Forrester have announced what mobility trends can we expect to see in 2010.Forrester, believe that 4G networks will continue to grow, along with the deployment of mobile apps. Devices based on Google's Android operating system may capture up to 10 percent market share. Employees will pressure IT departments to support their personal smartphones and other devices for business use. In addition, cloud-based apps that support the mobile workforce will become more popular.

In 2009, most companies reduced new technology investments in response to the uncertain global economic recession. However, the enterprise mobility picture was more positive as many firms continued to pursue mobility solutions to help them cut costs, improve worker productivity, and enhance business process efficiencies. We predict a more stable economic environment in 2010 and expect mobile network operators to implement programs to drive application development for fourth-generation (4G) and long-term evolution (LTE) networks not only for consumers but also for business. In addition, expect increased vendor and service provider focus on offering machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions to improve business process efficiencies in specific industries (e.g., healthcare, utilities, and the supply chain). More employees will also bring personally selected and purchased mobile devices (e.g., Android smartphones) into the office and use them for work-related mobile applications.

So 2010 is set to be a good year for paper forms to be brought into the new decade by being used electronically.

The UK IT market skipped a heart beat during the past year, however in 2010; it is back to what it does best. Global IT spend will advance by 4.4% led by pent-up demand for software. The leading software market to be in is enterprise software. Enterprise software will be the most lucrative software business to be in, according to Ovum (2009). Lead analysts in the field (Gartner, 2009) propose that the market for large enterprise mobility software is tipped to grow at 9% during 2010, putting enterprise mobility at the forefront in 2010 (Forrester, 2009).

By the end of 2010 the software market will be worth about £6.44 billion. Top ten trends to watch for in 2010 are as follows:

-          Cloud Computing

-          Advanced analytics

-          Client computing

-          IT for green

-          Flash memory

-          Virtualization for availability

-          Mobile applications

-          Reshaping the data centre

-          Social computing

-          Security: active monitoring.

Positively, companies specialising in business applications is a “key growth area,” for the UK software industry will “keep growing” (Gartner, 2009).   

Visit igroup at the premier IT exhibition in social housing on the 17 – 18 November, Olympia, London.

IT in Housing Exhibition is the UK’s largest and most highly acclaimed housing technology exhibition.

The exhibition, which forms the focal point of the National Housing Federation’s IT in Housing Conference, is now in its 10 year, and offers delegates and visitors an excellent one-stop opportunity to explore the latest innovations, products and services from 80 leading ICT suppliers to the housing sector.

Visit igroup Ltd to experience demos of Dynamic Forms, and talk to our team to discuss your mobile IT needs.

Entry to the exhibition is free of charge.

}  The use of mobile devices is growing exponentially as companies look for new ways to support a workforce that requires easy, wireless access to forms and other documents in the field.

}  Without a solid investment in current business technologies, you can’t compete effectively in a global marketplace. }  Companies struggle to define a mobile IT strategy. }  They also find it difficult to identifying the right set of tools for managing mobile IT (MDM).}  Companies tend to start with the technology and work backwards from there, trying to solve business problems.

}  Finding the right option is imperative.

}  We are in an ‘info-centric’ era as we focus our IT plans and strategies around information rather than the computer.

What should a Mobile IT strategy look like?

}  Mobility should be at the core of any and all IT strategies going forward.

}   Increasingly distributed operations.

}   Hopefully Reduce legacy infrastructure costs.

}  Think through operational issues before finalising a strategy - management, support, security.

}  Pick the best toolset for the job, but keep growth in mind.

}  Handhelds will replace PCs for many but expect continuing evolution for the foreseeable future.

}  Build teams regardless of the physical distance between team members. 

Competitive Advantage from Strategy

}  The theme is one of continuous connectivity, where we can access data anywhere.

}  The main competitive advantage remaining today for any business, irrespective of industry, is the ability to obtain and act on information ahead of your competition.

}  Your ability to get information into the hands of people who need that information, and enable them to act on and interact with that information before the competition does, is what's going to make a difference in terms of business success.

Overview

}  The value that mobility brings to an enterprise is well known. It's difficult to imagine how an enterprise cannot benefit from access to information at any location at any time.

}  The company should ensure investments in mobile IT fulfil the desired objective of contributing to evolving the IT infrastructure to higher levels of enterprise mobility.

}  An enterprise mobile strategy should ensure that:

}  The fast-changing technology landscape does not result in investments becoming redundant.

}  The existing IT infrastructure can be leveraged to provide mobile solutions.

}  Implementation of mobility does not affect the performance and functionality of existing critical enterprise IT systems.  

CN50 Mobile ComputerThe Industry’s most advanced rugged mobile computer 

The CN50 is the ONLY wireless mobile computer that combines small and light-weight form factor with a rugged design to deliver that most advanced, high performance voice and data communication solution specifically designed for the HIGHLY mobile field worker.

The CN50 is the first device in the industry to offer a 3.75G wireless WAN Flexible Network™ Radio, the CN50 allows enterprises to finally standardize on a single hardware platform that can be configured for either CDMA or UMTS wireless networks. This gives enterprises the flexibility to choose the network that provides the best geographic coverage and the lowest cost

Intermac introduced the CN50 mobile computer as “a new class of device” and “game-changing product”, referring to the small, light and rugged computer’s support of 3.5 G and 3. 75G wireless wide area network HSUPA radio technology that can result in data upload speeds up to five times faster than any other mobile computer available.

The Intermec CN50 stresses secure standards, customer satisfaction, maximized ROI as well as total cost of ownership, all mandating a new generation of smaller, lighter mobile computers with advanced performance and features.

Intermec saythat the device is 25% smaller and lighter than similar mobile products, with dimensions of 6.05 x 2.9 x 1.1 inches and weighing about 11 ounces. That's very compact by rugged handheld standards without a doubt, and the CN50, on top of including more functions than a Swiss army knife, is amazingly tough. It can survive 5-foot drops, operate in a wide temperature range of 14 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, and is sealed to IP54 specifications, which means its pretty much dustproof and can survive water spray from all directions. Further proof that this is a state-of-the-art device is the integrated 3.1-megapixel coloured camera with auto-focus, flash, an integrated digital compass for enhanced GPS functionality, and an accelerometer that handles display orientation and much more. For data capture, there is an integrated 1-megapixel area imager with laser framer and aiming that supports omnidirectional scanning and decodes of 1D, 2D, composite and postal codes as well as signature capture.

The CN50 also supports eMDI (Enhanced Mobile Document Imaging), an optional Intermec software application that lets mobile workers capture full page paper documents with the CN4's imager and convert them into electronic documents right at the point-of-transaction. These high-quality document images can then be transmitted to back office applications in real-time, potentially simplifying workflows, shorten billing cycles, and providing customer service and shipping operations ready access to documents for faster processing.

The CN50 is available with either a numeric or QWERTY with backlit keypad. Among other accessories are a vehicle holder, quad battery charger, four-bay multi-dock for charge only or charge and Ethernet, as well as various RAM mount options. Whereas mobile computers almost exclusively used Intel XScale processors in the past, there are now other options.

The CN50 uses a multi-core architecture with a 528MHz ARM11-based main processor and an ARM9-based radio processor, likely a Qualcomm combo. It runs Windows Mobile 6.1, has 128MB of RAM and 512MB of Flash ROM, a 3.5-inch 240 x 320 pixel transflective displays with LED backlight, but apparently no expansion slot(s). The device is powered by either a standard 3.7V, 1,950mAh battery or an extended battery that packs 3,900mAH, but does not add to the size of the device. In summary, the Intermec CN50 packs an awful lot of data capture, computing and communication functionality for mobile workers who rely on "hold & carry" customer interaction and appreciate a single device that combines all their needed tools into a single, rugged, compact package.

See http://www.ruggeddirect.co.uk/ on details of how to purchase and for more information.