Kevin Benedict is a TCS futurist and lecturer focused on the signals and foresight that emerge as society, geopolitics, economies, science, technology, environment, and philosophy converge.
PointSync Mobility Platform 4.0 for Automotive Inspections and Services on Handheld Computers
New version features over 220 pre-built functions to help quickly design, develop and deploy customized mobile solutions for the Automotive Industry
Boise, Idaho - January 05, 2006 – MobileDataforce® today announced the release of the latest version of the PointSync® Mobility Platform for Automotive Inspections and Services, the next generation of the company’s award-winning mobile software solutions for handheld computers. This major release includes over 150 new features, innovations and enhancements to support the needs of the automotive industry.
“This is a significant development for the automotive services industry,” said Kevin Benedict, CEO of MobileDataforce. “PointSync Mobility Platform 4.0 will change the way mobile solutions are developed for the automotive industry and will reduce the time it takes for our customers to recognize a return on investment by reducing the time it takes to design, develop and deploy new automotive services solutions on handheld computers.”
Key new features and enhancements include:
· Enhanced graphical user interface tools, including interactive SPLAT diagrams
· Built in support for VIN scanning and decoding
· New Visual Debugger to quickly debug mobile automotive applications during customization
· New Data Mapping Wizard speeds integration with existing back-office tools such as financial, CRM, HR, scheduling, and many other software packages
· New SQL Builder speeds up business rule development for mobile automotive applications
· Enhanced library of over 220 pre-built functions for mobile application development
· Expanded support for multiple PointSync applications and databases in a hosted environment
To learn more, visit http://www.mobiledataforce.com/Solutions/auto.asp
About PointSync Mobility Platform
The PointSync Mobility Platform for Automotive Inspections and Services is an enterprise class solution used to rapidly design, develop and deploy mobile applications for the automotive services industry. It is architected to provide database centric mobile applications that can be deployed and synchronized from the field.
The PointSync Mobility Platform is popular with companies providing mobile services such as vehicle inspections for insurance companies, auto auctions, auto lease returns, mobile dent repair, detailing and other repair services.
About MobileDataforce
MobileDataforce is a global leader in the development of enterprise class mobile software solutions for the automotive services industry. MobileDataforce has offices in Europe, North America and in Australia to support its expanding customer base and sales channels. Privately held, MobileDataforce has been mobilizing business solutions since 2000. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.mobiledataforce.com/.
Mobile Software and Handheld PDA Technology Innovations for 2007
- Flexible flat screens
- Flash memory in laptops to improve boot-up speed
MobileDataforce has many customers that find it necessary to buy two different mobile handhleds, one a ruggedized handheld computer, and another a ruggedized laptop to view maps. If a flexible screen could be plugged into the ruggedized handheld, so full sized maps and CAD drawings could be viewed, then this would remove much of the need for the additional and expensive ruggedized laptop.
Now on the subject of the flash memory boot-up. Have you ever wished your laptop would boot up instantly like your mobile phone? If so, there might be a solution for you. In the next few months new laptops are supposed to be available that boot-up from flash memory, so they don't have to wait for the hard drive to start spinning in order to boot up the laptop. This should enable laptop users to boot-up in seconds and save us mobile road warriors a lot of time.
Innovations in Mobile Handheld PDA Technologies
This week I have read about two very interesting new technologies that have the potential of improving a mobile workforces' technology experience.
- Laptops and Tablet PCs that can boot up nearly as fast as a mobile smartphones and handheld PDAs.
- Flexible screens nearly as thin as a sheet of paper. See attached image.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could push a button at your laptop was instantly on? It is reported that this technology is only a few months away. The laptops would boot from flash memory, not a hard drive. Time is money!
A company out of the UK just raised $100 million in funding to lauch their flexible screen technology. Ponder this...a screen could be rolled up into a small tube that fits in your pocket or brief case. When needed, you could unroll your screen, lay in on the table, or hold it in your hands and plug it into your Smart phone, PDA or rugged handheld and look at full sized CAD drawings, maps, blueprints, or newspapers.
We have many customers in the construction, facilities management and engineering industries that need to look at maps and CAD drawings daily. They love the utility and convenience of a ruggedized handheld computer, but need the larger screen size of a laptop to effectively view maps and drawings. These flat and flexible screens just might be the answer.
County Selects MobileDataforce for Mobile Building Inspection Solution for Handheld PDAs
MobileDataforce Announces a Reseller Agreement with Abox for Mobile Software
MobileDataforce's market for handheld PDA and smartphone software has been growing rapidly around the world with offices in North America, Sydney, Australia and Den Bosch, The Netherlands.
Our channel partners are the key to our success. They provide localized business knowledge as well as vertical expertise.
MobileDataforce Announces a Reseller Agreement with Sybase South Africa
Interest in MobileDataforce's mobile software solutions is growing rapidly and we have a significant sales pipeline in South Africa that reflects an expanding market for mobile applications.
We are very excited to work with Sybase South African. This partnership will enable MobileDataforce's mobile solutions to be supported locally with the highest level of professionalism and attention.
Airlines and PDAs
In January, Emirates airline plans to launch mobile phone usage in its planes, making it the first airline to allow passengers to make cell phone calls on its flights. And Australian carrier Qantas plans to start evaluating technology that lets fliers use their cell phones and PDAs during flight early next year.
10 Steps to a Successful Mobile Software Deployment on Handheld PDAs and Smartphones
Introduction:
Companies around the globe are looking for ways to do more with less. Many recognize that their mobile workforce is being managed inefficiently and extending business process automation to mobile field workers is becoming a priority. The following 10 steps identify how you can get started automating and mobilizing these business processes.
Step 1 – Understand the ROI/Scope of the Project and Plan Ahead
“What’s the number one reason a mobile project fails?” is a common question we get asked. The answers are that many companies don’t put enough upfront thought into defining the requirements, scheduling testing resources and planning a deployment strategy. The results of these deficiencies are project scope creep, cost overruns, missed deadlines, poor user acceptance and sometimes even complete project failure.
Step 2 – Build a Team of Stakeholders
Make sure the members of your team have the right roles and responsibilities to help the project succeed. Mobile solutions usually tie into other corporate IT assets and business processes, therefore impacted members of your IT department and business units need to be on the project team. In addition, a representative mobile field worker(s) should be included on the project team to provide valuable “real-world” insight.
Step 3 – Select a Partner That Specializes in Mobility Solutions
Performing successful data synchronization from mobile computing devices can be a challenging and complex task. There are many variables that can affect the results of synchronization. To insure you get your solution done correctly the first time, you need experienced experts in mobile technology. You need technologists who specialize in the design, development, deployment and support of enterprise mobile solutions.
Step 4 – Know Your Target Users and Their Environment
During the planning and scoping phase of your mobile project, take time to experience the working environment of your mobile workers and observe the business processes in action. Pay specific attention to how information is collected and exchanged between the office and the mobile workers. These observations can significantly impact the design, development and deployment of a successful project! Evaluate the physical environment of the work. How do moist, cold and dirty environments impact the mobile devices? How does low light or bright sunlight affect visibility of the screen? Can workers read the small text on the PDA screen, or does the text need to be larger? Step 5 – Don’t Underestimate the Complexity of Synchronizing Field Data
One of the biggest mistakes a project planner or IT department can make is to underestimate how complex data synchronization can be. Part of designing a solid and reliable mobile solution is to select robust synchronization middleware and to spend time designing and testing the data synchronization. Without the right middleware and design your end users could encounter issues such as extra long sync times (hours, not minutes), duplicate records, incomplete data, lost data and even database corruption. Every one of these issues will trickle down to your support department, so designing it right the first time is very important.
Step 6 – Build in Phases
Most successful projects involve a series of phased implementations. Each phase can be developed, tested and implemented in an orderly manner. Once a phase is deployed and proven, additional phases can be layered on top that include more features and added complexity. Remember, the more data requirements that you add the more data you must synchronize, and the longer each synchronization session will take. Only synchronize data that your remote users require in the field. In addition, most mobile devices don’t have the same CPU power or memory as a PC/laptop, so be aware of how the performance of your solution will be affected by a smaller, lower powered device.
Step 7 – Evaluate Your Hardware and Connectivity Needs
The term “mobile devices” can have many different interpretations. Today, laptops, Tablet PC’s, UMPCs, PDAs and Smart phones are all identified with this term. When determining the best mobile device for your project you will want to consider screen size, data storage capacity, security, physical working environment, required hardware accessories such as barcode scanners, GPS, digital cameras, RFID, and the ability to upgrade the device with updated hardware and software components.
How do you connect your mobile device to your enterprise database applications? You have many options including cradle, WiFi, satellite, Bluetooth, wireless, dial-up modems and satellite uplinks to name a few. The method(s) you choose will be affected by how often your mobile workers need to send/receive data. How much data will be transmitted and will they always have connectivity. Study each option, your working environment and consult your mobility partner to make the best selections.
Step 8 – Deploy to a Limited Focus Group, Evaluate and Improve
Once you have completed version 1 of your mobile solution and you are ready to deploy in the real world, roll out your solution to a small group of trusted and motivated users. Define a specific period of time to evaluate the solution, document the results and identify any required changes and improvements. The result of this evaluation should be an improved mobile solution that is ready for wide deployment.
Step 9 – Set and Enforce Hardware and Security Policies
Mobile devices are small computers with the ability to store sensitive corporate data, communicate this data over the Internet and even catch viruses. You must clearly communicate how mobile devices are to be used and for what purpose. Establish and publish guidelines for using mobile devices.
Step 10 – Provide Full Support for Mobile Users
Mobile devices are guaranteed to break. What is your plan for keeping a mobile worker productive and communicating business critical information when their mobile device ceases to function or gets misplaced? These are inevitable issues that are best planned for in advance. Have a plan and a documented back up process.
Mountain Tragedies & Modern Mobile GPS & Data Solutions
Phi Data Announces Partnership with MobileDataforce
Altijd en overal mobiel met MobileDataforce & PHI DATA BV
19-12-2006
Woerden, december 2006. Recent heeft PHI DATA met MobileDataforce een amenwerkingsovereenkomst afgesloten voor de PointSync Mobility Suite. PointSync is een uitermate flexibel platform voor het creëren van betaalbare, prestatiegerichte mobiele oplossingen voor field data collectie, inspecties en werkorder management. PointSync kan in alle mobiele devices geïntegreerd worden die PHI DATA levert (Intermec, Symbol, Datalogic etc.) PointSync is specifiek geschikt voor toepassingen in de Field Service & onderhoud, gezondheidszorg, beveiliging, agrarische bedrijven, Transport ( proof of delivery) en (milieu)inspecties. Complete en professionele mobiele oplossingenDavid Savage, Vice President EMEA MobileDataforce Europe BV: “PHI DATA staat bekend als een professioneel, betrouwbaar en meedenkend leverancier van totaaloplossingen,… drie eigenschappen die noodzakelijk zijn om succesvol te kunnen zijn. PHI DATA en MobileDataforce Europe vormen door dit partnership een sterk team om bedrijfsprocessen te mobiliseren.”
Ronald Pannebakker, Manager Professional Services PHI DATA: De software van MobileDataforce is enerzijds een “tool” waarmee we in korte tijd mobiele applicaties kunnen ontwikkelen. Anderzijds kunnen we op basis van de MobileDataforce software onze klanten een mobiele oplossing aanreiken inclusief communicatieserver, applicatiemanager, database synchronisatie en device- en licentiebeheer; kortom een complete oplossing op het gebied van mobiele applicaties.MobileDataforceMobileDataforce, opgericht in 2000, is een bedrijf gespecialiseerd in het ontwikkelen en leveren van mobiele software- en serviceoplossingen met als doel deze oplossingen makkelijker, sneller en betaalbaar aan te bieden. Inmiddels heeft MobileDataforce een groot aantal klanten wereldwijd en werken zij samen met partners, waaronder PHI DATA. PHI DATA PHI DATA BV, met vestigingen in Woerden (NL), Wemmel (B) en Windhof (L), biedt totaaloplossingen op basis van hoogwaardige automatische identificatie- en printsystemen. Door middel van deze oplossingen worden bedrijfsprocessen geoptimaliseerd en daarmee kostenbesparingen gerealiseerd. De producten variëren van barcode scanners en -decoders, labelprinters, mobiele computers (terminals) en industriële PDA's tot RF-datacommunicatie (RFDC) en RF-identificatie (RFID) en een uitgebreid pakket van matrixlijn- en laserprinters. Voor meer informatie kunt u zich wenden tot de afdeling Marketing & Communicatie van PHI DATA, telefoon 0348-439217.
Babel Fish Translation Software - English
Always and everywhere mobile with MobileDataforce & PHI DATES Ltd 19-12-2006 Woerden, December 2006. recent DATES with MobileDataforce amenwerkingsovereenkomst for the PointSync Mobility suite have concluded PHI. PointSync are an extremely flexible platform for creating payable, performance-specific mobile solutions for field dates collectie, inspections and work order management. PointSync can be incorporated in all mobile devices which provide DATES to PHI (Intermec, Symbol, Datalogic etc.) PointSync are specifically suitable for applications in the Field service & maintenance, health care, beveiliging, agrarian companies, transport (proof or delivery) and (milieu)inspecties. Complete and professional mobile solutions David Savage, Vice president EMEA MobileDataforce Europe Ltd: PHI DATES stand confessed as professional, reliably and thinking with a supplier of totaaloplossingen... three properties which are necessary successfully are able be. PHI DATES and MobileDataforce form Europe by mobilising company processes this partnership a strong team. Ronald Pannebakker, manager professional services PHI DATES: The software of MobileDataforce is on the one hand a "tool" with which we can develop within limited time mobile applications. On the other hand we can pass a mobile solution on the basis of the MobileDataforce software our customers including communication server, application manager, database synchronisation and device - and licentiebeheer; in short a complete solution in the field of mobile applications. MobileDataforce MobileDataforce, set up in 2000, a company has been specialised in developing and providing mobile software - and service solutions with the aim these solutions more easily, more rapidly and payable of offering. Meanwhile MobileDataforce have a large number of customers worldwide and cooperate they with partners, among which PHI DATES. PHI DATES PHI, Wemmel (B) and wind court (L), offer totaaloplossingen to DATES Ltd, with establishments in woerden (NL) on the basis of high-quality automatic identification - and printsystemen. By means of these solutions company processes are optimised and with that cost savings are realised. The products vary scanners and - decoders, label printers, mobile computers (terminals) and industrial PDA's to Rf-datacommunicatie (RFDC) and Rf-identificatie (RFID) and a vast parcel of matrixlijn - and laser printers of bar code. For further information the department marketing & communication of PHI DATES, tel. 0348-439217 can contact you.
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