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Reaching the wireless data tipping point

The idea of "enterprise wireless data" - the mobile industry's term for wireless access to business systems - has been around for very many years now and Quocirca has reported on trials taking place in this area on a number of occasions since 2002. However, the initial pilots don't seem to be moving to broader rollout very quickly. The key question is therefore what is inhibiting large scale take-up? Have initial investments formed a good foundation for the future or will a change of tack be needed? With a particular focus on the use of smart handheld devices, we consider what it will take to reach some sort of tipping point enabling pervasive wireless application access to become a genuine mainstream reality.
Author/s: Rob Bamforth
Created: 01/07/2005
Filename: Reaching_the_wireless_data_tipping_point_-_Intellisync.pdf
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  • Most wireless data activity involving handhelds to date has been piecemeal
    The majority of initiatives are either tactical or still at the pilot level; fewer than 20% of organisations are working under a co-ordinated strategy. This is despite good user experiences with wireless email on handheld devices and improvements in mobile coverage. This picture has not changed much over the past two years, and although strategic thinking has advanced somewhat, we might have expected to see more of it, along with larger scale adoption by now.
  • But we are still being told that broader rollout is on the agenda
    With a mobile email pilot or small-scale deployment being the typical starting point, development is envisaged in two directions: more wireless email users and more applications on handheld devices. Many employees who have a mobile phone also have a corporate email account, so a significant number of businesses feel there is a potential case for pushing mobile email access deeper into the organisation. Furthermore, most IT decision makers are aware of the potential benefits of broadening the scope of handheld wireless access to embrace other mainstream business applications, such as those from SAP, Oracle, Siebel and others.
  • However, IT departments are questioning whether the investments made so far form a good foundation for the future
    Many developments to date have been based on point solutions providing end-to-end connectivity from an email server to a specific type of relatively expensive device. Whilst this "canned" approach has been welcomed by some as a way to get off the ground quickly, the view is that it is inappropriate for the future. The vast majority therefore have reservations about continuing down this road and only 10% are in favour of the point solution approach going forward. Tellingly, about a third overall think that their investments to date are not future proof. Over half have either had to retrofit activity to policies and standards defined for the future, or say they will need new policies going forward.
  • This shift in mindset is driven by a perceived need for more openness and flexibility
    Going forward, IT departments want to be able to support a range of devices with different specifications, characteristics and price points to deal with the varying requirements of a broader user base. Nearly 90% also consider that the mobile handset market is not yet mature, or never will be, and that devices will therefore constantly change. Given these considerations, virtually all respondents want to be able to keep their options open when it comes to using different types of device in the future, and the ability to support different devices comes top of the list of requirements when considering software to support wireless access to corporate systems. This, together with plans to broaden the scope of access beyond simple email to other applications, is changing mindsets and highlighting the need for a more open approach.
  • Changes in supplier landscape and behaviour are necessary to reach the tipping point
    It is in everyone's interests for the market to reach a tipping point as achievement of critical mass drives opportunity for suppliers along with lower costs, better skills availability and reduced risk for customers. But to invest to the next level, customers need confidence that the solutions they put into place will permit future growth, expansion and flexibility, and many seem willing to draw a line under previous investments and change tack if necessary. Traditional point solution vendors are already cognisant of this and are repositioning accordingly. But organisations would be advised to re-evaluate their strategy in light of the changing requirements we are hearing about. Along the way, it might well be worth IT departments considering vendors, products and services that were designed with open application connectivity and device independency in mind from the outset. At a market level, the provision of such flexibility is the key to reaching the tipping point.