* Sprint uses mobile network with business applications
Today, we’d like to look at how Sprint is using its mobile network to bring business applications to the field.
Sprint has a 12-customer trial that brings sales force automation, field force automation, e-mail and ERP applications to the mobile environment. The applications are delivered via the Sprint mobile network to a data-enabled phone or a phone-enabled PDA.
Managed features include security management, configuration management and asset management. Sprint starts the implementation with a mobility assessment, providing business consulting on how various applications can improve the enterprise business process.
As an example of the security management capability, the user must provide authentication similar to the way he would log on to a corporate VPN. Sprint can also disable the phone or (using a “kill pill” mobile message) actually erase sensitive data in case the handset is lost.
While Sprint admits that many of these services have been available before, the management package that comes with the service provides them with a more solutions-oriented approach that tackles the business problems for the enterprise.
Kenny Wyatt, Sprint associate vice president of marketing, said: “With the advent of more powerful wireless devices and wideband wireless EV-DO networks, our customers will be able to take full advantage of deploying mobility in all of their business processes. Along with that comes additional complexity and the need to manage wireless devices as if they are laptops – as windows into the corporate data environment.”
Sprint plans to offer the service to the general public in the first quarter of 2005.
What makes this significant in our opinion is that the “solution sell” isn’t just about selling another wireless network service; rather, it’s about becoming a business partner to offer both a network and applications to solve business problems. We think the wireline providers should take a few lessons here and join in on the approach.
