Mobile Computing
Mobile Computing is a term describing your ability to use technology 'untethered' that is not physically connected to your local-area network. In practice often mobile computing is connected wirelessly to and through the internet or to and through a private network. This connection ties the mobile device to centrally located information and/or application software through the use of battery powered, portable, and wireless computing and communication devices. Mobile computing can include laptops, mobile phones, PDAs and other mobile devices. Connectivity can include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS or occasional physical connection.
Mobile voice communication is widely established throughout the world and has had a very rapid increase in the number of subscribers to the various cellular networks over the last few years. An extension of this technology is the ability to send and receive data across these cellular networks. This is the principle of mobile computing.
Mobile data communication has become a very important and rapidly evolving technology as it allows users to transmit data from remote locations to other remote or fixed locations. This proves to be the solution to the biggest problem of business people on the move - mobility.
In many fields of work, the ability to keep on the move is vital in order to utilise time efficiently. Efficient utilisation of resources (i.e. staff, vehicles) can mean substantial savings in transportation costs and other non quantifiable costs such as increased customer attention, impact of on-site maintenance and improved intercommunication within the business.
The importance of Mobile Computers has been highlighted in many fields including
- Logistics
- Field Sales
- Emergency services
An increasingly popular device used by businesses for mobile working is the Blackberry. Mobile devices such as PDAs and phones could run advanced enterprise software applications within the next five years as data transfer speeds rise, according to experts at this year's Mobile World Congress Show.
Juniper Research has highlighted the fact that the widespread penetration of 3G devices - devices which are able to connect to the internet and transfer large amounts of data - is likely to increase the adoption of mobile services by both businesses and consumers