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Benefits of mobile technology, What is Mobile technology
- By Article Author
- Published Wednesday 4th 2009
- Mobile Phone Technology
- Unrated
What is mobile technology and Benefits?
Mobile technology is exactly what the name implies - technology that is portable. Examples of mobile IT devices include:
Benefits
Mobile computing can improve the service you offer your customers. For example, you could use your laptop computer to give a presentation. You could then transfer PDFs of your product literature to your client's computer. Or you could connect remotely to your diary to arrange a follow-up appointment. Alternatively, you can enable customers to pay for services or goods without having to go to the till. For example, by using a wireless payment terminal diners can pay for their meal without leaving their table.
More powerful solutions can link you directly into the office network while working off site, for instance to access your company's database or accounting systems. For example, you could:
set up a new customer's account
check prices and stock availability
place an order online
This leads to great flexibility in working - for example, enabling home working, or working while travelling. Increasingly, networking "hot spots" are being provided in public areas that allow connection back to the office network or the Internet.
Drawbacks
There are costs involved in setting up the equipment and training required to make use of mobile devices. Mobile IT devices can expose valuable data to unauthorised people if the proper precautions are not taken to ensure that the devices, and the data they can access, are kept safe. See our guide on securing your wireless systems.
Mobile technology is exactly what the name implies - technology that is portable. Examples of mobile IT devices include:
- laptop computers
- palmtop computers or personal digital assistants
- mobile phones and "smart phones" - high-end phones with more advanced capabilities
- global positioning system (GPS) devices
- wireless debit/credit card payment terminals
- wireless fidelity (WiFi) - a type of wireless local area network technology
- Bluetooth - connects mobile devices wirelessly
- "third generation" (3G), global system for mobile technology (GSM) and general packet radio service (GPRS) data services - data networking services for mobile phones
- dial-up services - data networking services using modems and telephone lines
- virtual private networks- secure access to a private network
Benefits
Mobile computing can improve the service you offer your customers. For example, you could use your laptop computer to give a presentation. You could then transfer PDFs of your product literature to your client's computer. Or you could connect remotely to your diary to arrange a follow-up appointment. Alternatively, you can enable customers to pay for services or goods without having to go to the till. For example, by using a wireless payment terminal diners can pay for their meal without leaving their table.
More powerful solutions can link you directly into the office network while working off site, for instance to access your company's database or accounting systems. For example, you could:
set up a new customer's account
check prices and stock availability
place an order online
This leads to great flexibility in working - for example, enabling home working, or working while travelling. Increasingly, networking "hot spots" are being provided in public areas that allow connection back to the office network or the Internet.
Drawbacks
There are costs involved in setting up the equipment and training required to make use of mobile devices. Mobile IT devices can expose valuable data to unauthorised people if the proper precautions are not taken to ensure that the devices, and the data they can access, are kept safe. See our guide on securing your wireless systems.
