Showing posts with label mobility consultant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mobility consultant. Show all posts

Finally the Tide of Rugged Android Devices Begins

In my opinion, Microsoft blew it when they left the rugged mobile device manufacturers hanging for years with no meaningful upgrades or upgrade path to the Windows Mobile 6.5x operating system.  They sentenced the ruggedized device industry to compete against the iPhone, iPad and Android consumer devices.  This meant service organizations worldwide started considering the merits of switching to consumer devices, with new operating systems that had many more features rather than upgrading to new ruggedized mobile devices.

Otterbox and other rugged case manufacturers were definitely the winners of this Microsoft orchestrated industry trend.  They produced many great ruggedized cases that added device protection and gave buyers confidence that using consumer devices in rugged environments was worth the risk.

Today, however, the tide of rugged Android devices is starting to enter the market as demonstrated by this marketing piece from Honeywell that I received in the mail today announcing the new rugged Dolphin 7800 EDA running on Android.  Here is how they describe it, "Honeywell’s new Dolphin® 7800 Android™ rugged EDA pairs the intuitive Google® Android™ operating system with remote device management capabilities and invaluable security features, making the device enterprise ready."

For a time the Android operating system was difficult to secure, since every device and device manufacturer seemed to have their own version of it, but the MDM (mobile device management) or MAM (mobile application management) vendors have seemed to resolve much of that challenge now as this piece from the MDM/MAM vendor Soti suggests, "SOTI, a leader in cross-platform mobile device management, is announcing that its unique MDM solution provides advanced and consistent management for all Android devices, regardless of the device manufacturer."

I have spoken with and interviewed many rugged handheld manufacturers over the past few months and most if not all have rugged Android devices in development.  I believe that going forward service organizations will soon be able to get the latest Android operating system features in the rugged device of their choosing.
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Kevin Benedict, Mobile Industry Analyst, Mobile Strategy Consultant and SAP Mentor Alumnus
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.
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Mobile Expert Video Series: SAP's Dr. Ahmed El Adl

In this video interview, SAP's Dr. Ahmed El Adl shares his thoughts on enterprise mobility strategies, and what companies should be focused on to succeed.






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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile Industry Analyst, Consultant and SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.
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Google's New Android OS. What’s In It for the Enterprise?

Guest writer and mobility analyst Andre Guilleman shares his insights on Google's new Android OS version, Ice Cream Sandwich.

Google’s release of Android 4.0, dubbed “Ice Cream Sandwich,” is undoubtedly geared towards consumers but it’s got a few new features that were clearly designed for corporate IT. But what’s their strategy here?

Early on, BlackBerry cornered the enterprise market with unparalleled security features. Windows Mobile gained and then lost the field service sector by partnering with rugged device manufacturers. Then Apple forced its way into the enterprise from the top down, with a smartphone that was so slick that it was irresistible to top execs. Android, it seems, is riding the consumerization wave of personal phones being used for business-related tasks, with or without the blessing of IT administrators.

With Ice Cream Sandwich, Google just made it a little bit easier for IT departments to say “yes” to their Android users. OS 4.0 includes:

  • A keychain API with encrypted storage so applications can utilize private keys, certificate chains, and user certificates
  • Address space layout randomization (ASLR) to secure device memory-management
  • A VPN API with secure credential storage to help lock down data transmissions
  • And for companies that need to keep top secret info locked down (and perhaps for our friends in HR), new device policy management controls that can remotely disable the camera

Although the new enhancements won’t send companies scrambling to replace their BlackBerrys with Droids, it’s all cool stuff that makes the Android OS more palatable for the enterprise.

About André Guillemin:  He has over ten years of experience in health care, financial services, and mobile technology. He spent the past three years focused on cross-industry solutions for mobile enterprise application development, including line of business uses in manufacturing, life sciences and wealth management. Mr. Guillemin frequently contributes to industry publications, panels, and events, and is available for consultation on the strategic and tactical use of mobile technologies in the enterprise.



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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.
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Saving Billions with the Help of Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Part 2

In the UK the water utilities and the government wanted to find ways of reducing water consumption so they could delay or avoid building new water reservoirs.  You can image how difficult and costly it is to build new water reservoirs in populated areas! 

 
The water utilities and the government, which own a significant number of council houses, developed a program in which they would send inspectors out to inspect water usage and recommend ways of reducing it.

The company that was awarded the inspection work contacted me to help them mobilize this system.  Here is a high level view on how I remember the process worked:

  1. Mail was sent to the council house addresses announcing the program.
  2. Inspection visits were scheduled.
  3. Inspectors were dispatched to a certain number of homes each day.
  4. Minutes before the inspectors were to arrive, the home owners were called to make sure they were home.
  5. The inspectors inspected all of the plumbing and appliances for leaks, and other areas where water consumption could be reduced.
  6. Following the inspections the data was synchronized back to a central database.
  7. The results of the inspections were organized and recommendations on a per house basis were made and the costs associated with the improvements where calculated.
  8. Once the improvements and work was approved, field service technicians were dispatched to install equipment and repair equipment that was intended to reduce water usage. 
The key point was that the ROI for this project was potentially billions of Sterling for the government and water utilities.  Delivering that ROI was dependent on getting the inspections and work done efficiently.  If the inspections and work cost were too much, then the entire project would be jeopardized.  Efficiencies were required in order for any of it to happen.

 
Read Part 1 of this article here.

 
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Kevin Benedict, SAP Mentor, SAP Top Contributor, Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst
Phone +1 208-991-4410
twitter @krbenedict
Join SAP Enterprise Mobility 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.

 

 

 

 
http://www.clicksoftware.com/e86e075b-4fca-44c9-bfeb-4efcc978f416/knowledge-center-white-papers-delivery.htm
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Interviews with Kevin Benedict