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There have been many times when I am sure you will have wished
the wire was longer or the goods that you were bringing to a
central point were lighter as you could not take the computer
(that drives all of our lives) to your point of activity. There
were also no doubt times when it would have been so much faster
if you could have had the stock information or sales records
updated in real time rather than always being behind by a few
hours or even days. Well that point is now here with the ability
to connect a portable PC or Palm computer (PDA) to your company’s
computer infrastructure via a radio frequency network solution.
As the picture illustrate you can now connect to your computer
system where you are in the world through a variety of wireless
connectivity solutions. These can range from very local and
short-range solutions using Blue Tooth technology to Wireless
Local Area Networks (WLAN) using 802.11 open standards and Wireless
Wide Area Networks (WWAN) using GSM/GPRS and soon G3 technology.
This means using securely encrypted communication protocols
you can log on to your systems and update and view information
on your live systems in real time without the need to go back
and plug your terminal into the computer.
Where might these solutions be used?
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Is a question that is often asked and the answer is quite simply
almost anywhere. There may be a few exceptions like extremely
hazardous environments or as the standard issue kit for a deep-sea
diver but generally these rugged devices can be taken into most
environments. As the pictures how the applications can vary
from taking orders at a restaurant table and transferring the
information straight to the kitchen and also the terminal that
generates the bill.
There are also applications for remote meter reading, car insurance
inspection and damage reporting and also recording all the action
as it happens on the golf course where the technology is used
at PGA tournaments to record scores, strokes, distances driven
and that information is used to instantaneously update the spectators
score information boards and also the TV broadcast stations
too. The applications could also include field service and inspection;
sales order taking and reordering, daily report activity sheets
and call sheets could be entered this way too.
The possibilities are endless and the payback on systems can
be really quite fast in comparison to other technology investments.
The investment can of course be protected by leasing the equipment
with a flexible lease that allows for equipment upgrades over
the life of the agreement.
Will I have to change my processes?
The reality is no you do not have to at all as the hand held device
will just be an extension of your company network and to all intents
and purposes will loo k the same although the screen may well
be smaller. In reality though you may well want to change your
practices to take best advantages of the investment you make in
technology as things may well be a lot more straight forward and
involve less effort than before. If you want to review your business
process then please contact us and we can arrange to come and
have a chat with you and discuss the best way to proceed.
Will I compromise the security of my business and its data?
There has been a lot in the press lately that talks of industrial
spying and espionage perpetrated by people sat in your car park
with a wireless enable PC dialling in and logging into your network
having gained a simple piece of information. This of course is
perfectly possible if you do not enable the encryption that is
available. A bit like leaving your child to play in the garden
by a busy main road with the gate open! We would always recommend
that you used some of the high-level sophisticated random encryption
techniques available with almost every access point so that this
does not become an issue.
What can I pass over this network?
Can I just use this network for data? Is a question that is
often asked when we talk with clients and of course the answer
is no you can feed voice and video over the same wireless network.
Which means you could have free wireless telephone calls anywhere
in the world on your corporate network, you could remove the
need for expensive mobile phones which are often used to contact
members of staff who are actually on site.
Alternatively it may remove the need for additional walkie-talkie
equipment to handle voice and a separate terminal to handle
data. The technology is now there for wireless roaming so the
terminal (for either voice or data) will select the WLAN if
the operator is on site and within range and where this is not
the case it will automatically select the GPRS radio in stead
and seamlessly roan between the two.
The technology can also be used to bridge your network between
buildings without the need to dig up car parks or roads to bury
cable or fibre optic to carry the signal. This is particularly
good news when you are renting a warehouse on a temporary basis
across the road and will be handing it back when the seasonal
peak is over. As lso mentioned you can also carry video images
as well so the possibility of locating devices such as security
cameras in remote locations and not having to lay cable to connect
them is a distinct advantage.
Will it work for me?
The answer is undoubtedly yes however if you wish to find out
more or talk to one of our professional team either call the
office or send an e-mail.
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