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Showing posts from November, 2007

MobileDataforce Launches PointSync – Professional Version 2.0

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Boise, Idaho— November 29, 2007 – MobileDataforce® a leading provider of business critical mobile software applications for use on handheld PDAs, today announced the release of the PointSync Mobility Platform, Professional version 2.0. This release represents a major upgrade to the company’s award-winning rapid application development solution. “ PointSync Mobility Platform, Professional version 2.0 contains over 29 new features to help make mobile application enablement faster and less expensive,” said Tim Cerami, Director of Product Management at MobileDataforce. “We worked closely with our technology partners, customers and channel partners to better understand their need to develop custom mobile software applications faster and with more tools to help develop larger and more complex enterprise mobile solutions. The results can be found in today’s release.” New Version Includes: Support for larger data requirements on data intensive mobile applications Support for server to server

Using Mobile Software Applications & Handheld PDAs for Inspections

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I often get asked what markets we focus on with our mobile software applications for handheld PDAs. My first reaction is to say only the markets that have money, but that is not true...we are particular...we prefer certain currencies such as the Euros now days! The real answer is that inspection services is a very big market for us. In the inspections services market nearly every customer has unique data collection requirements. They can not simply go to Office Depot and find a handheld PDA software application that meets their unique inspection service needs. What is required is the ability to cost effectively customize a mobile inspection solution in a relatively short period of time. We developed the PointSync Mobility Platform for that purpose. Most inspections follow a common process. From a high level software technology perspective an inspection looks like this: Create and upload an electronic inspection form to a handheld computer Capture data Synchronize data and integrate

MobileDataforce Hires Mike Freeman as VP of Sales

MobileDataforce Hires Mobility Expert Mike Freeman to Accelerate Success in Worldwide Sales of Mobile Software Solutions Noted Speaker, Sales Leader and Visionary Business Executive Joins MobileDataforce as VP of Sales ... learn more We are growing very fast here at MobileDataforce and we are attracting some very good industry talent to our management team. Mike Freeman, former VP of Enterprise Sales at Palm Inc, will bring a huge amount of talent and expertise to our team. Welcome Mike!!!

Getting Paid for Field Services - Using Handheld PDAs

I had the opportunity recently to spend time with one of our mobile software customers. They are developing a new business and dedicating a lot of time to thinking through their business processes. As he shared this experience, it occurred to me that my client is not getting paid for the work completed, but rather on the completed documentation of the work done. I realized these two items go hand-in-hand, but you don't automatically receive payment for work, unless there is adequate data that documents the work. I again saw this phenomena in play when a large customer would not pay their bill until I properly registered as a vendor, got approved as a vendor, and filled out a series of forms before they would even consider paying me. Again, it was the completed and submitted data that released the funds, not the work. The importance of getting accurate, complete and timely data from the point-of-work to the bill paying department of your customer is crucial to your success. Many s

MobileDataforce VIN Decoding Technology (MVDT) on Mobile Handheld PDAs

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Mobile handheld PDAs are a wonderful thing. We are using them plus our “ MVDT ” ( MobileDataforce VIN Decoding Technology ) to deliver some very interesting projects involving field services and automobiles. The following items can be identified by simply scanning the barcode on the dashboard or on the door frame of a car: year, make, model, body type, bed length, doors, # of cylinders, engine formation, engine size, fuel delivery method, fuel type, gross vehicle weight, build plant, restraint system, transmission gears, transmission type, wheelbase, antilock brakes (y/n), stability control (y/n), traction control (y/n), trim level, curb weight, EPA city mileage with auto, EPA city mileage with manual, EPA highway mileage with auto, EPA highway mileage with manual, ground clearance, height, length, width and color options. All of this information can be automatically imported into a vehicle inspection or a work order uniquely associated with the automobile. For more details please

Broncos vs Vandals and Using Mobile Handheld PDAs

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Our office in Boise, Idaho is nicely decorated today in two different color sets. One is black and gold - representing the University of Idaho Vandals football team, and the other color scheme is blue and orange for the Boise State University Broncos football team. This week the two interstate rivals will be playing each other. Nick Martin, a Boise State University graduate and technical support guru, arrived at his office to an unpleasant surprise this morning. His desk was fully decorated in his rival's colors. I am sure revenge and conspiracy course through the halls. How does this relate to mobile handheld computers? I took this picture with my Palm Treo 750 PDA phone running on Windows Mobile 6.0. I synced the image back to my desktop where I am writing this blog. Using the software solution PointSync Mobility Platform I can do the exact same thing with any business application - work orders, inspections, asset tracking, proof-of-delivery and more. The world is now ready

MobileDataforce Announces FieldSync Automotive™ for Paintless Dent Repair

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Mobile software solution provides VIN scanning and decoding, automotive inspections and work order applications for use on Windows Mobile handheld devices Boise, Idaho— November 15, 2007 – MobileDataforce® a leading provider of business critical mobile software applications today announced a new mobile software solution called FieldSync Automotive which was designed and developed using the popular PointSync Mobility Platform for mobile handheld PDAs. This application is specifically designed for companies involved in the mobile automotive services market such as Paintless Dent Repair, Smart repair, windshield repair, bumper repair and other mobile services that require automotive inspections, work orders, VIN scanning and decoding, mobile invoices and reports. “We are excited about offering a new category of mobile business software solutions,” says Kevin Benedict, CEO MobileDataforce. “FieldSync Automotive is the first in a series of mobile business solutions that we will be releasin

iPAQ Handheld PDAs Everywhere

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Our office is covered with many HP iPAQ handheld PDAs today. They are getting installed with a mobile supply chain logistics application that is being used to track supplies heading to various clinics in Africa that treat Aids patients. My PSO (professional services organization) team developed this custom mobile application to our customer's specifications and is now helping install all of the mobile applications on the PDAs in preparation for use in the field. Our customer selected the iPAQ 694o with an Otterbox as a protective cover.

xTablet T8600 Rugged Tablet PCs Compete with Handheld PDAs

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My team is working with an xTablet T8600 rugged Tablet PC in the office today. It is being considered by a number of our customers and competing against handheld PDAs. Our customers need a rugged Tablet PC to view either map details or to conduct in-depth equipment inspections. It has a barcode scanner on the top, a credit card swipe on the right side and a great strap on the back to slip your arm through to hold it. For more information click here . Here are some statements from their website: Flexibility : MobileDemand's Rugged Tablet PC's are created to be as flexible as your workforce needs - regardless of the industry you are in. Total Cost of Ownership : For markets such as Direct Store Delivery ( DSD ), Field Service, Transportation and Logistics, Healthcare , and Manufacturing and Distribution the right choice is a mobile computer.. Durable, Rugged Tablet PC : Nowhere is a failure more recognizable to the customer. It is critical that your field personnel are equipp

Application Enablement for Mobile Software Solutions, PDAs and Handhelds

I have read about a dozen reports over the last month on the subject of mobile software, handheld and PDA applications. Many companies have synchronization technologies for email, calendars, tasks and messaging, but one of the biggest needs right now is "application enablement." The definition of application enablement, as I understand it, is the ability for a company with a defined need for a mobile application to find a way to cost effectively develop and deploy it. Here is a scenario - The Business Manager walks down the long row of cubicles to the IT manager's desk and says, "I need a field service work order management system on rugged PDA phones for my service technicians." The IT manager closes down his My Space page and slowly turns and faces the Business Manager. "We have a custom Work Order Dispatch application written by your cousin Pete. There are no mobile applications that plug into it off-the-shelf." "Just develop it then." &q

Making Millions with Mobile Handheld PDA Software Applications

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In the last month I have spoken to several of our customers about their motivations for mobilizing their business processes for use on handheld PDAs. I was very intrigued that several of them identified their primary motivation was closing new business. At MobileDataforce we are very focused on helping our customers identify the cost savings that can be achieved by mobilizing business processes on handhelds like: Work Order Dispatch Inspections Asset Tracking Delivery services Clinical trials data collection etc. However, sometimes this can blind us to the fact that the primary motivations of some of our customers are to close new business by mobilizing, rather than achieving cost savings by mobilizing. Two of the custom mobile software projects my teams are working on today were initiated because our customers wanted to achieve a competitive advantage in their business. They were not motivated primarily by cost savings due to business process efficiencies. They wanted to show their s

RFID Adoption Rates are Dropping

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In an article in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 it is reported that RFID adoption rates are actually dropping. In 2006 13% of logistic providers said they have committed to using RFID at some point in the future, in 2007 the number is only 10%. Currently only 8% of logistics providers are involved in proof-of-concepts and this is also down from 2006 numbers. The ROIs are simply not there yet for the majority of companies. The RFID tags remain too expensive and the accuracy of many RFID systems is not sufficient. Tom McKenna, VP of Penske Corp., says he could only get 95% accuracy on the RFID reads, which of course does not work for him. Long live the bar code!!! MobileDataforce has created many barcode and RFID solutions. Our mobile software solutions, the PointSync Mobility Platform, does not care if the data comes to the handheld through a bar code scanner, RFID reader or any other method. We process the data the same way and wirelessly synchronize it with ent