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.

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