Wireless Technology. Welcome to our wireless knowledge center. This selection of resources was originally assembled circa 2002 to support the launch of our book "Just Enough Wireless Computing." Since that time, our business model has shifted and we no longer update/maintain the resources below. We decided to leave this section in place, however, as a historical reference point in the evolution of the mobile/wireless sector and as an example of how our current interrelated service model operates.
A Brief History
We became interested in the wireless technology sector through our marketing consulting to ArcStream Solutions, an early mobile/wireless integrator. Producing white papers and other marketing materials for ArcStream inspired us to conduct our own extensive research in this sector. This research included in-depth interviews with many mobile/wireless pioneers across a variety of industries. This research led to numerous articles and the publication of "Just Enough Wireless Computing" by Prentice Hall. We also developed and delivered consulting services to support the marketing, sales and implementation of wireless technology products and services. In addition to ArcStream Solutions, our wireless technology-specific clients included Bell Mobility, Intel, Apriva, UpToDate, and The Wireless Experience.
Since this time, we have successfully repeated this model in other topical areas such as IT outsourcing and Software Metrics, assembling the tools and knowledge to create our generalized set of services and offerings that apply to any business or technology sector. Our generalized approach allows us to serve a broader base of clients and wider needs within each client. Likewise, mobile/wireless technology has evolved to the stage where it is now an accepted component of their broader products and services rather than a separate specialization. Thus, while we still work with mobile/wireless solutions, this knowledge center has become a historical artifact.
Book
"Just Enough Wireless Computing" by Ian S. Hayes president of Clarity Consulting, gives business and IT managers and executives "just enough" information about wireless computing to explore the topic with confidence and intelligence. Published by Prentice Hall in 2002, the book gives decision makers the clarity, insight and practical techniques they need to cut through the confusion of today's wireless marketplace, identify the right wireless solutions and implement them. It includes an exclusive decision-making framework, questionnaire and checklist to guide organizations in capturing business requirements, defining the solution, preparing cost-justifications and planning implementations.
Note: "Just Enough Wireless Computing" is no longer in print. Copies can still be purchased from Amazon.com
Presentation
This presentation, A Survey of Wireless Applications: What Are Companies Really Doing?, was delivered at Enterprise Wireless Forum in Santa Clara, CA on April 29, 2002. It highlights how companies were using real-life wireless applications in vertical industries across the globe in the early stages of mobile/wireless technology adoption.
Articles
General Wireless
"Lighting A Fire Under Wireless Adoption," Ian S. Hayes, Cutter IT Journal, Vol. 15, No. 10, October 2002. In this article, Ian Hayes looks at why exactly wireless technology is poised for takeoff.
"Justifying Your Wireless Solution" This article offers an approach for cost justifying a wireless solution using a four step approach: quantifying benefits, calculating costs, producing the analysis, and selling the solution. This excerpt contains the first and second installments, focusing on quantifying the benefits and calculating the costs of your proposed solution.
"Improving Customer Relationships Using Wireless Technology," Cutter Consortium Executive Report, Business Intelligence Advisory Service, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2002 This Executive Report examines wireless technologies from a customer relationship perspective. Some of these technologies directly affect customer interactions by extending CRM applications and tools to wireless platforms and devices. Others indirectly affect customer happiness by improving business processes to deliver more accurate or timely service. Still others enable the creation of entirely new classes of value-adding products and services, like General Motors' OnStar program offering in-vehicle services. The report's summary is available here
"Business Process Improvement Through Wireless Technology: A How To Guide," published as the lead article in Business Week's September 17, 2001 supplement. This article (no longer available online) explored some of the business process improvements achievable through selective application of wireless and mobile technologies, and contains a "how to" guide for determining the best candidate processes for wireless enablement.
"Upwardly Mobile: A Wireless Primer," Ian S. Hayes, Software Magazine, Aug/Sep 2001. This article (no longer available online) offered an introduction to important wireless and mobile concepts for IT professionals just getting involved in the subject.
"Now Playing at a Theater Near You: Wireless Applications," Ian S. Hayes, Cutter IT Journal, Volume 4, Number 3, March 2001. This article discusses some of the categories of wireless applications in use as of 2001.
Location-Based Topics
- "MapInfo: Capitalizing on Wireless Location Awareness," Ian S. Hayes. A short piece on the importance of context providers -- companies such as MapInfo (acquired by Pitney Bowes in 2007) -- when leveraging wireless location-based technologies.
Solution Providers
The following list of wireless solution providers was produced in 2002 to support our "Just Enough Wireless Computing" book. It has received only minor updates since 2004 and provides an interesting view into composition of the wireless/mobile vendor community prior to the sector's massive growth and upheaval in recent years. The wireless solution provider list covers device and accessory manufacturers to wireless system integrators.
White Papers
The following series of white papers was produced by Clarity Consulting for ArcStream Solutions, a wireless systems integrator. Launched in 2000, ArcStream was acquired by Keane, Inc. in 2005. These papers were produced between 2000 and 2004.
"Wireless Computing" - Produced to support ArcStream's launch, this paper describes the opportunity for mobile/wireless technologies circa 2000.
"Improving the Auto Claims Process with Mobile Technologies"
"Opportunities: Advancing the Pharmaceutical Industry through Mobile Applications"