of technology will take a long time to come into full scale use and will need a lot of testing.

BBC Radio 1 team-up with The Mobile Data Association to give listeners free picture messaging day

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Reynolds) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:10:00 +0000

BBC Radio 1 listeners will be able to send the radio station free picture messages from their mobile phones for the first time on Friday 11th December, as part of its 'Access All Areas' week.

Listeners in the United Kingdom will be able to send free picture messages to the BBC Radio 1 messaging number (81199), for a chance to see their images featured on the BBC Radio 1 website.

Mobile industry trade body, The Mobile Data Association (MDA), brought together each of the UK’s major mobile network operators to form a partnership with the BBC which aims to get more young people involved with the station. The MDA has also launched an educational website with the long-term aim of helping people to send picture messages: http://www.getsettings.org.

Ben Chapman, Interactive Editor at BBC Radio 1, said: “Our goal is to mix the listeners’ picture messages with images of our DJs in an innovative way, so they all follow the theme of a well known piece of music. It’s a brilliant opportunity for Radio 1 to produce interactive content while explaining how to get the most out of mobile phones, and it encourages more interaction with our DJs.”

Martin Ballard, Operations Director at the MDA, said: “BBC Radio 1’s Picture Messaging Day should provide a springboard to generate further interest in the medium. Our getsettings website aims to address configuration issues around older handsets in circulation and SIM-only contracts. But the emergence of increasingly sophisticated and affordable devices means users can begin to capitalise on the rich mobile messaging facilities which are now available, as they did with text messaging at the beginning of the decade.

”Getsettings will provide a single unified hub of settings information for the Picture Messaging Day and into the future.”

WIN plc, a leading enabler of mobile media, entertainment and data services, is providing the technology which allows picture messages to be received and managed by the BBC.

For more information please contact, Tamsin Morgan, BBC Radio 1, 0207 765 5460 or Mark Hawkins, MDA, 07949 023795.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

About the picture messaging day

1. The following networks are participating and have agreed to provide free picture messages to the Radio1 text number 81199 for the day: 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Vodafone and Virgin Media.

2, This does not include pictures sent from Eire, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

3. Only picture messages sent to the Radio 1 text number 81199 between midnight Thursday 10th December and midnight Friday 11th December will be free.

4. Mobile handsets with integrated cameras should all be able to send picture messages. Most phones are now instantly set up to send picture messages 'out of the box'.

5. Mobile handsets which have been used on a different network or are being used with ‘SIM only’ contracts might need to have the correct settings installed. These are available from the Mobile Network Operators' websites or further information and links are available at http://www.getsettings.org.

6. Customers must have Picture Messaging (or MMS) included in their contracts (pre pay or post pay) and Picture Messaging must be enabled on their handsets.

About The Mobile Data Association

The MDA reflects the common voice of the mobile data industry. The longest established dedicated Mobile trade association in the UK promotes the use and benefits of mobile data throughout industry and business. Press, regular industry conferences and seminars, and the operation of websites (www.themda.org and www.text.it) help promote a high level of awareness amongst users and advisers, directly influencing operational management.

In addition, the Association provides a forum for members of the industry to meet and share information on technical and business issues.

Press Contact

Tamsin Morgan, BBC Radio 1

0207 765 5460

Mark Hawkins, Mobile Data Association

07949 023795