The apps: Available anywhere

The expanded capabilities of wireless networks and devices are expected to open new avenues for applications. With 3G networks, we will see greater emphasis on laptop remote access into corporate applications. In this way, middleware for anything other than custom applications will start to become less relevant in the enterprise.

In addition to important developments in network and device capabilities, IT executives should keep their eye on the following hot topics that should expand the applications framework in 2006:

Location-based services. That is expected to be an area for value-added corporate applications this year. More than 50% of all phones being sold to companies have GPS chips, and accuracy levels continue to improve. Carriers such as Nextel have built an extensive partner network to deliver location-enabled applications that are delivering ROI daily in the enterprise market. We are increasingly seeing integrated products that combine such services with in-office software to link assignment, dispatch, notification and tracking.

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The expanded capabilities of wireless networks and devices are expected to open new avenues for applications. With 3G networks, we will see greater emphasis on laptop remote access into corporate applications. In this way, middleware for anything other than custom applications will start to become less relevant in the enterprise.

In addition to important developments in network and device capabilities, IT executives should keep their eye on the following hot topics that should expand the applications framework in 2006:

Location-based services. That is expected to be an area for value-added corporate applications this year. More than 50% of all phones being sold to companies have GPS chips, and accuracy levels continue to improve. Carriers such as Nextel have built an extensive partner network to deliver location-enabled applications that are delivering ROI daily in the enterprise market. We are increasingly seeing integrated products that combine such services with in-office software to link assignment, dispatch, notification and tracking.

Enterprises should think about location-based services in two ways: as a unique capability for specific vertical segments, such as fleets and transportation; and as a value-added capability within existing applications. Sprint, for example, has partnered with IBM and Microsoft to deliver a Web services capability for location, where APIs are included in the application framework.

Packaged applications. One key question is, beyond e-mail and personal information-manager applications, which mobile application will be next to scale in the enterprise? In 2006 there will be a number of packaged applications in the areas of sales-force and field-force automation, offered directly by the wireless operators.

One driving force is the reduced need to optimize certain functions for mobile using expensive and complex middleware, because of significantly improved wireless network and device capabilities. Additionally, small and midsize businesses are looking for plug-and-play software for certain functions, and believe that applications such as sales-force automation can be implemented without a great deal of customization.

Device management. Device management is becoming the new front in mobile security. As high-end devices proliferate, sensitive corporate information can get into the wrong hands if a phone is lost or stolen. More-advanced devices are also increasingly vulnerable to spam and viruses. There are millions of enterprise workers carrying around high-end mobile devices containing sensitive corporate information, and enterprises historically have not done a good job of tracking these devices as assets.

There is a rapidly expanding array of products for device management. A sound framework for mobile device management includes both policies, such as extending WLAN policies to the WAN, and technology, including firewalls, VPNs, as well as anti-spam, anti-spyware and anti-virus programs; intrusion detection, mobile-asset tracking and device lockdown.