Tag Archives: Microsoft Windows Mobile

About 894 days ago Smartphones and PDAs

Android in Everything?

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Google is making a splash with the Android OS that’s starting to turn into a tidal wave. It seems almost every week there is some new high-powered smartphone that runs on Android, such as the recently announced Motorola Droid 2. As covered recently in Inc. magazine, Android is also showing up on tablets that are hoping to dethrone the popular Apple — perhaps by gang warfare. This domination has made the pundits wonder: what comes next? Could Android show up on notebook and desktop computers, your next HD television, on the LCD screen in your car, and even as the operating system for your next oven? According to Ross Rubin, a smartphone analyst with NPD Group, Google has already shown Android running on a watch and other personal, low-power devices. It’s not unthinkable to imagine Android taking on the big boys like Microsoft and Apple. “Android’s success will depend on a number of factors, including how well the dynamics of the category lend themselves to Android’s strength, Android’s support for a full Google experience on those devices, and the market acceptance of key applications that may be native to competitors,” says Rubin. That means: Android has a good chance if the market plays along. Still, the jury is still out on whether the OS can compete as a tablet operating system, and Rubin says Google has a tough road ahead, mainly because there is no app store yet for these brand new tablets. Yet, Rubin also says Android has strong prospects because the tablet market has many of the same “fluid dynamics” as smartphones, such as high product churn (consumers wanting a new device every few months) and early adoption. Why Android, why now? Dan Noal, a solutions architect at Wind River, a software company owned by Intel that works on embedded systems such as medical devices, cameras, and set-top boxes, says Google has nurtured Android over the years, built up strong developer relations, and (unlike Apple) given developers a degree of freedom to develop innovative applications with custom interfaces. Noal says Android also hit a perfect storm with phones: right around the time it came out, one of the leading mobile platforms essentially died (Windows Mobile) and another went comatose (Nokia Symbian). That has led to new product categories, starting with tablets but also with recent set-top boxes such as the Logitech Revue (which runs on Android). Samsung recently touched on plans to experiment with Android as an OS for a future HDTV, according to a CrunchGear.com report. Of course, Google also announced that Chrome OS will available for netbooks and notebooks soon, and the company hinted back in July of 2009 than Chrome and Android will likely merge. (The two operating systems probably share a common Linux code base.) Some netbooks, such as the Acer Aspire D250, came with an option to run Android or Windows when you first boot the machine. Is it flexible enough? In my tests, Android running on a netbook or tablet is a bit clunky — the OS is designed for a smaller screen, and apps tend to look pixelated or don’t format correctly for the larger 7-inch screen.There’s some question about whether Google can really make Android work for a variety of devices. That said, Android has one major advantage over other operating systems, including those from Microsoft: the licensing costs are much lower, according to Noal. However, Android likely will not show up on dishwashers, ovens, and other appliances since those product categories can usually get by with a leaner and less powerful OS, usually based on Linux and without any licensing fees. Still, there is one last proving ground for Android: your automobile. Rubin disagreed with the idea, saying most car makers have established relationships with companies like QNX. However, the ease of connection between a car navigation screen and your phone makes sense. “There is no doubt that Android will find its ways into cars. While there are special considerations unique to the auto industry, those in the industry have already had discussions and started looking into Android for aftermarket auto electronics, such as car navigation systems,” says Noal. In the end, Android may not reach total world domination. It has a long road ahead in the laptop space, will compete with iPhone, Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry in the smartphone category, and probably won’t work for appliances and small electronics like clock radios. But it will continue to gain market share, says Rubin, and could even enter that rare legion of top market share.  

About 1105 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

Mobile E-Signatures for Legal Deals on the Go

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The logistics of how and when businesses close deals can be critical to the bottom line. In an era when instantaneous communication is the standard, waiting for written contracts to make their way back and forth between parties can seem agonizingly slow and expensive. Increasingly, businesses have been adopting legally binding electronic signatures to streamline the process. Now, companies are embracing the next step in e-signatures: mobile signatures. E-signature company DocuSign has rolled out software customized for Google Android and and Microsoft Windows Mobile, and the company is updating its iPhone version with partner Smart Mobile Solutions. DocuSign also is Blackberry-compatible. Competitor RightSignature says it has been offering an iPhone solution for almost a year. Rapid adaptation Customers are embracing mobile options with enthusiasm, say e-signature companies. “We rolled out last August our first design for mobile,” says Tom Gonser, DocuSign’s founder and vice president for products and strategy. “It’s being picked up pretty broadly by our users. We’re doing thousands of mobile signatures in a month.” The economics of e-signatures in general make business sense. RightSignature estimates it can take the cost of processing a signed document from as much as $40 to $1.50. The average cost per user for DocuSign is $20 to $25 a month. It’s not just about the cost of each document, though, says Gonser. Convenience and speed make it likely businesses can close more deals. “The speed of being able to close the business transaction is the reason companies adopt this technology,” Gonser says. “There are people who literally live mobile. They wake up in the morning, and they hit the road. For those people, this is a must have.” RightSignature counts a number of small businesses among its clients, says CEO Daryl Bernstein. Users of its mobile apps include a firm whose therapists obtain signatures from customers during in-home visits, a wedding photographer who sends contracts to client’s mobile phones and an ATV/dirt bike company that signs sales agreements with customers on site. “It’s so simple and intuitive to sign a document online or on a mobile device that more recipients sign immediately,” Bernstein says. “When clients are out of the office, traveling or even on the beach, they can sign contracts received on their mobile devices. Fewer deals are lost or delayed.” Not for every contract While DocuSign has adapted its signing process for the smaller screens of mobile devices, mobile signatures aren’t ideal in every instance. Lengthy documents that require considerable client interaction with many form fields are more suited for the PC format, says Gonser. For instance, DocuSign client Fidelity Investments, wants its customers to review and sign contractual agreements on a PC rather than a handheld. However, if you’re sending a sales force out into the field with straightforward, simple sales contracts, a mobile signature provides an ease of operation that should allow your salespeople to work more efficiently. “For a simple sales contract, when I’m sending you a purchase order, that’s perfect,” says Gonser. “You can very easily see what you’re buying.” The legality of e-signatures isn’t an issue, says Gonser, who says only eight DocuSign transactions out of more than 70 million have faced legal challenges. What you should consider It’s still best to exercise some caution with mobile signatures, advises Joy Butler, a Washington, D.C., attorney who wrote the book The Cyber Citizen’s Guide Through the Legal Jungle: Internet Law for Your Professional Online Presence (2010 Sashay Communications). “There is also a dark side to the new technology,” she says. “When we begin completing transactions with the click of a button as we scurry from one meeting to the next, we may momentary forget that these are real binding contracts and neglect to give each document the scrutiny it deserves.” Butler compares it to click wrap agreements on the Internet, where people don’t bother to read website terms of service or other online contracts. “Nevertheless, once you click the ‘I agree’ button, you are a party to a binding contract even if you neglected to glance at the contract,” she explains. Butler advises considering these factors with mobile signatures: Client understanding. Your customer should know he or she is entering a legally binding contract.  The information should be spelled out clearly on the screen. Employee understanding. A mobile signature might feel like a casual move on a handheld device. Your employees should weigh the need for a review by counsel before entering legal agreements via mobile devices. “I’ve definitely dealt with the issue of employees binding companies through informal actions,” Butler says. A thorough review. Few companies send business letters without extensive proofreading. However, emails are often distributed without the same vetting, says Butler. Make sure that electronic legal agreements receive the same review you’d give written documents you distribute. However, mobile signatures can offer some legal security, as well. It’s possible to track a document’s history, archive copies and authenticate signatures. Having an electronic record can enable you to check the status of documents, generate sales reports based on groupings of documents, correct a document you’ve already sent or track a document a customer says he or she didn’t receive. As business users continue to rely more on handheld devices, mobile signatures will be essential, Gonser says. “It’s a pace of business,” he says. “Either keep up or you die.”        

About 1114 days ago Data Security

Lost a Smartphone? Track It and Erase Data

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The unfortunate reality for those who lose a smartphone is the cost to replace the hardware should be the least of your worries. Rather, the data that resides on the smartphone — including potentially sensitive information about your company’s plans, sales, and customers — isn’t something you want falling into the wrong hands. “Organizations have been hearing a lot about the threat of mobile security breaches. However different from PCs, the threat on mobile isn’t the compromise of the device itself to be taken over and used for malicious ends, it’s the data that resides on these devices that should be the critical area of focus for organizations,” says Chris Silva, executive vice president for research and service delivery at IANS, a Boston Mass.-based IT research company. “Therefore, the threat of viruses and malware, while still nascent and therefore not an area of intense focus, is not where most organizations should be focused. Rather, their sights should be set on how to protect the data on devices such as customer information, e-mails, contact details, and other sensitive information,” adds Silva. Locking a smartphone with a password isn’t enough. Instead, many vendors, and third-party software developers, are offering ways to remotely wipe the data from lost or stolen smartphone. “The way it’s done is a small packet of data is sent down to the device’s firmware, remotely, that will start to scrub the device of its information,” explains Ken Dulaney, vice president of mobile computing at the Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner research and consulting group. “Most consumers could probably care less about this, but it’s incredibly important for businesses to have a remote wipe feature in place for its employee’s phones.” Using GPS and/or cellular triangulation, you might also be able to track a missing phone — say, if you left it at a nearby restaurant after a business lunch — or if stolen, the information could be given to the authorities to pursue. Whether you use a BlackBerry, iPhone, or Windows device, here’s a look at the offerings (and cost) of what’s available today: iPhone Apple’s MobileMe service ($99/year), which synchronizes all of your information between Apple devices — such as e-mail, contacts, and calendars — can also be used to remotely lock, wipe, or locate a lost or stolen iPhone. When you realize your phone is missing, the first step is to log into your MobileMe account on a computer and remotely set a four-digit passcode lock to prevent anyone from using it. Then, you can have it ring (in case you left it under a pile of clothes), type a text message that appears on the iPhone’s screen (e.g. “Please call me if found”) or you might want to locate the phone on a map. If this, too, proves unsuccessful, you might want to remotely wipe the iPhone’s data, which is also an option once logged into your MobileMe account. Or you can do this through a Microsoft Exchange Server wipe command, too. Windows Phones Designed for Windows Mobile 6.0 phones (and newer), Microsoft’s My Phone (free) offers a number of handy features including automatic back-ups of your phone’s info (such as contacts, e-mails, and text messages) and the ability to access it all online. Once you sign up for the service, you can erase your phone if it is missing by sending a command to restore the device to its original factory settings. My Phone can also find your lost phone by pinpointing the last location it was synchronized. Many phones — including the upcoming Windows Phone 7 devices — will have My Phone already bundled on the phone but it’s also available as a free download. BlackBerry There are a few free third-party tools available for users of Research in Motion’s BlackBerry smartphones. For one, SmrtGuard lets you remotely track or wipe your phone. A “Pro” version of the software also gives a “data protection package,” enabling you to backup and restore your data. BuddyGuard also lets you remotely access, lock, wipe, or retrieve a missing BlackBerry (via GPS). Similar to MobileMe, you can also have the BlackBerry emit a loud tone — even if the phone was left in silent mode — if you suspect the device is somewhere in the home, car, or office.

About 1203 days ago Tools on Managing Technology

Google Phones: Lowdown on the ‘iPhone Killer’

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While Google’s much-hyped Android platform debuted in late 2008, the smartphone operating system didn’t hit its stride until the recent launch of the Motorola Droid and Google’s own phone, the Nexus One. But do these new Android devices outshine competitors — including handsets powered by BlackBerry, iPhone OS, or Windows Mobile — when it comes to a mobile device for small and mid-sized businesses? And does the Google phone amount to the reputed “iPhone killer” many had hoped for? The answer, according to industry analysts, seems to be yes and no. Promising future Google’s Nexus One came up short of being the groundbreaking device that would halt the trajectory of the iPhone, but the Android-based smartphone does have its share of benefits. “The ubiquity of Google and its integration across devices — PCs and mobile devices — as well as applications, voice calling and Internet search, as well as its mobile platform, give it a unique position over its competition,” says Tim Doherty, associate research analyst for the small and mid-sized business markets at IDC, a Framingham, Mass.-based market research firm. “However, taking that unique position and applying it to the mobile market will be the true test as it explores the various segments and finds a place where its complete ‘package’ can resonate,” Doherty adds. Doherty says IDC has been looking for Android to emerge as a player in the small business space for some time. “Google has already made a name for itself through Google Apps, its hosted suite of e-mail, messaging, and collaboration solutions,” maintains Doherty. “The hosted nature, scalable and predictable pricing, and lack of need for IT hardware investment make Google Apps a natural fit for small businesses, and so this may have an impact on adoption of Android mobile devices.” Chris Silva, an analyst at the Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester technology research company, also believes Android has a promising future for businesses. “IT’s constituents are, at the end of the day, consumers and, as consumers, they’re likely going to be exploring how and whether they can use the newest smartphones on the market with their enterprise e-mail and other services,” says Silva. “Statistically speaking, if a user is going after the newest smartphone, it’s very likely to be an Android device, so IT had better have a plan,” Silva adds. Immediate hurdles While Doherty believes the Android platform is beginning to “gain a footing in the small business space,” a few obstacles still exist for Google. “RIM [Research in Motion], Apple, and Palm have an advantage by virtue of controlling both their hardware and proprietary platforms, which can allow for a tighter user experience,” Doherty believes. “Google is exploring new models for deploying mobile devices, as we saw with the Nexus One, but there will be hiccups — in the case of Nexus One, Google was not prepared to handle customer troubleshooting.” “The Nexus One received a great deal of press upon its release, however, the growing pains that Google has had in supporting a hardware platform that it is selling directly are evidence that this is early days for Google playing a major role in the smartphone space,” adds Silva. “We saw Apple getting dinged for this a lot when the iPhone came out — the prospect of IT sending its users to the nearest Apple Store for hardware support has been a hard sell.” Silva says the ownership model in the business space is changing, however, as we’re now seeing companies enter into agreements with users to support personal devices. “Many companies are still paying for the device and service and treating the smartphone as a corporate IT asset, but this model is giving way to others in which IT can satisfy users’ demand for the newest platforms while not having to take on the cost of the device and, in some cases, service, if the user supplies the device and IT supplies the tools to manage it,” explains Silva. Not (yet) for big business But replacing the BlackBerry as the de facto mobile operating system for enterprise-level companies might be more of a challenge. “Certainly, Android devices are being brought unofficially into enterprises by individuals in the same way that the iPhone has been since launch, buy it will be a challenge for any vendor, however, to displace incumbent RIM in the enterprise from a corporate-adoption standpoint, especially with the crucial need for information security,” says Doherty. Silva agrees: “At present, I don’t see the Android OS as better than BlackBerry or iPhone for enterprise users.” One of the reasons is the lack of support for features of ActiveSync, the data synchronization program developed by Microsoft for use the Microsoft Windows operating systems. While Android supports ActiveSync though some smartphone maker’s tools, such as HTC’s work e-mail application, and some third-party applications, such as Nitro Desk’s TouchDown, as a native feature to the operating system, there’s no support for ActiveSync policies, Silva adds Currently, there are nearly 30 policies that IT can choose from natively in the Exchange Server architecture. “For example, limitations of the Android OS make full device encryption tricky to impossible today,” adds Doherty. “These ActiveSync-based security features are table stakes for most enterprise devices and, lacking them, Android is going to have a tough time in the enterprise.”

About 1203 days ago Telecom and Wireless

Google Phones: Lowdown on the ‘iPhone Killer’

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While Google’s much-hyped Android platform debuted in late 2008, the smartphone operating system didn’t hit its stride until the recent launch of the Motorola Droid and Google’s own phone, the Nexus One. But do these new Android devices outshine competitors — including handsets powered by BlackBerry, iPhone OS, or Windows Mobile — when it comes to a mobile device for small and mid-sized businesses? And does the Google phone amount to the reputed “iPhone killer” many had hoped for? The answer, according to industry analysts, seems to be yes and no. Promising future Google’s Nexus One came up short of being the groundbreaking device that would halt the trajectory of the iPhone, but the Android-based smartphone does have its share of benefits. “The ubiquity of Google and its integration across devices — PCs and mobile devices — as well as applications, voice calling and Internet search, as well as its mobile platform, give it a unique position over its competition,” says Tim Doherty, associate research analyst for the small and mid-sized business markets at IDC, a Framingham, Mass.-based market research firm. “However, taking that unique position and applying it to the mobile market will be the true test as it explores the various segments and finds a place where its complete ‘package’ can resonate,” Doherty adds. Doherty says IDC has been looking for Android to emerge as a player in the small business space for some time. “Google has already made a name for itself through Google Apps, its hosted suite of e-mail, messaging, and collaboration solutions,” maintains Doherty. “The hosted nature, scalable and predictable pricing, and lack of need for IT hardware investment make Google Apps a natural fit for small businesses, and so this may have an impact on adoption of Android mobile devices.” Chris Silva, an analyst at the Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester technology research company, also believes Android has a promising future for businesses. “IT’s constituents are, at the end of the day, consumers and, as consumers, they’re likely going to be exploring how and whether they can use the newest smartphones on the market with their enterprise e-mail and other services,” says Silva. “Statistically speaking, if a user is going after the newest smartphone, it’s very likely to be an Android device, so IT had better have a plan,” Silva adds. Immediate hurdles While Doherty believes the Android platform is beginning to “gain a footing in the small business space,” a few obstacles still exist for Google. “RIM [Research in Motion], Apple, and Palm have an advantage by virtue of controlling both their hardware and proprietary platforms, which can allow for a tighter user experience,” Doherty believes. “Google is exploring new models for deploying mobile devices, as we saw with the Nexus One, but there will be hiccups — in the case of Nexus One, Google was not prepared to handle customer troubleshooting.” “The Nexus One received a great deal of press upon its release, however, the growing pains that Google has had in supporting a hardware platform that it is selling directly are evidence that this is early days for Google playing a major role in the smartphone space,” adds Silva. “We saw Apple getting dinged for this a lot when the iPhone came out — the prospect of IT sending its users to the nearest Apple Store for hardware support has been a hard sell.” Silva says the ownership model in the business space is changing, however, as we’re now seeing companies enter into agreements with users to support personal devices. “Many companies are still paying for the device and service and treating the smartphone as a corporate IT asset, but this model is giving way to others in which IT can satisfy users’ demand for the newest platforms while not having to take on the cost of the device and, in some cases, service, if the user supplies the device and IT supplies the tools to manage it,” explains Silva. Not (yet) for big business But replacing the BlackBerry as the de facto mobile operating system for enterprise-level companies might be more of a challenge. “Certainly, Android devices are being brought unofficially into enterprises by individuals in the same way that the iPhone has been since launch, buy it will be a challenge for any vendor, however, to displace incumbent RIM in the enterprise from a corporate-adoption standpoint, especially with the crucial need for information security,” says Doherty. Silva agrees: “At present, I don’t see the Android OS as better than BlackBerry or iPhone for enterprise users.” One of the reasons is the lack of support for features of ActiveSync, the data synchronization program developed by Microsoft for use the Microsoft Windows operating systems. While Android supports ActiveSync though some smartphone maker’s tools, such as HTC’s work e-mail application, and some third-party applications, such as Nitro Desk’s TouchDown, as a native feature to the operating system, there’s no support for ActiveSync policies, Silva adds Currently, there are nearly 30 policies that IT can choose from natively in the Exchange Server architecture. “For example, limitations of the Android OS make full device encryption tricky to impossible today,” adds Doherty. “These ActiveSync-based security features are table stakes for most enterprise devices and, lacking them, Android is going to have a tough time in the enterprise.”

About 1203 days ago Blogging and Social Media

Google Phones: Lowdown on the ‘iPhone Killer’

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While Google’s much-hyped Android platform debuted in late 2008, the smartphone operating system didn’t hit its stride until the recent launch of the Motorola Droid and Google’s own phone, the Nexus One. But do these new Android devices outshine competitors — including handsets powered by BlackBerry, iPhone OS, or Windows Mobile — when it comes to a mobile device for small and mid-sized businesses? And does the Google phone amount to the reputed “iPhone killer” many had hoped for? The answer, according to industry analysts, seems to be yes and no. Promising future Google’s Nexus One came up short of being the groundbreaking device that would halt the trajectory of the iPhone, but the Android-based smartphone does have its share of benefits. “The ubiquity of Google and its integration across devices — PCs and mobile devices — as well as applications, voice calling and Internet search, as well as its mobile platform, give it a unique position over its competition,” says Tim Doherty, associate research analyst for the small and mid-sized business markets at IDC, a Framingham, Mass.-based market research firm. “However, taking that unique position and applying it to the mobile market will be the true test as it explores the various segments and finds a place where its complete ‘package’ can resonate,” Doherty adds. Doherty says IDC has been looking for Android to emerge as a player in the small business space for some time. “Google has already made a name for itself through Google Apps, its hosted suite of e-mail, messaging, and collaboration solutions,” maintains Doherty. “The hosted nature, scalable and predictable pricing, and lack of need for IT hardware investment make Google Apps a natural fit for small businesses, and so this may have an impact on adoption of Android mobile devices.” Chris Silva, an analyst at the Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester technology research company, also believes Android has a promising future for businesses. “IT’s constituents are, at the end of the day, consumers and, as consumers, they’re likely going to be exploring how and whether they can use the newest smartphones on the market with their enterprise e-mail and other services,” says Silva. “Statistically speaking, if a user is going after the newest smartphone, it’s very likely to be an Android device, so IT had better have a plan,” Silva adds. Immediate hurdles While Doherty believes the Android platform is beginning to “gain a footing in the small business space,” a few obstacles still exist for Google. “RIM [Research in Motion], Apple, and Palm have an advantage by virtue of controlling both their hardware and proprietary platforms, which can allow for a tighter user experience,” Doherty believes. “Google is exploring new models for deploying mobile devices, as we saw with the Nexus One, but there will be hiccups — in the case of Nexus One, Google was not prepared to handle customer troubleshooting.” “The Nexus One received a great deal of press upon its release, however, the growing pains that Google has had in supporting a hardware platform that it is selling directly are evidence that this is early days for Google playing a major role in the smartphone space,” adds Silva. “We saw Apple getting dinged for this a lot when the iPhone came out — the prospect of IT sending its users to the nearest Apple Store for hardware support has been a hard sell.” Silva says the ownership model in the business space is changing, however, as we’re now seeing companies enter into agreements with users to support personal devices. “Many companies are still paying for the device and service and treating the smartphone as a corporate IT asset, but this model is giving way to others in which IT can satisfy users’ demand for the newest platforms while not having to take on the cost of the device and, in some cases, service, if the user supplies the device and IT supplies the tools to manage it,” explains Silva. Not (yet) for big business But replacing the BlackBerry as the de facto mobile operating system for enterprise-level companies might be more of a challenge. “Certainly, Android devices are being brought unofficially into enterprises by individuals in the same way that the iPhone has been since launch, buy it will be a challenge for any vendor, however, to displace incumbent RIM in the enterprise from a corporate-adoption standpoint, especially with the crucial need for information security,” says Doherty. Silva agrees: “At present, I don’t see the Android OS as better than BlackBerry or iPhone for enterprise users.” One of the reasons is the lack of support for features of ActiveSync, the data synchronization program developed by Microsoft for use the Microsoft Windows operating systems. While Android supports ActiveSync though some smartphone maker’s tools, such as HTC’s work e-mail application, and some third-party applications, such as Nitro Desk’s TouchDown, as a native feature to the operating system, there’s no support for ActiveSync policies, Silva adds Currently, there are nearly 30 policies that IT can choose from natively in the Exchange Server architecture. “For example, limitations of the Android OS make full device encryption tricky to impossible today,” adds Doherty. “These ActiveSync-based security features are table stakes for most enterprise devices and, lacking them, Android is going to have a tough time in the enterprise.”

About 1203 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

Google Phones: Lowdown on the ‘iPhone Killer’

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While Google’s much-hyped Android platform debuted in late 2008, the smartphone operating system didn’t hit its stride until the recent launch of the Motorola Droid and Google’s own phone, the Nexus One. But do these new Android devices outshine competitors — including handsets powered by BlackBerry, iPhone OS, or Windows Mobile — when it comes to a mobile device for small and mid-sized businesses? And does the Google phone amount to the reputed “iPhone killer” many had hoped for? The answer, according to industry analysts, seems to be yes and no. Promising future Google’s Nexus One came up short of being the groundbreaking device that would halt the trajectory of the iPhone, but the Android-based smartphone does have its share of benefits. “The ubiquity of Google and its integration across devices — PCs and mobile devices — as well as applications, voice calling and Internet search, as well as its mobile platform, give it a unique position over its competition,” says Tim Doherty, associate research analyst for the small and mid-sized business markets at IDC, a Framingham, Mass.-based market research firm. “However, taking that unique position and applying it to the mobile market will be the true test as it explores the various segments and finds a place where its complete ‘package’ can resonate,” Doherty adds. Doherty says IDC has been looking for Android to emerge as a player in the small business space for some time. “Google has already made a name for itself through Google Apps, its hosted suite of e-mail, messaging, and collaboration solutions,” maintains Doherty. “The hosted nature, scalable and predictable pricing, and lack of need for IT hardware investment make Google Apps a natural fit for small businesses, and so this may have an impact on adoption of Android mobile devices.” Chris Silva, an analyst at the Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester technology research company, also believes Android has a promising future for businesses. “IT’s constituents are, at the end of the day, consumers and, as consumers, they’re likely going to be exploring how and whether they can use the newest smartphones on the market with their enterprise e-mail and other services,” says Silva. “Statistically speaking, if a user is going after the newest smartphone, it’s very likely to be an Android device, so IT had better have a plan,” Silva adds. Immediate hurdles While Doherty believes the Android platform is beginning to “gain a footing in the small business space,” a few obstacles still exist for Google. “RIM [Research in Motion], Apple, and Palm have an advantage by virtue of controlling both their hardware and proprietary platforms, which can allow for a tighter user experience,” Doherty believes. “Google is exploring new models for deploying mobile devices, as we saw with the Nexus One, but there will be hiccups — in the case of Nexus One, Google was not prepared to handle customer troubleshooting.” “The Nexus One received a great deal of press upon its release, however, the growing pains that Google has had in supporting a hardware platform that it is selling directly are evidence that this is early days for Google playing a major role in the smartphone space,” adds Silva. “We saw Apple getting dinged for this a lot when the iPhone came out — the prospect of IT sending its users to the nearest Apple Store for hardware support has been a hard sell.” Silva says the ownership model in the business space is changing, however, as we’re now seeing companies enter into agreements with users to support personal devices. “Many companies are still paying for the device and service and treating the smartphone as a corporate IT asset, but this model is giving way to others in which IT can satisfy users’ demand for the newest platforms while not having to take on the cost of the device and, in some cases, service, if the user supplies the device and IT supplies the tools to manage it,” explains Silva. Not (yet) for big business But replacing the BlackBerry as the de facto mobile operating system for enterprise-level companies might be more of a challenge. “Certainly, Android devices are being brought unofficially into enterprises by individuals in the same way that the iPhone has been since launch, buy it will be a challenge for any vendor, however, to displace incumbent RIM in the enterprise from a corporate-adoption standpoint, especially with the crucial need for information security,” says Doherty. Silva agrees: “At present, I don’t see the Android OS as better than BlackBerry or iPhone for enterprise users.” One of the reasons is the lack of support for features of ActiveSync, the data synchronization program developed by Microsoft for use the Microsoft Windows operating systems. While Android supports ActiveSync though some smartphone maker’s tools, such as HTC’s work e-mail application, and some third-party applications, such as Nitro Desk’s TouchDown, as a native feature to the operating system, there’s no support for ActiveSync policies, Silva adds Currently, there are nearly 30 policies that IT can choose from natively in the Exchange Server architecture. “For example, limitations of the Android OS make full device encryption tricky to impossible today,” adds Doherty. “These ActiveSync-based security features are table stakes for most enterprise devices and, lacking them, Android is going to have a tough time in the enterprise.”

About 1326 days ago Business Software

Top 10 Free Apps and Services for Business

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Times are tough, but you can save your company some cash by taking advantage of many free applications and services to help you remain lean and competitive. This includes many downloadable programs for your BlackBerry, iPhone, or Android smartphone as well as tools for PC productivity, such as online back-up options, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) software, and no-cost office suites. Free apps are sought-after downloads today in business. It’s not just because it makes sense to those watching their bottom line, but the apps are getting a lot more robust instead of simply covering the basics, says Scott Steinberg, publisher of Digital Trends. “You’d be surprise what you can find today when it comes to free applications — and there’s plenty of free apps to choose from for your smartphone, PC, or a cloud-computing solution that bridges the two,” adds Steinberg. Steinberg says he’s most excited about the explosion in downloadable apps for smartphones. “The apps transform phones into notebook replacements, audio recorders, GPS navigation devices, note-taking devices, and even gaming getaways for those in need of an entertainment fix while traveling for business.” Speaking of travel, Chris Silva, an analyst at the Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester, the technology research company, says many of these free productivity tools have an inherent benefit compared to traditional desktop software: “On-the-go businesspersons want to be able to access their content wherever and whenever, and on any device — and while Microsoft recently unveiled a ‘cloud’ component to [Microsoft] Office, we’re finding people are turning to Google’s established and free Gmail for e-mail, file storage, document sharing, and so on.” Caveat emptor There’s little dispute that cost-cutting measures are critical — especially given the current state of the economy — but there are a few things about free software that businesses should be aware of. Silva reminds businesses that these free apps are still not as full-featured as paid versions. “Productivity suites might not have the 500-plus menus and tools built into Microsoft Office, for example, but most people don’t venture outside of ‘create, format, print and share’ anyway,” he says. “Many companies, especially small to mid-sized businesses, are finding these free alternatives to be good enough for their needs.” Silva also warns of two other possible downsides to free apps. “It’s no secret there are occasional Gmail outages, which means you can’t access your e-mail, or Skype congestion that can affect call quality, along with other issues associated with Internet-based solutions,” he says. “Plus, there are always increased security risks in allowing your employees to use any kind of software they want. You’ll need to take steps to educate employees about risks, about some company information that shouldn’t be shared with Gmail or IM, and mitigate these with policies.” Best bets for free apps If you’re looking for completely free apps for your smartphone or PC, consider the following recommendations: Skype – Available for PCs and select smartphones (iPhone and Windows Mobile), Skype lets you make free phone calls to any other Skype user on the Internet via VoIP technology. PC users can also chat using video, swap files, or pay a few cents a minute for “Skype Out” calls to landlines and cell phones. Gmail – Google’s free Web-based e-mail solution reliably keeps you in touch with others, regardless of the platform you’re using it on. Benefits include loads of storage, little spam, contact and calendar management, and support for Google Talk between multiple devices. OpenOffice.org – Sun Microsystems’s free Microsoft Office alternative offers a suite of productivity tools, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and graphics. It supports multiple operating systems and has a portable version that runs off a USB key. Documents To Go – With a free version included on newer BlackBerry devices, this clever app suite allows for viewing and editing of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. It’s usually bundled with PDF To Go, as well, supporting Adobe’s popular Portable Document Format. Zoho – Free for individuals, Zoho’s range of productivity and collaboration apps include Zoho Mail, Zoho Chat, Zoho CRM, Zoho Writer, Zoho Discussions, Zoho Sheet, Zoho Meeting, Zoho Show, Zoho Creator, Zoho Docs, Zoho Invoice, Zoho Notebook, Zoho Projects, Zoho Wiki, Zoho Reports, and others. Windows Live SkyDrive – Microsoft is offering up to 25GB of free online storage. Only a Windows ID is required (such as a Hotmail e-mail address) and this password-protected virtual drive can be accessed for virtually any online computer in the world. Some folders can be set up for sharing, while other are for your eyes only. Remote Desktop Lite – Use your iPhone or iPod touch to securely access a Windows XP Professional computer, anywhere on the planet. This software provides full access to your PC — via Wi-Fi or EDGE — as if you were in front of the machine you’re accessing. At the time of writing this, Remote Desktop Lite is the no. 1 free business app at Apple’s App Store. Call Time Tracker by momentum – As the name suggests, Redwood Technologies’ free app for Blackberry helps business professionals account for their time in order to bill hours and recover expenses. Ideal for lawyers, consultants, salespeople, realtors and IT professionals, this app pops up at the end of calls and you can easily mark it as billable time. Nice Office – BlackBerry users can manage their e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks from this one free suite of tools. Nice Office securely also grants access to forms and documents, lets you record sales activity while on the go and automatically logs device activity, and provides a detailed report on mobile interactions with your contacts, including calls, messages, and appointments. Google Maps – While it doesn’t provide audio-based turn-by-turn commands, Google Maps is a completely free and powerful tool for your smartphone that can help you find nearby establishments (such as restaurants, gas stations, or hotels), show overhead street views (even with satellite imagery), and give you accurate directions to a destination. It works via GPS or even cellular technology (though the latter isn’t as accurate).

About 1387 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

Which Cell Phone Is Smartest for Business?

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Smartphones are big for small business. In fact, many mobile workers now depend on these all-in-one digital Swiss Army Knives that offer support for third-party applications, messaging, Web browsing, GPS navigation, media playback, and photo and video capture. Oh, and they make calls, too. But there are a growing number of different platforms on the market — including BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm Pre and others — therefore deciding which one is best for your small or mid-sized business could be an overwhelming endeavor. So we turned to a couple of tech experts to discuss what a mobile worker should look for in a smartphone platform. The basics Smartphones are an increasingly popular choice for business use, but regardless which of which operating system you go with, the handset must meet a few key minimum requirements, says Scott Steinberg, publisher of Digital Trends. “Battery life and wireless coverage are two big ones,” says Steinberg, who is based in Atlanta. “Because of all of its features and integrated wireless radios, smartphones can consume a lot of power, and the last thing you need is to be on the road or at a trade show and there’s only one bar left.” As for coverage areas, which can greatly affect call quality and data speeds, Steinberg suggests to do your research by visiting the websites for carriers — such as Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint — and click on the map that shows coverage areas. “Many people assume the smartphone will work the same everywhere in the U.S., and elsewhere, but this is simply not the case,” he explains. “It’s also not a bad idea to talk to colleagues or friends on that network to hear first-hand about coverage, as the last thing you need is to be on the road and you can’t access your e-mail from client about a cancelled appointment.” Ted Schadler, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, a Cambridge, Mass.-based technology research firm, says before deciding which smartphone to invest in, figure out what applications your business requires and if they’re supported by the platform. “The horizontal app is e-mail, of course, but after that you’ll need to list any other apps you’ll want to run,” says Schadler.  A small or mid-sized business “will also work out the cost per device, how many you need for your staff, the cost of the data plan, and any device management software or mobile middleware you might need.” Consider being device agnostic Schadler, who has just published a report entitled Technology Populism Fuels Mobile Collaboration: When IT Supports Personal Mobile Phones, Mobile Collaboration Ensues, says the trend is moving towards a “bring your own smartphone” practice. In a survey completed by more than 2,300 IT decision-makers in the U.S. and Europe, one in four are now supporting an employee’s personal mobile device — so long as the applications are platform-agnostic and meets the company’s security protocols. The gotta-have-it iPhone from Apple is the “big disruptor” for this paradigm shift, says Schadler. Deciding which smartphone platform to go, however, might be dependent on the industry you’re in, adds Schadler. If you’re in regulated industry — such as health care, pharmaceutical, insurance, or financial services — you might have strict privacy requirements, such as protecting customer data, remote wiping of device if the smartphone is lost or stolen, and so on. “There are many, many different kinds of policies in these industries so you have to be careful about which phones you’re supporting to ensure they meet regulatory compliance,” says Schadler. “If you want managed devices, you really only have one choice, which is BlackBerry,” adds Schadler, “as RIM supports more than 450 policies — but it’ll cost you a license fee per month, per user.” He adds, “Otherwise, Windows Mobile and iPhone are basically free if you’re running Exchange.” Steinberg agrees with Schadler on the additional requirements for any smartphone consideration. Your priorities should be “security and privacy issues must be addressed, support for enterprise-level e-mail, and whether or not you easily sync your data with a PC,” he says. “And depending on what you need, access to the company’s Twitter or Facebook account while on the road might be important or GPS to find your way to a meeting or wireless or on-demand software purchases at an app store.” Pros and cons The following are a few thoughts on each of the major smartphone operating systems: BlackBerry Pros: Reliable, fast and secure “push” e-mail; physical keyboard in most models; good battery life; supports multiple accounts. Cons: Browser not the greatest; App World doesn’t offer great selection or intuitive interface. Windows Mobile Pros: Supported by the broadest range of devices; Outlook and other Windows programs sync smoothly with a PC. Cons: Interface and stability issues; fewer apps than most other smartphones. iPhone Pros: Elegant and intuitive touch interface; more than 65,000 apps in App Store (many of which are free); great consumer device. Cons: No physical keyboard is obstacle for many; battery life trails other smartphones; still no MMS support in U.S. Android Pros: Powerful and versatile open-source operating system; seamless presentation and access of online Google apps; good user-interface. Cons: Not a lot of supported devices or software; Android Market not as intuitive as Apple App Store. Palm webOS Pros: Open-source operating system anyone can develop for; can support multiple apps open at once; offers both physical keyboard and touchscreen. Cons: Unproven for business because newest OS; poor selection of software and only one device (Palm Pre).

About 1630 days ago PCs, Laptops, and Notebooks

Santa Baby, Slip These Gadgets under the Tree

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Santa baby, slip an iTouch under the tree, for me Been an awful tough year, Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight. This holiday season, the little somethings that small business owners are asking Santa to slip under the tree include lightweight notebook computers, next-generation smart phones, HD cameras, and more. With the economy in the doldrums, there’s not a whole lot to celebrate this year and not a whole lot of IT money left to celebrate with. But small business owners who’ve managed to squirrel away a little of their annual computing budget to spend on themselves or their employees before Dec. 31 have a sleigh full of electronic devices to choose from. According to a very informal poll of several dozen small business owners, here are some of the most popular items on their holiday wish lists: Little laptops Sallie Goetsch, a podcast producer at The Podcast Asylum in California, wants a UMPC — an ultra-mobile PC — the latest in lightweight computing. Also known as a tablet PC, netbook or subnotebook, the devices run 13” or smaller, weigh just a couple pounds, have touch screens and/or QWERTY keyboards and come with built ins like GPS and Wi-Fi and a variety of options. Goetsch wants something to take to conferences and events and prefers a UMPC over a smart phone. “I never did learn how to type with my thumbs,” she says. “I’m trying to decide which one, the new HP? The EEE?” Joe Pulizzi, owner of Z Squared Media, a Cleveland, Ohio, content marketing firm and founder of the Junta42 content marketing blog network, wants a mini laptop too. Pulizzi has a 17” Toshiba laptop in his home office, but it’s too big for the road. “Sometimes small is better,” he says. Pulizzi has his eyeona Toshiba Portege with a 12.1” display, built-in fingerprint reader, webcam, digital card reader, and 4 USB ports. Smartphones Linda Musgrove, owner of an Aventura, Fla., trade show consulting firm called Trade Show Teacher, already has a smartphone. But that hasn’t stopped her from lusting after the HTC Touch Pro, Sprint’s Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone with a slide-out QWERTY keypad, touch screen, expandable memory, 3.2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth support. The device will do double duty, managing Musgrove’s business and “my crazy family,” she says. Nancy White, owner of Custom Interface, a Bingen, Wash., custom electronics manufacturer, treated herself to an AT&T Tilt smartphone as an early Christmas present. It hasn’t been pure love at first sight — “It takes three screens to get to speed dial” — but she does love the fact that it comes loaded with Microsoft Outlook, “so the interface with my work desktop is fantastic,” she says. Cameras and gadgets When it comes to gadgets, former newspaper photographer Jay Bryant has a soft spot for cameras. This holiday, Bryant, now business development vice president at Live World, a San Jose, Calif., social networking company, has his eye on the Kodak Zi6 Flip Cam in HD. The palm-sized device has a 2.4” screen and weighs 3.8 ounces and has built-in USB port and editing software. “I’m going to try my hand at video blogging,” Bryant says. “And I’m going to start recording some of my presentations to review them afterward to see how I can do better,” Bryant says. Plus, at a suggested retail price of $180, “it’s cheap,” he says. After Andre Preoteasa, IT director at Castle Brands got himself an Apple iPod Touch, he was the most popular guy at the New York City fine spirits distributor. “Everyone in the office is asking to use it. Everybody wants one,” Preoteasa says. “It’s literally a computer in your pocket, and a very posh one.” Reviewers have dubbed the second-generation iPod Touch the iPhone’s baby brother, with many of the same features — music and video player, Safari Web browser, email, iTunes store, etc. — minus the ability to make cell phone calls. Prices run $270 to $400 for models with 8, 16 or 32 GB flash memory. Travis Isaacson, senior director of organizational development at Access Development, a Salt Lake City, affinity marketing business, doesn’t want anything that fancy, just an iPod Classic with 120 GB of memory instead of the old 80 GB model he has now so he can squeeze in more of the business books he downloads from Audible.com. Nov Omana, managing principal at Collective HR Solutions, a San Mateo, Calif. HR industry consultant, doesn’t like it when people sitting next to him at Starbucks or on an airplane peek at his laptop screen. So this holiday his wish list includes a pair of MyVu Shades, eyewear that looks like regular sunglasses but blocks out whatever is showing on a laptop or iPod screen for everyone except the person wearing them. The $199 device, which comes with built-in earbuds, is primarily sold as a way to watch videos in private but Omana thinks it has big potential with business travelers. “The next generation may allow us to just ‘see’ each other in a virtual world or over the net no matter where we are,” he says. John Klebes, business development program manager at Sig Sauer, the Exeter, N.H. gun maker, has his eye on the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen, a $200 digital pen with built in microphone, speaker, display screen and tiny camera. The Smartpen can record notes in written and audio form simultaneously when used with special “digital paper” embedded with microdots. “It sounds like a very useful tool and I wouldn’t turn down one for Christmas,” Klebes says.