PCCA Mobile Connectivity Activities

Andrew Seybold
Wireless Computing

The Portable Computer and Communications Association (PCCA) is a not-for-profit association. Members include more than 100 companies from the computer and communications industries as well as end-user companies.

The PCCA serves the industries in several ways. First, the PCCA Modem Standards Committee has developed a standard wireless modem command set as an extension of the wired AT modem standard. Following quickly on this success, other wireless driver standards have been developed and turned over to other organizations including the Telecommunications Industry Association. Microsoft has included these drivers in its CD releases of several operating systems and is working closely with the PCCA on several fronts.

The MCC

There are several new initiatives underway including the development of a document for computer vendors outlining how to make sure that their portable computer products will not cause interference to, or be interfered with by radio frequency devices such as wireless modems and wireless LAN adapters.

Also of major importance, the PCCA has undertaken the task of working with both the communications and computer industries to try to solve what we believe to be the biggest obstacle to rapid wireless data deployment -- wireless access to and from a user's own desktop computer or company LAN. Today, connections to wireless networks from the Internet are commonplace, but most companies install firewalls to prevent Internet access to their own systems.

Other types of connections between corporate computing assets and the wireless networks require substantial investment, are time-consuming, and require a full commitment to this type of data communications from the information manager or Information Technology (IT) department. Such commitments are slow to come because the Information Technology community is not generally comfortable with radio frequency devices and is rightly concerned about the integrity and security of their data.

The PCCA's Mobile Connectivity Committees are working on this issue. While they do not expect to be able to create an "industry standard" way of providing for the required interconnections, they are working with Microsoft and other network software vendors to solve the security and access issues with additions and changes being made to Windows NT and Novell Netware operating systems.

Since these changes will take time to implement, the PCCA is developing a wireless "cookbook" for corporate IT managers and end users. This cookbook will provide in-depth information about existing products and services that are available in the marketplace that can be used to make the wireless to wired connections secure and less expensive.

As part of this project, the PCCA contracted for an in-depth study of both mobile workers and IT managers. The result of this research is available to PCCA member companies on a subscription basis. Phase One of the research, which deals with corporate IT professionals, was delivered to the membership in November of 1997. Phase Two, which deals directly with the mobile worker's wants and needs, will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 1998.

IT myths dispelled

The results of Phase One surprised many of us. The first myth to be dispelled by the study was that IT professionals have no interest in wireless connectivity. In fact, the report shows that to varying degrees, most IT managers have an interest in enabling their mobile workforce with wireless data options. The report also showed that while the interest level is there, IT managers have found that neither computer nor communications industry vendors are well versed in the technologies, nor are they willing to assume a systems integration role in the deployment of wireless data.

With this information in hand, many of the PCCA member companies are now re-thinking their approach to mobile communications in general, and wireless access in particular. Companies such as Microsoft are using the report to engage other divisions and departments within their own companies to help resolve the issues outlined, and at least one major communications company canceled its own research because this study provided not only the specific information they were seeking, but in more depth than their own efforts would have produced.

The PCCA

Supporting the PCCA has many benefits for communications, computer hardware, software, and other companies. This organization is working hard to enable mobile communications and to make it easy to understand and implement. These activities will help grow the market for all concerned. While the PCCA standards work is vital to the success of mobile communications, the work being done by the MCC committees means that solutions can be found to make wireless data access as easy and as pervasive as wireless voice technology is today.

I am fortunate to have been one of the original founders of the PCCA, a current board member, and president of the association. All of the time and effort put into the PCCA is voluntary, but many companies recognize how important this work is and encourage their employees to give of their time generously.

To find out more about the PCCA, visit the web site at PCCA.ORG or send an e-mail to Bob Venter, the executive director (bobv@outlook.com). Bob will be happy to send you additional information.

What Does This Have To Do With Handhelds?

This magazine is supporting the efforts of the PCCA and has permitted me to use my column in this issue to provide an update of our activities. I firmly believe that as we are able to add wireless data communications to our mobile devices of choice, they will become ever more important to us. Using wireless one and two-way data systems, we will be able to update our calendar, read and send e-mail and faxes from our handheld devices, receive and review files, and in general, extend our information reach on a near-real-time basis from our desktop to wherever we happen to be.

Wireless data has been around for a number of years. It has not been a fast-growth industry, but the marriage of small pocketable devices and wireless data technology will change all of that. As these devices become more pervasive, the demand for untethered communications will grow. If the industry has resolved the connectivity issues, we will all benefit.

About the Author: Andrew Seybold heads a computer and communications industry consulting and newsletter company, and publishes the well-respected Andrew Seybold’s Outlook on Communications and Computing. He has an extensive radio communications and computer background, is recognized as one of the top analysts in these fields, and is a founder and President of the Portable Computing and Communications Association (PCCA).  Andrew Seybold's Outlook can be reached at 408-338-7701, fax 408-338-7806, email Iseybold@outlook.com