I'm not only amazed by the steady stream of mobile technology innovation within the enterprise, I'm frustrated by how long it takes to put these innovations into practice. And while the overall usage of mobile and wireless devices is at an all-time high, the percentage of those devices used for things beyond phone and e-mail is at an all-time low. I discuss this in an article titled The Paradox of White-Collar Mobility. In it, I delve into the unique challenges associated with mobilizing the information worker and how to overcome these challenges.
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Bill Hagen, Microsoft's Mobility Solutions Specialist focused on the Education niche. We discussed how Windows Mobile technology is improving the learning process in both K-12 and higher education environments. For more on this, read the Q&A titled Microsoft in Education.
With the announcement of yet another version of Microsoft's mobile OS and software suite, it might be tempting to gloss over Windows Mobile 6. If we did, wed miss telling you about a number of small but important enhancements. In this issues Directions column, Chris De Herrera takes a look at Windows Mobile 6 and tells us the enhancements that are important to enterprise users. Alan Zaks reviews Exchange 2007 and discusses how, working with Windows Mobile 6, it takes mobile collaboration and Direct Push technology to the next level.
Even though most retail businesses are still of the brick-and-mortar variety, they are adopting cutting edge technology to remain competitive. Alvaro Pombo describes how the industry leaders are achieving this in Bricks and Mortar Go Mobile.
While most business executives carry a mobile device, the vast majority use it for voice or e-mail and nothing else. In Smart (phone) Decisions, David Bagley discusses how wireless technology is improving the executive decision-making process by proactively pushing critical pieces of information to business leaders in time for them to take positive action.
We have two developer articles in this issue. In the first, John Kennedy shows us how to Write Once, Run Anywhere—developing Windows Mobile software to run on multiple form factors. Next, Kyle Lutes and Karen Chang take us through the challenges associated with Cross-Platform Development—developing a single application that runs on both Pocket PCs and Tablet PCs.
For a glimpse into how one organization has been able to successfully implement mobile technology within their enterprise, Jeff Arnold will tell us how GPS and field service automation technology improved quality and lowered costs for Advanced Environmental Management.
As the importance of mobile security increases, so does the need to come up with specific strategies to deal with it. Darryl Burling provides us with a valuable article in which he describes a new way of thinking about mobile security. By detailing the differences between hard and soft security, we can come up with a strategy that is best for our individual or corporate situations.
Finally, as I continue to adjust to my new role as Enterprise Editor for Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine, I'm looking forward to hearing from you. If there's something you'd like to see in a future issue or a topic that you'd like to have covered, please drop me a note at http://nclevenger@pocketpcmag.com.
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