April 30, 2008

Mobility Video Blog du jour: Adding Context Awareness to the Mobility Network

Aside from access and voice services, what else can businesses do with their wireless networks? This is something I think many mobility application providers and innovators maintain their focus on a daily basis.

Here is the setup: since a WLAN is available, I can roam around the office and campus while maintaining a connection to check email and access unified communication-type applications like messaging. Grand. I can make phone calls with a voice over Wi-Fi phone. Grand. If I did not have an actual handset available, then I could use my IP softphone client installed on my laptop to make phone calls. Grand. (I’m sure many users are over it, but my IP softphone client has a high usability and practicality factor, especially when I work from home or away from my desk.) And, if I were to work in a retail store, I could use a mobile computer to check inventory levels or collaborate with team members to better serve customers. Grand. Not to digress…

But, how about some of the not so often discussed mobility services? I’m talking about services that happen in the background, behind the scenes, yet have an impact to operations. I wanted to learn about some mobility services that do not get too much play, but deserve equal billing because I think they fall into the cool (literally) mobility application category.

In this episode, I interview Isabelle Guis, senior manager of mobility solutions, and asked her what mobility-related area she has been focused on. (Mobility has been a long-standing hot topic, but Isabelle always adds that certain je ne sais quoi…) So I will not say more; but, watch and listen about how adding context awareness to a wireless network can benefit the carpeted enterprise and enterprises in the every vertical market, including healthcare and manufacturing. Also, Isabelle talks about what IT should look for when planning to deploy context awareness services within their organization.

Posted by Ed Tan at 10:23 PM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

April 23, 2008

Security and the Evolving Mobility Network

Thanks for tuning in for the second episode in our Mobility Video Blog series.

It is clear that more mobile devices are entering the enterprise, and this trend does not show any signs of slowing with industry analysts predicting an additional 1.1 billion new mobile devices coming to the market in the next couple years.

Security is a maintained concern with IT, especially with wireless and mobility; and with the expected wave of devices entering the enterprise, I interviewed Chris Kozup for his insight on the trends he is seeing that are related to securing a broader mobility network with a growing number of connecting end points and mobile users traversing multiple networks.

Although businesses can not deny the benefits of mobility, they should be cognizant of emerging security threats, as well as adjust their strategy when evolving their mobility network.

Posted by Ed Tan at 01:15 PM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

April 11, 2008

New Cisco Mobility Video Blog Series

Welcome to the first in a series of video blogs that will discuss the challenges IT face for meeting the demands of mobility. With greater user expectations for mobility, new mobile devices and end points entering the market and organization environment, you will want to hear some of the insights and strategies addressed in the coming video blogs.

In the pilot episode, “Mobility and the Converging Networks,” I interview Ben Gibson, and ask what Cisco is seeing as IT’s challenge for providing mobility to employees and mobile users as they are connecting to more disparate networks (both wired and wireless). Ben provides insight on what and how IT should consider when planning, managing and growing a mobility system. And finally, hear how Cisco sees mobility evolving.

Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for a new episode next week!

Posted by Ed Tan at 01:42 PM Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)