Libbysamuel’s Weblog

A recent news  article from eWeek.com indicates the there were wireless access problems at  Virginia Tech on Monday. As you might expect, there were massive increases in  the number of wireless voiceA recent news  article from eWeek.com indicates the there were wireless access problems at  Virginia Tech on Monday. As you might expect, there were massive increases in  the number of wireless voice calls and text messaging during the crisis,  especially between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. Verizon acknowledged some calls were  blocked, but most text messages went through. Cingular claims no calls were  blocked. Sprint Nextel also claimed no service interruptions despite the  increased volume.    I hope most corporations never experience a crisis like that of Virginia Tech  on Monday. But it is a virtual truism to suggest that wireless access is quickly  becoming indispensable to modern business processes. From WiFi phones to  hand-held computers and scanners, from Pocket PCs to notebook computers carried  to various meetings, the advantages of information at your fingertips and  communications technology available anytime hardly need justification anymore.     The Virginia Tech crisis only highlights a growing realization among IT  professionals. Most IT managers are beginning to reflect on how inexpensive  devices might be used in corporations to improve everything from disaster  responsiveness to on-the-spot job training to line-of-business information  retrieval. Given the eagerness of telecommunications companies to sell smart  phones in quantities to companies, you can readily imagine a situation where  everyone in a company from the President to janitorial staff would be issued a  joint cellular/WiFi phone. The  WiFi costs would be covered by the company, while most cellular usage would be  the responsibility of the user (if used at all).    When an employee comes to work, they use the device to send and receive  instant messages or text messages, to read and write corporate email, to gain  instant access to operating procedures and policies, training manuals and even  for information access to ERP applications as required. Devices would be subject  to policies preventing misuse, of course, but some kind of automated monitoring  service which aggregates usage statistics would help managers determine who is  doing what when and then take appropriate disciplinary measures if necessary.     I don’t think this is too far fetched. After all, many families are already  there with every member having his/her own cellular phone and/or computer. High  tech companies are already using either blackberries or smart phones with almost  100% distribution among employees. Soon enough, the manufacturing and other  industrial sectors will see the same advantages. After all, not everyone in a  manufacturing company can have access to a computer. But if we could reduce  costs to, say, $200 per user per annum, wouldn’t the advantages be obvious?