Africa & Mobile Handheld PDA and Smarphone Applications

I am continually surprised by the wide variety of business processes and geographical locations where our mobile software applications are being used. We are regularly helping with large mobile software projects in Africa. Who would have predicted that? Here are some sample applications:

• Mobile tax assessment application
• Mobile water deliver application
• Mobile clinical supplies and supply chain logistics application

All of these customized mobile software applications were developed using the same mobile software development platform called the PointSync Mobility Platform by MobileDataforce for use on handheld PDAs and Smartphones.

Auto Appearances - PDAs, Handhelds and Mobile Software Application

Mobile Enterprise magazine published an interesting article about a mobile software solution for PDAs and handhelds developed by MobileDataforce to help an automotive services company automate and mobilized their business processes. The solution included the following components:

• Mobile auto inspections
• Mobile job estimates for auto detailing and PDR
• Mobile work orders
• Wireless synchronization and integration with enterprise work order management system
• Integration with Microsoft Dynamic GP for accounting
• Production and work reports

RFID & Mobile Handheld Solutions from MobileDataforce

Our team in the UK has recently been working on a mobile "wheelie bin" application that uses RFID tags and RFID readers integrated into a Psion Teklogix WorkAbout Pro to uniquely identify the bins. They deliver, pick-up, inspect and repair these wheelie bins. The data is collected and synchronized with their enterprise database. You could list this mobile application in several different categories - inspections, delivery, asset tracking and field services.

The application was developed using MobileDataforce's PointSync Mobility Platform.

Free Palm Treo 750 Smarphone for 30-days

Palm is running a promotion with Microsoft and MobileDataforce to provide a 30 day trial of the PointSync Mobility Platform software and a Palm 750 running the Windows Mobile OS. This promotion is for qualified companies interested in mobilizing their field services teams.

The Palm Treo combines the power and functionality of a PDA with the capabilities of a mobile phone.

The Handheld PDA - iPAQ 900 Series Business Messenger

Have you seen the new mobile handheld PDA or smartphone line up by HP? They have some interesting new Windows Mobile devices. The device shown in this image is the iPAQ Business Messenger.

Follow this link to a full description.

MobileDataforce provides mobile software tools for developing a wide variety of mobile business applications and data collection solutions on handheld PDAs. We love PDA phones running Windows Mobile OS. This PDA phone has a keyboard for data entry and the connectivity to synchronize data from just about anywhere in the world that has wireless network coverage.

30-day free Trial of an Unlocked Palm Treo 750 Smartphone

If you are a field services company (anyone working out of the office and receiving service requests, job tickets or work orders) you may find this offer interesting. The details are on both Palm's and Microsoft's websites.

http://www.palm.com/us/business/solutions/mdf.html

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/enterprise/default.mspx

In summary - qualified field services companies can receive a free 30 day trial of a Palm Treo 750, the PointSync Mobility Platform, 4 sample mobile software applications and up to 4 hours of free mobile solution consulting by registering.

Pipeline Construction & Inspection and Handheld Computers

We are working with a large civil engineering firm on a 500 mile pipeline construction project. The engineering firm is using the PointSync Mobility Platform to develop mobile software to do environmental impact data collection in the field. If there is a negative environmental impact, then remedial plans and efforts must be implemented. They first collect data on a location using a mobile handheld PDA before the pipeline is installed, and later conduct follow-up data collection using rugged handhelds once the pipeline has been constructed to monitor the impact on the environment.

This is a custom inspection software application developed specifically for handheld PDAs.

Interesting New Projects

It is never dull here at MobileDataforce. Every day has its own set of interesting new projects. Here are some of the latest business processes and projects we are reviewing or mobilizing:

• Time sheets
• Pet vaccination tracking
• Tracking medicine shipping to Africa
• Concrete testing
• Government housing inspection projects
• Subway system switch inspections
• Tracking condom distribution to clinics
• Beverage distribution and promotion system
• Clinical studies on sever spinal injuries
• Electronic Patient diaries for Hemophiliac patients
• ATM repair and maintenance
• Heating ventilation and air condition work orders
• Electric company's work order system
• Oxygen delivery
• Propane delivery
• Medical supply delivery
• Much more...

MobileDataforce's PointSync Mobility Platform is used by companies around the world to mobilize a wide variety of business processes.

Hospitals and Data Collection on Handheld PDAs

My wife and I spent Saturday evening visiting a friend in the hospital here in Boise. While in the hospital I quickly became distracted by the nurse. Not the nurse specifically, but by the handheld PDA she was carrying around. She was doing the following:

1. Scanning a bar code on the wrist band of the patient
2. Scanning a bar code on the applied medicine
3. Capturing the date and time stamp on the handheld computer
4. Synchronizing the data to an enterprise software application
5. The collected data activates business rules
6. The business rules prompt the user with questions
7. The system alerts user if there is a problem with the treatment or treatment schedule
8. Ask for response to alert

This was a fascinating example of a handheld PDA and a mobile data collection system that is integrated with an enterprise database. These same 8 steps can be implemented with many different assets. Let's consider a large piece of manufacturing equipment and a plant maintenance technician:

1. Scan a bar code on the side of the equipment
2. Scan a maintenance service bar code to designate the service you are performing
3. Capture date and time stamp on the handheld computer
4. Synchronize the data with your Asset Tracking or CMMS system
5. The collected data activates business rules
6. The system's business rules prompt you with questions about the service
7. The system sends you service alerts based upon stored data
8. You respond to the alert and verify you read it

These 2 data collection systems work the same from a mobile data collection technology perspective, but serve 2 completely different industries.

MobileDataforce develops mobile software applications that help companies improve their field services operations.

Microsoft, Palm and MobileDataforce Team Up for Handheld PDA and Smartphone Campaign

Microsoft, Palm and MobileDataforce team up to provide small to medium sized companies with cost effective mobile field services applications for use on smartphones and handheld PDAs. Here is the slogan:

Mobile Field Service Workers. Wireless access. Get it Done.

Deliver mobile work orders, inspections, up-to-date asset information, and more with the PointSync Mobility Platform & Palm® Treo™ smartphones

How valuable would it be for your field services team to easily access mobile work orders, wireless pick lists, inspections and up-to-date asset information on their Palm® Treo™ smartphones?

Join Palm and MobileDataforce for a live, interactive Webinar to find out how. By attending, learn how to qualify for a free 30-day trial of the MobileDataforce PointSync® Mobility Platform and a Palm Treo 750 smartphone.

Qualified users for the trial will also receive a free mobile consultation and discounted pricing from MobileDataforce – and up to four hours of mobile solution consulting for free! And... Get all your mobile field service questions answered live during the Webinar by representatives from Palm, Microsoft and MobileDataforce.

Discover how MobileDataforce PointSync on Palm Treo smartphones can help your company:

• Deliver work orders, inspection forms, asset management and more to your field service workers


• Sync two-way data from the point of business to help save time, improve accuracy, and avoid misplaced forms


• Consolidate multiple mobile devices into a single Windows Mobile® smartphone that delivers voice, email, text messaging, and mobile field service applications2


• Create your own mobile applications, or have the MobileDataforce Professional Services team complete and deploy a solution for you


• Stay ahead of the competition and help ensure top-level customer service

We look forward to seeing you at the Webinar. Join us to take advantage of the opportunity to get a free, no obligation trial offer and realize the mobility benefits of this solution for your field services team.2