Infrastructure

Mobility

Mobile employees are pervasive in today's enterprises and require as much support as their "static" counterparts. Keep current on the latest technologies and approaches in this rapidly evolving space.


Stay on top of emerging technologies and changes in the IT landscape. Learn which technologies are right for your organization, and develop the best strategy for implementation.

Forecast - Trends & Predictions

Let the Bidding Begin: 700 MHz Auction to Transform Mobile Landscape
Let the Bidding Begin: 700 MHz Auction to Transform Mobile Landscape

The upcoming Federal Communications Commission (FCC) frequency auction for the coveted 700 MHz spectrum is drawing a lot of attention from incumbent mobile carriers and aspiring entrants into the market. How far incumbent wireless carriers will go to horde the newly available spectrum has yet to be seen, but it’s almost certain to change the mobile landscape in the U.S. and enterprises should be...

Understand - Technology Insights

Fixed-Mobile Convergence Dials Up Single Number Simplicity
Fixed-Mobile Convergence Dials Up Single Number Simplicity

With a number of enterprise-class dual mode devices and platforms now available, the business benefits of Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) are finally accessible. Enterprise IT leaders seeking ways to streamline the enterprise communications infrastructure and reduce mobility costs should explore the technology and potential applications today.

Mobile Application Gateways: Eliminate Nagging Disconnects
Mobile Application Gateways: Eliminate Nagging Disconnects

With the growing use of mobile computing devices, there comes an increasing need to keep those devices connected to enterprise applications. Mobile Application Gateways (MAGs) maintain connections between the application and the mobile device as that device roams between different network connections and types.

Mobile WiMAX Poised to Disrupt Telecom Market
Mobile WiMAX Poised to Disrupt Telecom Market

Mobile WiMAX will disrupt the wireless market by providing high-speed, long-distance, non-line-of-sight, mobile network access. With several large and high-profile implementations in progress, combined with lofty subscriber estimates, Mobile WiMAX offers powerful new options that must be considered.

Tablet PCs Near Enterprise Readiness
Tablet PCs Near Enterprise Readiness

The first generation of Windows XP-based Tablet PCs languished on the shelves after their 2002 introduction. Expensive, proprietary hardware, inadequate application support, and a market that just didn’t fully understand the benefits conspired against this unique form factor and kept it from being widely adopted. Ongoing hardware and software updates, and continued commitment from vendors, has...

Will In-Flight Wi-Fi Broadband Services Take Off?
Will In-Flight Wi-Fi Broadband Services Take Off?

Surfing the Internet, accessing e-mail, and utilizing VPN connections while flying the friendly skies could soon become a reality. In-flight broadband services using Wi-Fi and air-to-ground communication facilities are on the horizon. Enterprises should familiarize themselves with the new generation of broadband, non-satellite based services several airlines plan to offer.

Mobile UC: What to Know Before Making the Move
Mobile UC: What to Know Before Making the Move

Unified Communications (UC) and enterprise mobility are inherently linked technology areas. IT leaders that are building their organization's communications strategy should recognize the cross-opportunity of mobile UC and approach planning accordingly.

Get the Most Out of Dual-Mode Mobile Devices
Get the Most Out of Dual-Mode Mobile Devices

As dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi mobile devices become more widely available, they are finding their way into enterprises around the world. There are several potential advantages to augmenting wireless connectivity to carrier networks with Wi-Fi that enterprises should understand and leverage wherever possible.

Telepresence: Conferencing at Its Finest Has Its Costs
Telepresence: Conferencing at Its Finest Has Its Costs

Telepresence is a set of immersive conferencing technologies and solutions which has the potential to significantly change the way that enterprises approach remote collaboration and business travel. Enterprise IT leaders must understand this technology space and be prepared to address key questions from senior management.

Affordable Desktop Videoconferencing for the Small Enterprise

Desktop-based videoconferencing can be particularly valuable for smaller organizations that are unwilling or unable to accommodate the expenses and...

Mobile Phones Take RSS Feeds to the Next Level

A group of tools are emerging that link RSS feeds to cellular phones through text messaging. This takes RSS to the next level by delivering relevant...

Stock Femtocells to Mark Down Mobility Costs

With the explosion of mobility, enterprises find it increasingly challenging to keep mobility costs in check. The list of cost-cutting options is...

WiMAX Might Just Live Up to the Hype

The hype around WiMAX – particularly the mobile version – has been brewing for the past few years. Info-Tech has been, and continues to be, bullish...

Why Info-Tech Hasn’t Written About the iPhone

Prior to the release of version 2.0 of the Apple iPhone OS and 3G hardware the device was simply not useful to most Info-Tech clients. With the...

WiMAX Still Has a Potential Audience

At various points over the past few years Worldwide Interoperability Access (WiMAX) has run between being heralded as the next big thing to being...

Wireless Carriers Changing Their Tune on Dual Mode Devices

Dual mode mobile devices that can operate on a wireless carrier’s network as well as a Wi-Fi network have been around for a while, but wireless...

Wireless Spectrum Auctions Change the Game In North America

Recent wireless spectrum auctions in the US and Canada drew considerable attention as both had rules aimed at fostering more open networks and...

What’s the Commotion Around Cisco’s Motion?

Cisco’s Motion significantly expands the scope of mobility features and applications previously available through the vendor’s wireless portfolio....

RIM’s BlackBerry Continues to Compete

Competition in the smartphone market continues to heat up, and RIM is doing its part to stay on top of the heap with four new Blackberry devices. The...

Strategize - Strategy & Planning

Tablet PC Reality: Process Adaptation a Must for Success
Tablet PC Reality: Process Adaptation a Must for Success

Tablet PCs can deliver compelling benefits to the enterprise, but only if development, deployment, and maintenance processes are adapted specifically to this platform. Failure to do so will result in reduced productivity for mobile end-users and a reduction in acceptance of similarly unconventional mobile form factors in the future. Assess the impact of tablet PC integration on the entire IT...

Tailor a Support Strategy for the Mobile User
Tailor a Support Strategy for the Mobile User

Support represents a hidden cost to IT and is the low-hanging fruit of cost saving initiatives. Unfortunately, many enterprises are squandering resources on support processes that do not take the unique needs of mobile end-users into account. Tier 1 support for deskbound end-users is very different than that for mobile workers. An enterprise that isn’t taking a mobile-specific approach to...

The Impact of the Carterfone Decision on Cellular Services
The Impact of the Carterfone Decision on Cellular Services

Many IT professionals may not recall the FCC’s Carterfone Decision, which provided “open-access” to public telephone networks. Almost forty years later, the quest for open-access in cellular networks could provide similar benefits. Enterprises should consider the benefits that open-access could deliver as they develop their wireless business plans.

The Impact of Wireless Technology on Network Infrastructure
The Impact of Wireless Technology on Network Infrastructure

It has taken substantial amounts of time and money for enterprises to construct and effectively manage their network infrastructures. As wireless continues to penetrate enterprises, concerned executives ask if and how they should integrate wireless mobility technology and what its future impact will be on existing network infrastructures.

Virtual Call Center Agents Can Use IPT, But Not Over the Public Internet
Virtual Call Center Agents Can Use IPT, But Not Over the Public Internet

Using home-based or virtual call center agents to augment or replace traditional brick-and-mortar call center agents seems like a great idea. Virtual agents can offer many benefits, including increased scheduling flexibility, reduced infrastructure costs, and a greatly expanded pool of potential candidates to choose from, but IP Telephony (IPT) over the public Internet is not up to the task.

Shifty Eyes and Wireless Skies: What Cellular Providers Don't Tell You
Shifty Eyes and Wireless Skies: What Cellular Providers Don't Tell You

There seems to be no end in sight when it comes to the marketing hype surrounding current 3G and the forthcoming 4G cellular networks. In fact, wireless carriers are doing a fine job of masking many of the unresolved problems that can definitely impact the quality and the reliability of services provided to enterprise business users.

Look to UC to Make Telework Work
Look to UC to Make Telework Work

Emerging Unified Communications (UC) solutions offer real-time collaboration capabilities and a simplified end-user experience that can help make the enterprise's telework strategy a success. Understand the opportunities associated with telework and UC, but be wary of the challenges.

Tailored International Mobile Strategies Hem Costs
Tailored International Mobile Strategies Hem Costs

Globetrotting executives, engineers, and sales and service personnel are ringing up massive mobile bills, and IT managers are often tasked with getting these costs under control. While there is no single silver bullet solution to reduce global roaming costs, there are several strategies that can be applied to different types of users and that can be combined to significantly lower skyrocketing...

Three Methods to Reduce the Cost of Mobile Services
Three Methods to Reduce the Cost of Mobile Services

Enterprises are increasingly adopting mobility to keep remote and traveling users connected and productive. However, this trend towards mobility comes at a cost, and most enterprises have seen the total cost of mobile services rise, even as per capita cost of services is in decline. Employ the three methods discussed in this research note to keep the cost of mobile services in check.

Mobile Messaging: Hit the Kill Button If Hard Benefits Aren't Clear
Mobile Messaging: Hit the Kill Button If Hard Benefits Aren't Clear

Choosing a platform to mobilize the enterprise messaging infrastructure is a far more involved process than simply picking the coolest looking handheld and handing it out to staff. Understand the bottom line benefits and target the specific needs before beginning to study how a mobile messaging solution will impact existing infrastructure. And don’t be afraid to kill the project if the advantages...

Five Signs You Don't Need that New Phone System
Five Signs You Don't Need that New Phone System

Without fail, uncertain economic times bring IT budgets under closer scrutiny and this often results in communications services being identified as a cost cutting target. IT leaders must determine whether investing in a new on-premise phone system is really the most appropriate technology path for the enterprise. Shifting to a new approach to communications services may deliver significant cost...

Going Wireless? Rethink Network Availability Needs
Going Wireless? Rethink Network Availability Needs

Network availability is a key measure of network quality and enterprises have invested considerable time and money to provide availability levels that approach "three nines" (99.9%) or 8.76 hours of downtime per year. Conversely, wireless operator capabilities lag far behind and enterprises must consider this point when wireless-enabling business applications.

Wireless Communication and Network Support: An Ever-Changing World
Wireless Communication and Network Support: An Ever-Changing World

There will be significant growth in wireless services in 2009 and beyond as enterprises embrace wireless LANs and increase their uptake of cellular services. As a result, the future roles and responsibilities of network support groups must be examined to verify if or how they can provide the requisite support enterprise users will require.

Telework-Friendly Infrastructure a New Priority

As the world goes "green" and enterprises look for ways to reduce their vulnerability to unpredictable energy costs and availability, teleworking is...

The Easy Way to Help Home Workers' Wireless Network Performance

As the number of home-based workers balloons, so do the complications for front-line technical support staff. Give home-based workers with wireless...

Why You Shouldn't Bother with Mobile Device Insurance

Mobile devices are often targets of theft due to their portability and high value. However, mobile device insurance only accounts for the value of...

All You Can Eat Wireless Plans to Invade North America

Until recently, North American wireless carriers had been reluctant to introduce unlimited voice and data plans. But competition has finally...

Five Strategies for Cutting Cellular Costs

IT departments should take an active role in managing their corporate cellular phone policies and practices. Implementing a comprehensive management...

Preparing Your Organization for Unified Communications

After the decision has been made to implement a Unified Communications (UC) platform, organizations must prepare their end users for the change. If...

Mobile Policy: Security from a Data Perspective

As enterprise mobile connectivity becomes increasingly pervasive, IT organizations face the challenge of creating mobile policies that allow users to...

Mobile Policy: Enterprise and User Responsibilities

Security is a critical component of any enterprise mobile policy. As important are defining the responsibilities of the enterprise and the users, and...

Mobile Policy: Enforcement Is a Key Component

Without enforcement, a mobile policy is a toothless tiger. When crafting a mobile policy it is important to consider how the policy elements will be...

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Compare - Product Comparison

Vendor Landscape: Wireless Telecom Expense Management
Vendor Landscape: Wireless Telecom Expense Management

The growth of wireless devices, voice and data services, and mobile applications is straining the internal capabilities of enterprises that embrace mobility. The answer for many enterprises is to outsource wireless telecom management to experienced Telecom Expense Management (TEM) Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) vendors. Make sure to shortlist the TEM BPO vendors that best meet the...

US Wireless Carrier Vendor Landscape: Who's Got You Covered?
US Wireless Carrier Vendor Landscape: Who's Got You Covered?

There are a number of competitive wireless service providers in the US market. The leading carriers offer similar nationwide wireless voice and data services. Although the competing providers trail the leaders in terms of network coverage, many deliver an equally competitive product and service offering in most metropolitan US geographies. Choose the provider that best meets the wireless...

Evaluate - Product Evaluation

Divitas Brings Mobile-to-Mobile Convergence to the Enterprise

Enterprises seeking to reduce wireless carrier costs within the corporate environment stand to benefit from mobile-to-mobile convergence. Divitas...

Heat Spreaders Promise Cooler Laptops, No Explosions

Removing heat from increasingly high-performance hardware has emerged as a high priority for designers. Traditional methods like fans and heat sinks...

Network Chemistry Helps Secure the Mobile Edge

Network Chemistry's RFprotect Endpoint is not a silver bullet, but it helps security-conscious enterprises get one step closer to securing the mobile...

New Appliance Transforms USB Flash Drives into Laptops

While USB flash drives represent a versatile and cost effective solution for mobile employee needs, many enterprises restrict usage of these devices...

Take Route1 to Mobile Worker Bliss

The popularity of remote working continues to increase due to the infrastructure savings that it can impart. All is not rosy, however, as security...

Windows Mobile 6 Moves Mobility Bar Only Slightly

Windows Mobile 6-based hardware from key vendors such as HP and Motorola will initially hit the market in Q2 2007. Enterprises that have already...

Wireless Carrier Overview: AT&T Mobility

AT&T Mobility offers competitive wireless voice and data services to businesses of all sizes across the US. When choosing a wireless service...

Wireless Carrier Overview: Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless offers competitive wireless communications services to US businesses nationwide. When choosing a wireless service provider, consider...

Wireless Carrier Overview: Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers nationwide wireless voice and data services to US businesses of all sizes. When choosing a wireless service provider, consider...

Wireless Carrier Overview: T-Mobile

T-Mobile USA offers competitive wireless voice and data services to small or mid-sized enterprises in many US geographies. When choosing a wireless...

Metro PCS and Leap Wireless: Mobile Alternatives to Consider

Enterprise users looking for all-you-can-eat voice and data plans in certain metropolitan US geographies should look to regional wireless broadband...

Select - Selection Advice

Roam the World with Cost Effective Mobile Connectivity
Roam the World with Cost Effective Mobile Connectivity

Countless companies are facing mounting mobile connectivity costs as executives, sales professionals, and engineers travel around this rapidly shrinking globe. Make sense of the available mobile connectivity options and reduce costs before they get out of control.

Identical Laptops, Different Prices: Don't Be Fooled by Branding

Virtually identical laptops produced by the same Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) are available at drastically different prices. There is no...

Unmanaged Mobile Storage Device Encryption a Big Mistake

Free, localized data encryption solutions for mobile storage devices should not be used in place of managed, enterprise-wide solutions. Problems...

Mobile Networks: The Future Is GSM Based

In North America, enterprises have two choices when deciding on a wireless mobile network: CDMA or GSM based. In this part of the world – completely...

Picking the Right Smart Mobile Device

The market for smart mobile devices is teeming with elegant, functional devices that can help keep employees connected and productive when away from...

Connectivity Options for Remote Workers

The options for providing remote workers connectivity to enterprise applications and resources continue to expand, and enterprises should assess...

Laptop Wars: The TCO Strikes Back

Cost containment initiatives and budget cuts are forcing companies to re-evaluate criteria for assigning laptops to employees. Follow these...

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Implement - Implement & Integrate

Support for Teleworkers: More Than Just the Infrastructure

Teleworkers who work from home extensively or exclusively have special needs for IT services and support. As teleworking becomes an accepted practice...

Up to 30% of Handheld Devices Lost: Implement Data Protection Now

As handheld data devices such as the BlackBerry and the Treo become more common, managing and protecting the data stored on them becomes a primary...

Operate - Operate & Optimize

A Process for Protecting "Remote" Information

The White House recently released a memo that admonished agency directors to "safeguard our information assets while using information technology."...

Enterprises Are Playing with Fire on Battery Recall

Enterprises are literally playing with fire by failing to proactively address manufacturer-initiated laptop battery recalls. Assess mobile computer...

Info-Tech's Acceptable Use Policy for Removable Media

Employees everywhere routinely use USB-based memory devices and other removable media types such as CDs and DVDs to store data, back it up, and move...

Protect Employees from Wi-Fi Hotspot Vulnerabilities

The lure of cheap or free Wi-Fi access from the local coffee shop is often too much to resist for increasingly mobile employees. But these easy...

Your Laptop Battery Has Been Recalled. Now What?

As the number of affected laptop batteries climbs well past nine million, it is increasingly likely that any given enterprise will be touched by the...

How Telecom Expense Management Can Work for IT

Many corporate telecommunications bills contain erroneous charges caused by internal and/or carrier-related mismanagement. Telecom Expense Management...

Manage - Management & Staffing

Feedback Distortion: Utilizing Employee Feedback for Handheld Device Selection

Many enterprises are inviting employee-owned mobile devices into the work environment. Balance business need and employee input to build a...

Don't Let Inappropriate Content Elevate Wireless Costs

Wireless carriers are offering new, so called "value added" data services at breakneck speed. To maximize return on faster, more robust wireless data...