Create a Handheld Strategy That Fits Like a Glove

Remember the first time you watched a fellow traveler pull out their handheld device or Smartphone and then compose and send an email? Chances are, the wow factor left you more than a little envious as you waited for your airplane to pull up to the gate.

Well, a lot has changed since those early days. As business managers have seen the increased productivity benefits of handheld devices, more and more companies have begun issuing handhelds to their mobile employees as part of their overall corporate mobility strategy. In fact, for many business professionals, the handheld device has now become their primary tool for keeping in touch with the office, vendors and customers—and they would feel lost without it.

Your own company may be creating a corporate handheld strategy or refining its business and workforce continuity plan to include handhelds. If so, keep these important topics in mind when selecting mobile communications devices and a provider:

Network availability:
An information system is only as strong as its weakest link. Should something fail, what systems and processes are in place to ensure service availability?

• How reliable is the access provider's network architecture? Does it include fail-over capabilities for critical components, including network operations centers?
• Are there multiple access provider options?

Access technology options:
In the event of a failure, multiple access technologies and provider options offer flexibility and additional redundancy.

• Are users relegated to a single third-party email system?
• Are you locked into using one company's access network/technologies?
• Can users log into your corporate network to access and forward documents?
• In the event of a 3G technology failure, does the handheld device support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or even dial-up access?

Manageability:
Handhelds pose the same management and security concerns as other mobile devices, so it's important to choose a manageable handheld platform.

• Does the handheld operating system manufacturer provide adequate software and security updates?
• How are your handheld applications updated?
• Can you use your existing management solution to update handheld systems, or are you required to learn and support a separate management product?

Extending management of handheld devices

The latest release of iPass Device Management supports Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone Edition (Earlier versions of Pocket PC and Palm are already supported). It includes a host of scripting commands, the ability to force the device's agent scan and additional hardware and software inventory reports. An extensible tools menu allows you to add custom commands.