I rarely write about developments in mobile computing. But today’s announcement by Verizon Wireless that they will allow phones to use the network even if they’re not hand picked by Verizon is welcome news.
Wireless network operators have historically offered phones on the cheap with the stipulation that you sign a 1-2 year contract for their service. In addition to that lock-in period, the operator typically cripples the phone in areas that may compete with their own offerings. For example, Verizon cripples the Bluetooth features on their phones so that you can’t move pictures back and forth between your phone and your PC without going over their data network. And their Wi-Fi enabled phones certainly wouldn’t support calls over a VOIP service such as Skype.
So how will this affect the typical business owner?
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Published November 27, 2007
in WiFi.
Following my disaster last weekend, I decided to upgrade to Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows Vista. There was not a huge reason for me to do this upgrade. I had mostly been operating ok under Windows XP Pro. But since I was down anyway I figured I might as well get the upgrade done.
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There’s a great blog post on Found|Read about free or nearly free software offered as web based services. I love #3 - Don’t do that custom development!
Ina Sebastian at Jupiter Research wrote about a ComputerWorld prediction that Starbucks will evenutally offer free WiFi service. Personally, I avoid Starbucks in favor of coffee shops that offer free connections. My guess is that Starbucks has found this to be a popular stance. I believe free WiFi will become expected and that SMBs will be able to offer real value to their customers through creative use of this connectivity.
Question: You run a destination type SMB like Starbucks. How do you use the WiFi service you are offering them to build a community of your customers? Do you allow them to engage each other a la Facebook or MySpace? Do you give them the opportunity to "speak" to you directly?
Published October 31, 2007
in WiFi.
I wrote about the importance of SMBs keeping processes and systems simple. I recently began work with a new client that was searching for ways to increase knowledge sharing across their organization. They were just starting the development of a new corporate intranet. They had spec’d out their needs and identified a sub-site to have custom developed. The analysts and developers did a nice job and it looks great.
But I recommended they hold on the custom development. They needed to evaluate MS Sharepoint’s capabilities before proceeding. Why? The basic corporate intranet portal has been built 100+ times already. Sharepoint, Plone, Liferay, JBoss, DotNetNuke and many others are decent out-of-the-box foundations for an internal site. So there’s just no reason to pursue custom development for this type of project.
But why Sharepoint? This client is also upgrading their core enterprise system. Turns out that the system based on a MS platform and uses Sharepoint for document management. Doesn’t it make a lot of sense to evaluate whether or not the platform used by your core enterprise system will work for the rest of your needs as well?
Right now, they seem to like Sharepoint and we’re now doing a test project to prove it to the company. If the test fails, there are other options. But custom development for an intranet should be a last resort.
