BUSINESS PARTNER: WIRELESS APPLICATIONS GET A BOOST FROM IBM

IBM Business Partners enhance their applications with IBM eNetwork Wireless Software

As more and more e-businesses embrace wireless technology as a way to solve a variety of new business problems, they are looking for comprehensive, integrated solutions that provide a high return on their investment. Just a few years ago, companies had a difficult time justifying the costs of ensuring secure, efficient data access for remote field workers. The absence of integrated solutions and the general lack of consistent functionality between mobile and traditional applications made development, management, and maintenance costs prohibitive.

More recently, however, IBM and its business partners have begun to capitalize on new technologies that make mobile solutions much more affordable—and more robust. Following are two examples where IBM has partnered with IBM Business Partners to develop integrated, leading-edge wireless computing solutions.

MDSI Integrates Advantex Field Force Solutions with IBM Wireless Software
With the increasing number of mobile workers, expanding the reach of corporate information to the field has quickly become a greater requirement for many companies. To address this need, MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. (MDSI™) and IBM have teamed up to help users of both companies' products maximize the return on their mobile computing investments. By virtually extending corporate desktops into the field, MDSI and IBM are enhancing many companies' abilities to run not only MDSI applications, but Intranet-based and mainframe applications, as well.

A global leader in the design, development, and implementation of wireless connectivity and field force automation solutions, MDSI is working with IBM to integrate MDSI Advantex™ field force automation solutions with IBM eNetwork™ Wireless Software such as eNetwork Wireless Gateway, eNetwork Web Express, and eNetwork Emulator Express.

IBM eNetwork Wireless Software (now an IBM SecureWay Software offering), is client/server middleware that provides access to existing IP-based applications— whether Web- or host-based—over wireless and dial-up networks, without complex reprogramming. In this way, IBM Wireless Software greatly reduces the cost, complexity, and time required to deploy mobile solutions, so enterprise data can be quickly and securely distributed to workers wherever and whenever they need it.

Advantex enterprise-wide wireless connectivity solutions are already providing mobile workers with real-time access to up-to-date information in a variety of industries, including utility, telecommunications, field service, taxi, courier, and state and local government. Advanced features of these industry-specific solutions include map-based dispatching, workload distribution, host inquiry, Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking, and extensive reporting.

Seamlessly integrated with corporate networks, applications, and databases, Advantex solutions enable companies to increase their productivity, lower operating costs, and provide "best-in-class" customer service. Integrating IBM Wireless Software products with Advantex solutions should further reduce costs and provide even greater functions to companies that want to broaden the scope of their mobile computing environments. The new applications—specifically designed for use in wireless environments—should result in much more cost-effective, efficient communications between corporate offices and remote field workers.

For more information about Advantex solutions, visit www.mdsi-advantex.com/.

MIT Integrates FleetSight with IBM eNetwork Wireless Gateway
Whether a company needs a low-cost Radio Frequency (RF) modem, a Windows-based in-vehicle workstation, or a complete vehicle tracking/two-way messaging system, Mobile Integrated Technologies (MIT) has a broad line of open-architecture products to address a variety of mobile computing requirements. MIT designs and manufactures high-reliability wireless data communication and computing systems optimized for use in commercial vehicles. In fact, more than 15,000 vehicles use MIT products on a daily basis in transportation, logistics, and package delivery industries.

The MIT FleetSight Mobile Asset Management package integrates GPS position sensing, wireless data communication, and DOS/Windows computing technologies into a vehicle location and two-way messaging solution for commercial fleets, package delivery services, on-site service companies, www.ibm.com/secureway August 1999 13 and public safety agencies. Enhanced input/output capabilities enable FleetSight to monitor and control a wide variety of functions such as doors opening and closing, load temperature, and vehicle performance. FleetSight also provides a clearly defined upgrade capability, enabling companies to start with a simple vehicle location package and add functions as business requirements change. As a result, companies can utilize vehicles and mobile personnel more efficiently through more informed decision-making.

To continue improving the wireless dispatch, vehicle tracking, and real-time management of mobile fleets, MIT has recently joined with IBM in integrating FleetSight with IBM Wireless Gateway software. The integration of these software products is designed to extend secure e-business capabilities to fleet managers, on-site service companies, and public safety agencies.

Combining FleetSight with Wireless Gateway software should give companies a competitive edge through real-time access to information where it is most useful—in the customer environment. In turn, the same information can be used to provide a new level of customer service, further adding to the competitive advantage already enjoyed by FleetSight users.

For more information about FleetSight, visit www.mbltech.com/.