Kevin's Field Mobility News Weekly - Week of January 24, 2011

Kevin’s Field Mobility News Weekly is an online newsletter made up of the most interesting news and articles related to field mobility that I run across each week. I am specifically targeting information that reflects market data and trends.

Also read Kevin's Mobility News Weekly - Week of January 24, 2011
Also read Kevin’s Mobile Money News Weekly - Week of January 24, 2011
Also read Kevin’s Mobile Retailing News Weekly - Week of January 24, 2011

Apple’s launch of the iPad marked the start of the Tablet revolution. Infinite Research expects that 147.2 million Tablet computers will ship in 2015, up from 16.1 million units in 2010.

http://www.infiniteresearch.net/research/tabletmarketforecast.html

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South Africa’s healthcare is poised for a major revolution this year. Now, millions of subscribers of MTN, a major communications company in Africa, will be able to access a range of healthcare services on their mobile handsets without the inconvenience of travelling to a healthcare facility.

http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=10187

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Mobile body area network technology has the potential to be a boon to the healthcare system of the future by enabling remote patient monitoring through disposable wireless devices -- meaning fewer doctor visits for everyone and great news for latrophobes.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/21/health-care-and-aeronautics-industries-agree-that-fcc-should-set/

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There have been plenty of rugged cameras in our time, and a few GPS equipped pocket cams, but the Fujifilm FinePix XP30 is – you guessed it – a rugged GPS camera.

http://stuffmideast.com/2011/01/24/110298/hands-on-fujifilm-finepix-xp30/

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Rugged Notebooks, a leading provider of ruggedized portable computers, has announced its MedTab ruggedized tablet PC. The fully ruggedized, Windows Tablet PC features drop, shock, and spill protection from liquids including blood, sterile alcohol, bleach, and iodine.

http://ruggednotebooks.com/news/rugged-notebooks-announces-medtab-ruggedized-tablet-pc-for-healthcare-professionals

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Cloud computing, once an object of skepticism, is taking center stage at a handful of companies. RehabCare Group, a 28 year old provider of therapeutic services, is using hosted software and an unlikely device - the Apple iPod Touch – to make its field workforce of 11,000 physical therapists more effective.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/data_centers/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=229000706

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The insurance adjustment market is an area that is ripe for rapid deployment of tablets. Ask any field adjuster if he or she would rather assess a job and complete the “paperwork” (why do we still call it that?) via a notebook or a tablet, and you know what the answer would be.

http://www.crn.com/blogs-op-ed/on-the-record/229000936/tablets-are-the-future.htm;jsessionid=xfWs3Aqek8viJCqWM8R6MQ**.ecappj03

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The recent implementation of vehicle telematics has led to significant reductions in fleet fuel consumption and operating costs for the City of Sacramento, which recently equipped over 400 vehicles with electronic fleet management products from Zonar Systems. The solution optimizes vehicle routes, monitors vehicle performance, identifies opportunities for improvements in driver behavior and streamlines the pre and post trip inspection process.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/26/prweb8093574.DTL

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Syclo, a market leader in enterprise mobile software, and UK-based ServicePower Technologies, a leading provider of outsourcing and field management solutions, have agreed to a partnership which will integrate Syclo's next generation version of SMART Schedule with ServicePower's sophisticated scheduling technology.

http://sap-news.tmcnet.com/news/2011/01/13/5244563.htm

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The top five predictions from Dell KACE concerning systems management should come as no surprise to those following IT issues, but they are no less significant for that.

http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/technology/44608-whats-ahead-in-systems-management

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FleetMatics, a market leader of GPS vehicle tracking applications for commercial fleets, has announced that its software is now integrated with fuel card purchase data. The powerful new FleetMatics Fuel Card Reports enables users to reduce fuel usage and track MPG, pinpoint fuel card non-compliance, and correct fuel-wasting driving behaviors.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/25/prweb8075277.DTL

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Startup company TrazeTag has designed a tough, rubber passive RFID label for use in harsh environments, such as those found in construction, aerospace, manufacturing and in storage yard applications.

http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/8160/1/1/

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After completing tests of a radio frequency identification system at two nuclear power plants, the Oregon company Access Solutions has made its RFID based Cube available for use in tracking tools, materials and personnel into and out of controlled areas at power generation facilities. The self-contained turnkey structure can be installed at a site and used to manage the flow of individuals and tools into and out of an area controlled for foreign material exclusion or for clean conditions.

http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/8112

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AT&T recently announced a new location information services offering to enable transportation companies to capture location information from drivers’ handsets, regardless of hardware or wireless service provider. The new offering also does not require additional software to be downloaded to handsets.

http://www.ccjdigital.com/att-offers-new-tracking-platform/

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Carlsberg UK has signed a deal with Microlise for a telematic system for its fleet, as part of plans to drive down its logistics costs. The brewer has confirmed it will roll out Microlise fleet and distribution transport management systems for its 300 strong fleet in Britain, in order to cut fuel use and CO2 emissions.

http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2011/01/19/137894/Carlsberg-UK-rolls-out-new-telematics-for-its-lorries.htm

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Trimble has introduced the next generation Trimble Ranger rugged handheld computer.  The Trimble Ranger 3 is intended for surveying, construction, field service, forestry, mapping, public safety, utilities, and other outdoor or service-related applications.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trimble-introduces-next-generation-ranger-outdoor-rugged-handheld-computer-114634624.html

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It is estimated that by 2014 the number of fleet management units deployed in commercial fleets in Europe will exceed 4 million.

http://gadgetoday.net/201101/13501.html

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Kevin Benedict, SAP Mentor, SAP Top Contributor, mobile industry analyst and experienced mobile industry executive, offers both one and two day onsite workshops designed to educate and inform executives and management teams on enterprise mobility and mobile strategies for businesses. This workshop is designed to provide a complete overview of enterprise mobility and what it means to the business. The workshop is customized based upon the needs of participants. For more details visit http://mobileenterprisestrategies.blogspot.com/p/workshops.html.

Recent Articles by Kevin Benedict

Mobile Expert Interview Series: Webalo’s Peter Price
Special Report:  Advice from Mobile Experts
Wireless M2M Growth Projections
Enterprise Mobility 2011: An Analysis
Special Report: The Mobile Devices that Mobile Experts Use
Mobile Expert Interview Series: Sybase's Eric Lai

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You can follow me on Twitter @krbenedict and read my blog, Enterprise Mobility Strategies.

Also available are:

Kevin’s M2M News Monthly
Kevin’s Mobility News Weekly
Kevin’s Mobile Money News Weekly
Kevin’s Mobile Retailing News Weekly

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Kevin Benedict, SAP Mentor, Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst
Phone +1 208-991-4410
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Join the SAP Enterprise Mobility group on Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2823585&trk=anet_ug_grppro

Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility consultant, mobility analyst, writer and Web 2.0 marketing professional. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.