Going wireless: Anywhere, anytime, on any device

The challenges and problems faced by companies seeking a piece of the mobile commerce pie with their own customized wireless platform is both complex and numerous, as industry punters point out in a local conference.

Singapore – According to a report by the Cahners In-Stat Group, .wireless Internet access devices will boom in popularity over the next several years and eventually displace PCs as the preferred Internet access method.

What are the critical factors for a wireless platform? YES

Shipments of such devices, including palm computers, wireless modems and two-way pagers, will sustain double and triple digit growth through 2004 and that sales will surpass 1 billion units annually by 2004.

This was the potential of the wireless industry as illustrated by industry specialists, who were speaking at Mobile Internet Asia 2001, a two-day conference held in Singapore recently.

“Enterprise applications today need the power of wireless reach worldwide to communicate with mobile employees, partners and customers across the globe,” says Vishal Gupta, director of business development (Asia Pacific) with Unimobile Inc., during his keynote.

Such apps may involve the delivery of time-critical data such as product notifications and reminders across several devices and multiple networks, explained Gupta.

He further stressed on the need for integration of platforms and applications for both wireless and desktop users, for them to access information anywhere, anytime and using any device.

Evidently, the choice of the wireless delivery platform is a key factor in the success of any mobile initiative. Several other issues need to be resolved before a optimum solution can be reached, including integration with existing legacy systems, infrastructure and databases, and support for the customer or end user.

Another important component is the use of a spam control engine, as “wireless spam is many times more intrusive than email spam”, explained Gupta.

Patrick Chan, Director of Information Technology at Boom Securities, concurs with this view, adding that the opportunity in Asia is sufficient to consider taking wireless initiatives a step further.

He quotes the average Asian’s appetite for convenience and efficiency in conducting business transactions and the large mobile penetration rate in Hong Kong and Singapore as examples of the potential in the industry.

“The challenge is to use a combination of different hardware, software and mobile operators to achieve a optimum delivery platform. Companies need to evaluate the costs and benefits of each combination, “ Chan elaborated.

“Wireless platforms and solution providers need to manage the entire value creation process, from planning to execution to outcome,” concluded Gupta in his presentation. About Mobile Internet Asia 2001
Mobile Internet Asia 2001 is a strategy-driven event featuring high-level m-commerce case studies from telecom operators, financial institutions, and other mobile companies from Asia. It is organized by Worldwide Business Research and is being held in Singapore this year.