C H A P T E R 10

THE WIRELESS WORKPLACEOnce, all you needed to be techno-savvy was a plasticpocket protector, a slide rule, and horn-rimmed glasses.The twenty-first century workplace commands a fasterpace, instant communication, and just-in-time retraining.In fact, “40%–65% of companies will make their criticalapplications available wirelessly, within the next threeto four years,” says research firm Meta Group.

Untethering isn’t just techno-change; it’s a major socialadvance, too. No longer do office workers have to be“Dilbertized” in cubicles. Ivory towers can’t hoard thetreasures of the wireless kingdom. UPS and FedEx deliv-ery personnel retailers and warehouse staffers are justas likely to be early adopters of wireless devices and ser-vices as doctors, lawyers, and corporate vice presidents.

That’s why this chapter includes the following:

• A peek into the future workplace

• An introduction to wireless networking 101

• Insight into how wireless messaging and e-mailare changing business

• Trends in VoIP, videoconferencing, instant mes-saging, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HomeRF

• Guidelines for wireless security

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So, if you want to really cash in on the wireless world, forget about playing mobile games,ordering fast food, and downloading the latest ring tones for a few minutes and learn moreabout how you can cut the cord in the enterprise zone.

THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURETo learn about the workplace of the future, you need to see a vision of what is possible inthe cordless workplace so you can better understand why the technologies, devices, andwireless systems in this chapter can revolutionize not only your workplace but also yourwork style. Figure 10.1 shows an artist’s impression of a next-generation, tele-cubicle asenvisioned by gurus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The system featuresvirtual reality, video conferencing, collaborative workspace, mobile devices, and wirelessnetworks. For more on this vision, go to http://www.internet2.edu/html/tel-immersion.html.

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Figure 10.1

Wireless technology and devices pave the way for virtual reality workplaces like this sketch of the futureoffice.

Two new technologies, telemetry and tele-immersion, promise to unleash you from yourdesk, the boredom of repetitive tasks, and endless meetings.

EEAccording to www.internet2.edu, a tele-cubicle is a next-generation interfacewhere an office appears on one quadrant of a large-shared virtual workspace.The stereo-immersive walls and desk surfaces link to the Internet and can alsoserve as videoconferencing and video-messaging screens.

Tele-immersion enables users at geographically distributed sites to collaborate inreal-time in a shared, simulated, hybrid environment as if they were in thesame physical room (source: www.internet2.edu).

The Telecom Glossary defines telemetry as “the use of telecommunications for automatically indicating or recording measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument.” An additional definition they include is “the transmission of non-voice signals for the purpose of automatically indicating orrecording measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument.”

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WIRELESS BUSINESS APPLICATIONS/EXAMPLESAlthough this is a book for consumers, it’s crucial to underscore that the bigger opportu-nity is for business applications in the workspace.

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) believes that “over the next few years this opportunitywill be at least twice as big as the one in the consumer arena.” In its report titled“Untethering the Enterprise” (http://www.bcg.com), BGC explains that companies embrac-ing even simple wireless tools for sales force automation or customer relationship man-agement (CRM) are realizing productivity gains from 10% to 50%. In fact, BCG says mobileapplications are already generating productivity gains of about $64 billion for enterprisesworldwide.

Experts at the firm believe that enterprises are embracing wireless in three stages. Here’sa summary of their view:

• First is the mobilizing of current business operations where communicationsbetween organizations and employees and customers and suppliers is beingenhanced. An example they give is Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), a majorSwedish pulp and paper company where foremen use wireless systems to sendinstructions to loggers in the field specifying which trees to cut and in what order.This innovation allows SCA to coordinate harvesting decisions with inventory andtransportation requirements to meet market needs.

• Second, enterprises will use new data from people and equipment to reshape busi-ness models. As noted earlier in this book, in Japan when the carrier NTT DoCOMopartnered with vending machine manufacturers and soft-drink companies to addwireless capability, the results included not only consumer convenience but alsothe ability to wirelessly transmit information on inventory levels and maintenance.BCG says that increases profits per machine by as much as 70% and leads the wayto “innovative pricing models.”

• Third, previously untapped data will be processed in ways that could redefineindustries. BCG gives the example of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company,which is piloting a new underwriting system that uses wireless technology to trackcustomer behavior. In other words, good behavior, such as safer driving habits, canresult in lower premiums in the future. BCG says, “If this system is implemented ona large scale, it could change the dynamics of the auto insurance industry.” Ofcourse, I must add that some privacy experts I know might object to tracking, evenwith consumer permission.

TOP WIRELESS SERVICESBecause consumers are also executives, sales professionals, doctors, lawyers, warehousepersonnel, and more, this chapter shows examples and case histories of how wireless solu-tions can change your workplace.

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Who needs wireless at their workplace? Surveys I’ve done with top executives show thatthe top users of mobile solutions today tend to be sales staffs, senior management, andtechnical service staff.

Top services requested include e-mail, customer information, personal calendar/schedul-ing, and access to company databases. It’s a two-way street to the new mobile world; cus-tomers and employees will use devices to find information, relationship management, andmobile commerce.

Juggling all the challenges of tomorrow’s wireless workplace will be somewhat like beingat the helm of a spaceship. A headset will let you talk to your peers while a wearable wire-less badge provides remote workers access to you without interrupting another conversa-tion. Wireless data streams will bring on-demand access to video and data, and evennewer technologies—such as holograms—will enable you to visibly display a customizedproduct design to a prospective client. See Figure 10.2 for an example of how the futureworker will juggle the challenges of tomorrow.

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Figure 10.2

Real-time video imaging and wireless connectivity aid future workers in multitasking twenty-first-centurystyle.

According to Gartner Research’s Vice President Nick Jones, there are three main reasonsfor your company to invest in wireless:

• Without wireless, your firm might miss an opportunity—For example, if you’re ahospitality company and you don’t add mobile commerce, your competition mightestablish early links with travelers using mobile devices.

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• Your core business could be threatened if you don’t add a mobile option—Forexample, if you’re a banker, you need to establish a plan now for offering wirelessfinancial services.

• A wireless application can bring a significant cost savings in a short period oftime—For example, your sales force can now submit time sheets via PDA versuspaper, eliminating expensive administrative processing.

Jones believes that in the long term, 30% of corporate applications will benefit from somedegree of access via a mobile device. Other experts say that most of our work will go wire-less or mobile in the future.

So, which wireless solution should your firm give priority? Take a look at these popularenterprise wireless applications and pick the one that you feel is most important:

• Wireless local area network (WLAN)—Connects your employees and systems seam-lessly to intranet, extranet, and Internet solutions.

• Wireless e-mail—Offers your employees the ability to read, write, and respond tomessages on-the-go with peers and customers via text and voice. This can alsoinclude unified messaging systems to help sort voice, e-mails, and longer text mes-saging such as reports.

• Office organization—Gives your workers access to address books, calendar coordi-nation, to-do lists, and collaborating in real-time.

• Sales force management—Allows liaisons between the field and central office andaccess to inventory controls and databases at remote locations.

• Customer relation management (CRM)—Can be used by sales personnel, new busi-ness development executives, and account managers to ensure that deliveries areon time, competitive analysis information is available, and customers have accessto real-time updates on their projects in progress at your workplace. Innovationssuch as voice recognition can provide clients with mobile interfaces that not onlyrecognize their voices, but also provide preassigned responses even if you’re notavailable on demand.

MESSAGING AND MAIL FOR BUSINESSBut of all the benefits of a wireless office, which is the most important? “It’s the e-mail stu-pid,” says Josh Newman, founder and editor-in-chief of the popular newsletterUnstrung.com, when talking about what people really want. He explains it by saying, “Whatkids really want to do is play with the boxes and wrapping paper, not the 50 different toysthey get for Christmas.”

Mail belongs in a bigger category called messaging because the concept of e-mail changesas we move into the wireless arenas of short message services (SMS), enhanced messageservices (EMS), instant messaging (IM), voice mail, and even collaborative messaging andvideoconferencing.

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Instant messaging is the rage for teens and AOL users who use it for social exchanges andinstant chatting. Now enterprise software vendors are releasing products that extend thistechnology into the business world for such services as call centers, customer relationshipmanagement, and more.

International Data Corp. (IDC) believes that more than 2 trillion instant messages will passbetween consumers and businesses by 2004. Business use is now only 20% of the IM traf-fic, but that could grow to be 50% of all activity by 2004.

Analysts predict a real boom in the IM corporate arena because Microsoft’s WindowsMessenger extends IM capabilities to telephony videoconferencing and collaboration andis now available in Windows XP.

Ericsson, Motorola, and Nokia hope to make instant messaging work across devices andnetworks with a program called Wireless Village (www.wireless-village.org). Their goalis to define a set of universal specifications for mobile IM services. A universal systemwould allow you to send IM across all types of devices, such as cell phones, pagers, PDAs,and PCs.

Companies Using IM

Alaska Airlines is an early player in the IM customer service arena. Jim Quentin, managerof Alaska Airlines’ Web help center, was quoted on ZDNet saying that his team consideredvoice-over IP products but chose IM as a more cost-effective option to help enable themyalaskaair.com customer portal. To determine which corporate IM products were best,Quentin says he evaluated some from Cisco Systems Inc. and eShare Communications Inc.,but chose FaceTime from Foster City, California. It hosts a service that manages and routesIM messages from consumer networks, such as Microsoft’s and AOL’s, to the right peoplewithin his firm. Because it was a hosted service—basically, what’s called an application ser-vice provider (ASP) system—it was up and running within one month. Alaska Airlines alsohas wireless check-in services and could hook up the IM to that system, too.

The U.S. Navy is using Lotus instant-messaging software running over an encrypted satel-lite link on its ships at sea. This enables everyone from ensigns to admirals to IM ship toship. Of course, many enlisted men and women are using instant messaging to contactteam members and pals throughout their workdays.

Shaw Pittman, a large multinational law firm, enables its 400 attorneys to use similar soft-ware from Lotus to consult with each other and clients. They often use it during confer-ence calls between the firm’s clients and opposing partners.

Another firm using instant messaging to distribute information is Active Buddy(http://www.activebuddy.com). It uses intelligent agents, or bots, to communicate withdatabases such as Reuters to pull up weather information and so on. In this case, thebuddy isn’t even real—it’s an automated expert available 24/7 who could know it all. Willwe ever be able to shut up all these smarties in the future?

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Messaging of the Future

Getting e-mail, storing it, and messaging colleagues in the future will involve other wire-less solutions—including wireless networks, wireless CRM systems, and unified messagingprograms—because the choice of wireless workplace applications depends on such factorsas when the e-mail is sent, where it is sent, how it is sent, what is sent in the e-mail (suchas text, video, photos, charts, or attachments), and who is sending it.

Organizing messaging and collaboration in the workspace is an opportunity for entrepre-neurs, carriers, and technology firms. Two examples of messaging and desktop organizingand collaboration for the future that I like to point to are Reaxion.com and Enfish.com.

Reaxion.com develops and markets carrier-grade mobile services delivery platforms thatenable carriers and network operators to provision Web services to their customers,according to its Web site at http://www.reaxion.com. The company has a deal withQualcomm’s BREW platform. To better understand what it is doing to enable consumersand companies to deliver new services that help customers transfer monies, send mes-sages, and organize contact lists with security and authentication, look at the interactivedemo on its Web site. The site’s character, Bob, will show you how this next generation ofdelivery platforms works.

My colleague Louise Wannier heads Enfish Corporation, which is a provider of enterprisesoftware that puts information to work across industries and market sectors. She explainsthat “Enfish is currently developing a product for mobile use that will reduce the time usersspend looking for information on their handheld devices and will index, display, and putinto context important information, including documents, e-mails, contracts, and morealong with relevant information from the Web.” For more information go tohttp://www.enfish.com.

We’ve come a long way from when all IT executives needed to look organized was tosharpen pencils and make sure they had their pocket protectors with them when theycame to a meeting.

Interoperable Mobile Mail

If you look at just e-mail applications, you’ll soon see that the mobile Internet complicatesmessaging solutions. That’s why I turn to Michael Goff, CEO of Roamable, who explainsthat most people want to search versus browse.

His firm offers patent-pending software that enables your existing data, content, and appli-cations to easily be interoperable with all e-mail–enabled pagers, mobile phones, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), and laptops.

Want to see how it works? Try the demo at his Web site (www.roamable.com/pages/demo.html), or send e-mail to movies@halibot.com with your ZIP code in the subject lineand see what you get back.

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What’s wrong with many wireless solutions? Don’t get Goff started; this savvy formerMicrosoft media exec says that most wireless applications are too expensive, too compli-cated, too hard to implement, work with limited devices, take up to a year to launch, andhave awkward interfaces (for a full chart of wireless challenges, see Roamable’s Web site).

MSNBC and MTVi (MTV interactive) are just two of the firms Roamable provides on-demand information for. It’s so easy he says, kids can use it. Overwhelmed by addresses,you can use it to create a preloaded address book portal.

MOVING TO MOBILEJust when you become known as the office Internet guru, your boss says you’re now incharge of the new wireless initiative. What the heck does that mean? Where do you start?

Do Your Research

You can do your own needs and opportunities assessment, or you can turn to an outsidevendor who will provide you with its viewpoints of what you need. Whether you decideto do your research in house or with a contractor, you still should review some wirelesscase histories of firms similar to yours and understand how it all fits together. That’s whyyour explorations should include the following:

• Researching what other companies in your field are doing.

• Focusing on what wireless does best—on-the-go applications.

• Remembering it’s a process, not a solution.

At the end of this chapter, you’ll find a list of wireless research resources. If you’re lookingfor wireless networking solutions, one of the best sources I found was the Wireless LANAssociation Web site at www.WLANA.org, which says it is “the wireless networking industry’sinformation source” (see Figure 10.3). Powered by Mindmatrix customized software, theWeb site features not only solutions, but also a list of members who can serve as outsidevendors or contractors for wireless products and services for your workplace.

Narrow the Options

Narrowing your options is the next step, but alas, it’s easier said than done. Remember thatworkers want to search versus browse, and you probably can’t go totally wireless tomor-row. That’s why you’ll need to consider the following factors:

• Wireless business users don’t want to surf; they want information that helps themdo their jobs better, easier, and with less paperwork.

• Make your wireless applications easy to use, targeted, and concise.

• Don’t try to mobilize everything now.

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Which project should you start with? That could depend on your needs and opportunityassessment in the first step. If, for example, you find that your warehouses could benefitfrom wireless applications, you might go to an online source such as www.lana.org andturn to its Solutions Center for some guidance. It offers solutions for scores of industriesand numerous wireless applications. Plus, you’ll find a list of more than 30 corporate mem-bers who will be glad to provide you with outsourcing services. See Figure 10.4 for infor-mation on how a warehousing solution can benefit from a wireless application thatincludes bar-code and label printing to track products.

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Figure 10.3

The Web site at http://www.wlana.org is a great place to start your research on wireless workplacenetworks. Courtesy MindMatrix, Inc.

Partner and Outsource

No man or woman is an island. Just because your boss said you have to determine howto cut the cord in your workplace doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself. Consider thefollowing suggestions:

• Just because you have a Webmaster doesn’t mean you need a mobile master, too!

• You might be able to outsource most services and applications.

• Go slowly and select the right partners, not just the first you find.

• Manage the outsourcers; don’t let them run your firm.

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Figure 10.4

The Wireless LAN Association Solutions Center at http://www.lana.org/solutions features an inter-active guide to wireless options. Courtesy MindMatrix, Inc.

Be Device Agnostic

Picturing how mobile workers will use their devices is challenging if you’ve never been ina wireless workplace. Plus, if you personally are a PDA fan and your workers are used tousing pagers, there might be a conflict. That’s why you’ll need to consider the following:

• Enabling cell phones and PDAs might not be enough.

• Consider how pagers, PCs, laptops, and voice mail fit into your plan.

• Check out new technology and techniques.

Getting an overview of the end result is extremely valuable. So, you should view somewireless workplaces firsthand or at least look at diagrams of how the wireless devices fitinto the wireless networks. See Figure 10.5 for a diagram of how a wireless local area net-work can work in a hospital.

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Figure 10.5

This diagram shows how wireless charts, patient monitors, and hallway sensors will revolutionize health-care. Courtesy WLANA.org and MindMatrix, Inc.

TECHTV WIRELESS NETWORKING 101Straight from the pages of TechTV.com is a series of articles that show you that wirelessnetworks are the next big thing. Steve Rigney from PC Magazine notes in those stories thatthe future is disconnected from cables of any type. New signal-processing techniques openup new options for desktop connections as well as home and small office networks.

Wireless LAN connections seem like the answer to IS managers’ prayers, according toRigney. Wireless LAN cards inserted in PCs and portable computers eliminate the need forexpensive network wiring and let employees stay connected while wandering a buildingor campus.

Bluetooth aims to provide invisible wireless connectivity among everything in your office.As you probably know from other chapters of this book, Bluetooth is a set of hardware,software, and open standards that enables devices within close range to recognize andconnect to one another wirelessly using radio frequency. Unlike infrared, Bluetooth doesn’trequire devices to be within direct line of sight.

Want to test Bluetooth? Rigney says you have three options. Bluetooth can be used in thefollowing ways:

• As an Internet access for e-mail or browsing—For example, at the airport, yourgate will soon have an access point and your PC will detect it and establish a con-nection.

• As a way to eliminate that tangle of cables behind your desktop PC—Your PCwould attach itself to a nearby Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a cell phone,PDA, keyboard printer, or joystick.

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• As an ad hoc networking technology—You’ll be able to create mini-networks calledpiconets that let you move around the office. These can be point-to-point connec-tions (a cell phone synchronizing data with a PC, for example) or multipoint-to-point connections with as many as eight devices networked simultaneously about30 ft. New cell phones, some laptops, and some PDAs will have embeddedBluetooth chips. You’ll soon be able to add Bluetooth connectivity to some existingnotebook PCs with a PC Card or via the USB port.

For a comparison between IEEE 802.11b Wireless Ethernet, Bluetooth, and HomeRF, youcan go to Hereuare.com at http//www.heruare.com/wireless-standards.html and seea chart that shows how these technologies vary by speed, use, types of terminals, config-uration, range, frequency sharing, backers, and status. Or go to the Web sites for thesetechnologies:

• IEEE 802.11b—www.wireleess-ethernet.com

• HomeRF— www.homerf.com

• Bluetooth— www.bluetooth.com

For a complete wireless networking product guide, you can go to PracticallyNetworked.com at http://www.practicallynetworked.com and do a search for the wire-less guide, which compares side-by-side listings of detailed specifications for various net-working products. You can also find reviews on TechTV.com by searching by productname.

Evaluating Technology

Because I’m not able to test wireless LANs on thousands of PCs, I refer you to an articleon mbizcentral.com at http://www.mbizcentral.com/story/ENTERPRISE/

MBZ2002082720003. It’s a great case history to review prior to considering some big namesfor wirelessly networking thousands of PCs at your company. Cisco, Xircom, and Symbol(Nortel) were the choices for the pilot programs.

In summary, the article explains that LANs work well for user groups that rely on the net-work primarily for e-mail and typical office applications. Here are the rest of the results:

• 150 ft. is the maximum range in an open office and even less in enclosed spaces;plus, distance can drop to as little as 40 ft.

• 25–30 users per access point is a more realistic maximum limit versus the 50 usersmost wireless LAN providers claim they can handle.

• 4Mbps was the measured file speed, not the 11Mbps most manufacturers claim fordata transfer speed.

• Most wireless access points work on a LAN with fewer than 2,000 networkeddevices. To hook 8,000+ PCs together, they set up a wireless subnet and placed allaccess points on that subnet.

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COMPANIES GOING WIRELESSStill mystified about how going mobile can help you and your company? Take a look athow some of these firms and industries are using wireless to enhance their communica-tions and commerce:

• Telus (Canadian Telecom)—Wireless provides a faster way for service technicians toconnect to workforce management systems. They quote a 26% increase in repairvolumes within four months. In one of its first wireless efforts, 650 field serviceengineers were connected.

• Safeway—In the United Kingdom, these grocery stores are offering personalizedshopping services for customers who use PalmPilot to build and submit orders.They find it good for customer loyalty and sales.

• JAL (Japan Airlines)—Introduced I-Mode service in late 1999 so that customers canuse mobile phones to access JAL’s Web services. Ticket purchases via I-Mode havemore than doubled in that time.

• Exxon-Mobile—Its Speedpass is being used so that customers can gas and go.

UNWIRING YOUR WORKFORCEIf you’re charged with unwiring your workforce, you can select from scores of technolo-gies, services, and applications to create the new wireless workplace. In a way, it’s like1995 again when everyone wanted to “be on the Internet” when they didn’t even knowwhat it was like to go online.

Here are some of the key wireless systems and devices you should be aware of to unlockyour firm’s mobile momentum:

• Smart phones

• Pagers

• Two-way radios

• PDAs and handhelds

• Mobile laptops and Webpads

• Wearables

• IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.lla

• Bluetooth

• Wireless LANs and PANs

• RF tags

• Wireless security systems

• Wireless gateways

• Smart cards

• Point-of-sale (POS) devices

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• Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

• Videoconferencing

WIRELESS RETURN ON INVESTMENTChapter 4, “Maximizing Use of Your Device,” goes into detail on upgrading your wirelessdevice, and you’ll find sources that lead you to comparison charts of various devices andnetworks. The bottom line, though, is that you should ensure that no matter which wire-less applications you invest in, you’ll see a return on investment (ROI) that is measurable.For example, Research in Motion’s Web site (www.rim.com) offers comparisons on the firm’sproducts, customized solutions, and software development tools.

Mike Lazaridis, co-chief executive of Research in Motion (the creators of the famousBlackberry device) urges audiences he speaks to “to look for a return on investment theycan see in less than a year.” He cautions that “wireless data itself is not a solution. It’s justa convenient carrier.” So what’s a person to do? Here are some suggestions I got fromLazaridis during a Silicon Alley wireless confab:

• Separate personal information management from corporate applications, and besure your employees’ private stuff doesn’t grab up the wireless budget.

• Identify high-impact mobile activities, choose applications based on tasks, and cre-ate mobile-friendly content.

• Be sure that wireless devices are always on and secure.

• Choose push versus pull applications where data or messages that are sent tousers automatically are more successful in the wireless world than when usershave to dial up to get e-mail or use the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

CORPORATE WIRELESS ON THE WEBRemember the days when your corporation didn’t even have a Web site? Or when yoursmall business was the first in the city to go online? Seems like not so long ago. Chancesare now you’re being inundated with vendors and suppliers who want your business totake your Web site mobile.

If you’re in charge of your company’s wireless initiative, you’re probably staying awake atnight wondering whether you should do it in house or whether you need to even have amobile Web site.

Firms are moving into the mobile world through three fundamental approaches, accord-ing to an Mbusinessdaily.com article detailing how major Web sites have made the mobiletransition:

• Taking content directly to the Web with few changes—The quick-fix transcodingapproach lets firms take their Web content directly to the wireless world with few

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changes. Some folks call this system Web scraping and say that it’s a short-termoption that avoids looking at the differences of how people use desktops andmobile devices.

• Customizing Web pages using outside vendors—The second approach many firmstake is to customize their Web pages for wireless using an outside vendor, such asAir2Web (http://www.air2web.com), AlterEgo Networks (www.aego.com), and otherfirms.

• Using a wireless application service provider—The final option some firms arechoosing is to establish an in-house wireless initiative using systems from wirelessapplication service providers.

For example, eBay went wireless in May 2000 according to Mbusinessdaily.com. eBay’sBusiness Development director Todd Madeiros explains that wireless connection speedsand devices are still inadequate for full PC features. eBay chose to add a fuller search fea-ture that lets bidders ferret an item out by number (also available via PC). Most users maketheir first bid via PC and then follow up with wireless to track the auction and make addi-tional offers. eBay chose to go mobile by outsourcing to 2Roam (www.2roam.com) andestablishing marketing relationships with carriers such as AT&T and Sprint.

Wireless Corporate Portal

A bigger question in going wireless with your workplace’s Web site is whether you wantto partner with a portal, carrier, or network to better promote your services.Mbusinessdaily.com explains that FTD.com chose to move aggressively to land deals withservice providers such as Sprint PCS, AT&T Wireless, and OracleMobile. The rationale oftying in with a carrier or mobile network is that where you appear on a mobile device canbe crucial to how much business you get, especially in the nascent mobile commercearena. Revenue models for these deals are all over the board right now. Many carriersdemand a percentage of m-commerce revenues plus a slotting fee—not unlike a shelvingfee some retailers charge for displaying products in supermarkets. Payment models for car-riers and networks are evolving. As Chapter 4 explains, even the content companies areexploring pay-per-use systems and subscription formulas.

Carrier Enterprise Solutions

In addition to offering mobile portals, most of the major wireless carriers or providers fea-ture wireless enterprise solution centers on their Web sites. These Web sites are anothergreat resource for you in determining wireless policy and plans for your workplace.

Plus, these sites offer case studies and direct phone numbers to account representativeswho will talk via phone or meet with you personally at your workplace to help you planyour wireless initiative.

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Sprint PCS Clear Wireless Workplace

One of the most comprehensive sites I’ve seen is the Sprint PCS’s Clear Wireless Workplaceat http://www.1.sprintpcs.com/explore/businessinfocenter.com. You’ll find click-throughs to wireless Web applications, management tools, advanced voice services, smartdevice partnerships, business pricing programs, and updates on its Third Generation (3G)Network and coverage areas.

AT&T Wireless

AT&T’s Business Needs section on its Web site features information on its corporate digi-tal advantage program as well as pricing, national business ordering, equipment pricing,and exranet systems. Check it out at www.attws.com/bus/gov/enterprise_

solutions.com.

Other Carriers and Other Options

Enterprise wireless management suites can help you control and manage your bottomline. Internet-based software, customer relations systems, and device selection are justparts of these packages. Check with your current wireless carrier to see whether it featuresan enterprise solution center on its Web site or whether it can send you its wireless enter-prise management information so you can review it prior to meeting with any sales-people.

A popular wireless resource, LetsTalk.com, now offers its own enterprise wireless manage-ment solutions. According to its Web site at http://www.letstalk.com/enterprise/products.htm, its wireless management suite includes a rate plan optimizer, an assettracker (to keep track of handsets), wireless usage reports and alerts, a procurement man-ager (to compare prices), and MyWireless Manager (which it claims “helps your employeesself-manage their wireless phone and plan”).

For additional resources and case histories to help in your decision-making, you can turnto the Web sites for particular wireless devices or products. For example, the Palm Web siteat http://www.palm.com features an interactive demo of its new model i705 and alsospecifics on promotions, accessories, and local retailers (see Figure 10.6).

One Device or Many?

Do you need just one device, or do you need a closet full of devices to carry out yourwireless workplace program? If you want to simplify the need for separate devices forphone, e-mail, and organizing, familiarize yourself with the Treo communicator fromHandspring, which uses the Palm operating system (see Figure 10.7).

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Figure 10.6

Find out more about the Palm.net wireless service and try an interactive demo of the Palm i705 athttp://www.palm.com/products/palmi705/.

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Figure 10.7

SMS text messaging and wireless Web access are just some of the features of the Treo communicatorfrom Handspring.

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For a more complete review of this device, check out Chapter 4 to see what TechTV Labssay about this new combo-device.

NEXT-GENERATION DEVICESThose of you who join me in being Star Trek fans know that one of the most popular wire-less devices on that sci-fi show is something called a medical tricorder, which is a combi-nation of sensors, computers, and recorders in a portable form. It records a patient’sheartbeat frequency, body temperature, and more. The tricorder’s name comes from thethree primary functions it was originally intended to accomplish, including picture, sound,and sensor. A multipurpose scientific and medical device hints at the next generation ofwireless that will be created in the next eras of biotechnology and nanotechnology.

World Phones

What consumers and businesses alike want is a global wireless phone that works seam-lessly, but finding that phone is a constant challenge. Several of my friends choose theEricsson R380e, which operates on the GSM network, as their worldwide smart phones. It gives them access to the unwired Internet, and its screen icons are easy to read (seeFigure 10.8).

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Figure 10.8

The Ericsson R380e combines a phone and personal organizer and scheduler. The R380 World (GSM900/1900 version) is usable in North America.

For other global phones, turn to your network operator or carrier for suggestions and new3G handsets that promise worldwide connections. Or see Chapter 4 for other makes andmodels.

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Video Phones

More businesses are turning to their IT departments to explore the options VoIP offers asa communications system that is lower in cost and offers worldwide connections.

One video phone that hooks up to your computer that caught my eye is the Intel VideoPhone (see Figure 10.9). You use an Intel PC camera to help you see colleagues or teammembers along with special Intel software.

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Figure 10.9

Intel Video Phone software that comes with an Intel PC Camera allows you to see and talk with colleaguesanywhere in the world.

The next generation of 3G phones will feature cameras and the ability to send video clips.Sanyo’s IMT 2000 is “one of the most innovative 3G phones,” according to TechTV.com,which voted it the Best of CES Telephony Winner for 2002 (see Figure 10.10). TechTV.comsays, “The most impressive part is the OLED (organic light emitting diode) display, whichoffers advantages over LCD (liquid crystal display) including lower power consumption,faster pixel response, and lighter weight.” Alas, according to Mike Harris, PR consultant forSanyo’s IMT 2000, it will be a while before the model hits the U.S; it should be availablein Japan before the end of 2002. Availability in North America depends on when wirelessdata speeds become fast enough to take advantage of the IMT 2000’s capabilities.

Two-Way Radios

Another way to enable teams to communicate almost anywhere is by switching fromphones to other devices such as two-way radios. Two-way communications devices aregetting a high-tech boost according to TechTV.com. If you work in the field, you’ll like

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knowing that some of the new two-way radios and hybrids enable you to communicateup to 5 miles with an unobstructed view. A February 2002 review on the TechTV.com siteincludes this observation on the Garmin RINO:

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Figure 10.10

The next-generation Sanyo IMT 2000 integrates two cameras for taking 360° photos or 10.15-second videoclips.

Perfect for the wilderness junkie, the Garmin RINO adds GMRS (general mobile radio ser-vice) which allows the 5-mile radius and GPS features (see Figure 10.11). Plus, RINO fea-tures peer-to-peer positioning that enables you to transmit your exact location to otherRINO users. The RINO is slated to cost approximately $211–$311 (depending on model).

Figure 10.11

You can track your path and retrace your steps using the GPS function on the Garmin RINO two-way radio.

Next-Generation Printing

Sharing a printer with the whole office can be a pain unless you have a new wirelessprinter sharing system, such as GoPrint (see Figure 10.12). With this technology you canaffordably share one printer with up to 16 computers without wires or a network, accord-ing to the creators. Even temporary office setups can instantly share a printer.

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Figure 10.12

GoPrint wireless printer sharing systems enable you to put a printer where you want; it’s perfect for aremote office where you can offload network print traffic.

WIRELESS RETAILThose of you in the retail arena keep hearing that mobile commerce is just around the cor-ner. You’ll be pleased to learn that nearly three-quarters of the top 40 retailers in theUnited States are deploying or testing at least one wireless application, according to theBoston Consulting Group. Surprisingly though, only 10% are offering consumer wirelessapplications.

No matter what the size of your company, even small and specialty mall retailers are real-izing that they can use wireless LAN systems for inventory management and the same POSmethods used by larger stores, according to MerchantWired Inc., in a Computerworld story.

Retail Wireless Applications

Here are some examples of how retailers are using wireless to improve decision-making,increase productivity, and assess visibility.

Home Depot

Home Depot, according to Boston Consulting Group, is saving $22 million a year by pro-viding floor employees the ability to check and order inventory wirelessly.

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Office Depot

By using wireless technology, Office Depot is reducing operating costs and improving cus-tomer service, according to BCG. It gives fleet drivers a PDA with an embedded bar-codescanner to read each delivery item as it is loaded onto the truck. Upon delivery, paymentcan be processed remotely and signatures captured electronically, not unlike what UPSdoes in its mobilized distribution processes. Some of these firms are realizing cost savingsof 10%–20%.

Federated Department Stores

These regional stores are testing electronic-ink solutions to reduce the $250,000 it spendsevery month manually changing its signage, according to BCG’s report “CompetitiveAdvantage from Mobile Applications” (see www.bcg.com).

Wireless POS

Retailers are recognizing that wireless point of sale (WPOS) shows that machine-to-machine correspondence (telemetry) is working in terminals in taxi cabs, in limos, or withremote repair personnel. Chances are that if you eat out frequently, you’ve seen systemswhere your waiter takes your order with a device—not a pen and pad—and sends it directlyto the kitchen.

Most of these systems use handheld devices, but companies such as PrivaSys(http://www.privasys.com) are showing new battery-powered electronic credit cards, asshown in Figure 10.13, that can replace your plastic and are even more secure because youenter a personal identification number (PIN). PrivaSys CEO Joan Ziegler is quoted as say-ing that she expects fewer losses to prompt competing banks and retailers to agree toshare space on the same techno-card.

Wireless Line Busters

Another firm, Symbol Technologies Inc., is ushering in the era of the wireless mall for retail-ers by providing stores with wireless devices equipped with bar-code scanners and creditcard readers to help manage inventory and process checkouts (see Figure 10.14). Symbolis joining with MerchantWired Inc. to launch these systems in retail centers owned bySimon Property Group Inc., The Rouse Co., Taubmen Centers Inc., and Urban RetailProperties. Cameron Cole, a merchant, calls this capability to remotely provide checkoutsover a wireless LAN a line-busting technique in a story on Computerworld.com.

Beyond Bar Codes

Can you believe that about 5 billion bar codes are being scanned around the world everyday, according to the publication Retail Systems Reseller? Now a new system called ePC(electronic product code) that combines the current bar-code and EAS (electronic article sur-veillance) tags can provide Internet-connected information on any product along the retailpipeline from manufacture to consumer purchase.

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Figure 10.13

An internal chip in the PrivaSys smart card enables you to get a thinner wallet by using just one card forall purchases.

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Figure 10.14

A new family of cordless bar-code scanners by Symbol Technologies eliminates fatigue and makes tasksquicker and smoother because there are no cables or restraints for retailers.

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These systems combine bar codes and security tags into a single ePC tag. This means thatevery physical object in the world from a can of soda to a light bulb to a sofa will have aseparate ID number. Already in field tests in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Procter & Gamble is work-ing with 20 companies to test the infrastructure and movement of the data along the net-work. Experts say that ePC will save hundreds of billions of dollars in consumer goods andretail operations because vendors will always know where everything is at all times. Is iton the dock, in the warehouse, or on a truck for delivery? Just trace the number, and you’llfind out that the new bedroom set you’re waiting for is sitting in Seattle, not down thestreet like the salesperson said.

Wireless Demos

Unlike self-check, mobile POS systems allow vendors to provide better service, not less.Increasingly sophisticated consumers are demanding to see products and services inaction before purchasing. New wireless systems and video streaming technologies willenable us to simulate the buyer experience in advance and show a case history of howthe new technology works without having to send out a human demonstrator—perhapseven eliminating the need someday for a traveling sales force.

If you’re a road warrior weary of traveling airports and highways, you’ll welcome the newteleconferencing systems that enable you to almost teleport yourself to your client’s loca-tion to demonstrate or explain your company’s solutions (see Figure 10.15). One of theleaders in this area is a firm called Teleportec; for more information, go tohttp://www.teleportec.com.

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Teleportation on the Way

The science-fiction concept of teleportation and beaming people across space ismoving one step closer to becoming science fact as Indian physicists suggest atheory that can be used to make two particles behave as one, no matter how farapart they are. In New Scientist, Sougato Bose and Dipankar Hoome at the BoseInstitute in Calcutta, India, say their breakthrough is a method that can entangleparticles, or what Einstein once called “spooky action at a distance,” according to areport on Vnunet.com.

What does this mean? Well, quantum entanglement is what enables two atoms tobehave as one, so experts believe that by transferring the properties of one atomto another, we someday might be able to teleport objects. They use a beam split-ter to send the two identical electrons down either of two paths. There’s an equalprobability that the electrons will go down either both paths or the same path.

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Figure 10.15

Videoconferencing systems like this one by Teleportec Inc., enable sales personnel to demonstrate prod-ucts and link remote offices to headquarters for training.

Will these systems replace in-person meetings? Teleris Ltd., a leader in interactive telep-resence, features a GlobalTable that offers a new way to hold face-to-face meetings.According to industry analysts Frost and Sullivan, the videoconferencing market will growto $7.6 billion by 2006.

Some of you responsible for organizing staff meetings might be aware of the U.S. firmPolycom because shares in many videoconferencing firms surged after the attacks on theWorld Trade Center. Most of these systems are still pricey because costs of near-DVD-quality video and dedicated meeting room systems range from $120,000 to $750,000, plusapproximately $13,000 per month just for the line rental for unlimited usage.

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The two scientists believe that the technique might work with any object rangingfrom atoms to molecules and maybe something bigger in the future. A Danish sci-entist, Eugene Polzik, and his colleagues made two samples of several trillionatoms interact at a distance.

While we wait for fact to catch up with fiction, we can console ourselves with theevolutions in the virtual meeting spaces.

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The Military Goes Wireless

Want to see some of the coolest wireless technology? Then join the Army, Navy, Air Force,or Marines because it’s the military who is on the edge of the next generation of trainingand simulation systems. Sci-fi fans are learning that even the holodeck (a cutting-edge sim-ulator that creates realistic 3D scenes) is being used by soldiers to rehearse for missions.Virtual reality simulation will enable trainees to put on a headset and feel like they arereally in the field. The Army has affiliated with The University of Southern California (USC)to establish the Institute of Creative Technologies, which offers training simulations and isimproving realism in war games.

The Army is also using wireless GPS tracking systems such as the ones designed byCleveland Medical Devices Inc. (CMDI). A Smart Cellular/GPS Rugged Tracking Systembuilds on that firm’s wireless hospital technology as well as its missile tracking work forthe Air Force, according to its president Robert N. Schmidt. “Our microcellular system allowslow-cost miniature trackers to operate with low power minimizing battery weight,” heexplains. The GPS program provides the military the ability to monitor soldiers, patients,and safety personnel for physiological data, voice, and location. Some medical expertsbelieve that systems like this one can lead the way to telemedicine and microcellularpatient monitoring.

Wearable PDAs

You don’t have to be in the service to realize that when you’re traveling or in the field,sometimes two hands are not enough to juggle all your luggage, equipment, and tech-nology. That’s why I am so impressed with the new POMA technology from Xybernaut(www.xybernaut.com), which is a head-mounted display that enables you to view graphicson an 800×600 SVGA viewing screen that weighs only 3 oz (see Figure 10.16).

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Figure 10.16

The author is shown wearing POMA from Xybernaut, which features a functional Hitachi computer thatsupports wireless LANs and wireless modem cards.

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It takes a few minutes to get used to wearing your monitor, but once you do, you realizethat with systems such as Poma, you can have access to e-mail, Internet sites, games, andan integrated MP3 player for work and play anywhere at anytime. Xybernaut is also cre-ating a new line called XyberKids, which are wearable computer platforms for the educa-tional marketplace.

TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS?Many companies are taking advantage of IEEE 802.11b technology to offer wirelessInternet access, sometimes free. Whether it’s at Mimi’s Pizza in upper Manhattan or in aSeattle coffee shop, hot spots are appearing and hoteling is being offered.

Hot Spots

In some cities, volunteers put up access points, called hot spots, in their living room win-dows or on their roofs by linking high-speed Internet connections with a base station andantenna. These networks remain controversial because they involve sharing another’swireless access. Most business travelers and road warriors want the value of using theseand other wireless networks on the road, but they wonder whether the access will bearound tomorrow.

The multitude of networks is giving rise to other wireless aggregators such as Boingo,which enable travelers to find Wi-Fi (802.11b) access almost anywhere.

Boingo members have access to hundreds of Wi-Fi hot spots across the country along withwhat founder and CEO Sky Dayton (you might remember him as the founder of the ISPEarthlink) calls “lightning-fast wireless Internet access.” Boingo (http://www.boingo.com)enables access over more than 400 hot spots nationwide, including free community net-works, major airports, major hotels, and cafes. Boingo Software features a built-in search-able database of its growing list of hot spot locations according to its press information.

At press time, Boingo is offering three service plans starting from $24.95 per month, whichincludes 10 connect days. Worried about Wi-Fi security? Boingo spokesperson ChristianGunning says that the system includes a personal VPN feature so members can instantlysecure their wireless connections. The press materials say that the software automaticallyupdates itself.

A San Francisco firm, Wi-Fi Metro, Inc., is being incubated by VC firm ComVentures and isrolling out with 40 locations; it also plans to add another 50 or more hot spots nationwideby the end of 2002. Wi-Fi Metro’s subscription plan, which has no contract or activationfee, is $19.95 per month at press time. According to an ISP-Planet.com story, the systemrelies on hereUare Communications eCoinBox technology for its backend network man-agement and database functionality. As noted earlier in the book, hereUare is simultane-ously developing roaming solutions across other W-ISPs’ networks.

More and more travelers are finding hot spots when they travel. CyberPixie (www.cyberpixie.com) is a Chicago-based company that develops wireless portals for vertical

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markets, including hospitality, travel, sports, and entertainment. Users have high-speed,untethered access to products and services over the Internet.

COO Steve Lewin explains that the CyberPixie network provides seamless roaming throughthe coverage area and creates personalized portals that allow unified messaging, elec-tronic commerce, file storage, and more.

One of the properties using the CyberPixie system is the Swissotel in Chicago.

Shared Wireless Workspaces

Hoteling is a term for renting space per day, per month, or ongoing for your company.Variations on this term are increasingly popular as startups and even multinational corpo-rations decide they need office space for remote workers or central workspace in majorcities. For example, most firms big and small need a New York presence. That’s why I’mimpressed with NYVentureSpace located at 1375 Broadway in New York City. It offers anew economy solution to finding an office that offers not only T1 lines and wireless accessbut also flexible infrastructure, a network of mentors, and a community of like-minds. Thestate-of-the-art communications suite there includes equipment procurement, networkdesign, backup systems, and onsite technical support (see Figure 10.17).

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Figure 10.17

Keeping your workspace up-to-date is easy in a community facility such as NYVentureSpace.

Startup firms join with U.S. offices of international corporations in the classykitchen/lounge area and conference rooms. All the member firms’ communications needsare handled in-house, so after your firm is funded, you can simply plug in—or rather cutthe cord—in days, not months. There are no hassles with the landlord or the phone

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companies and no having to select wireless solutions or qualify for high-speed Internetaccess. Companies do go through a screening process to qualify for this trendy communityspace that just happens to have a 212 area code number. For more information, check itout at www.nyventurespace.com.

THE WIRELESS HOME OFFICEWith voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP), videoconferencing, virtual private networks, andother new wireless wonders such as wearables hitting the market, the ConsumerElectronics Association (CEA) expects 20 million home offices will have high-speed Internetaccess by the end of 2002. With a virtual office, home workers can access the corporateintranet, data management systems, and inventory controls while traveling or even sittingon their patios.

“Wireless is going to be very, very hot,” says Liam Quinn, director of worldwide telecom-munication technology at Dell. These new cordless systems offer a compelling transitionbetween corporate and small office, home office (SoHO) environments, according to theTechHome Office Web site at http://www.ce.org/techhomeoffice.

Wireless Free Agent Offices

The rise in the number of home offices is leading to a new breed of mobile workers, whoauthor Daniel Pink calls “free agents.” Pink shows that new technology such as wirelesswill continue to transform how America’s new independent workers live and work. In hisbook Free Agent Nation (http://www.freeagentnation.com/2book.html), Pink predictsthat “toolshed” offices will go the way of the typewriter and be replaced by two types ofoffices he calls “Private Idahos” and “Elks Lodges.”

Pink says that Peter Drucker, the famed business analyst and author, once questioned whyany company would pay (in salary and time) to transport a 170 lb. body 20 miles down-town when all it needed was the body’s 3 lb. brain.

Private Idaho (from a B-52s song) is what Pink describes as a “heads-down” work area fortasks during which people need privacy, autonomy, and control. For most workers, heexplains, this will be at their houses in home offices; although, some future workers canchoose an executive suite nearby. What makes these spaces more private is the prolifera-tion of technologies that will enable workers to control the environment, including noise-canceling sound wave machines, microclimate controls, and virtual windows that simulatenatural light.

But, Pink cautions us that for both hardheaded and softhearted reasons, free agents needcontact, community, and collaboration. Thus, what he calls the “Free Agents Elk Lodge” willbe used.

This is a place to hang out, chat, and work face to face with colleagues on projects thatrequire intense interaction. He believes these places will look more like Kinko’s or

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Starbucks stores than the cubicle farms of the 1990s. You’ll be able to buy membershipslike you do in health clubs.

Future Offices

To see how some top architects and designers interpret the home office of the future, weturn to the Workspheres exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA). Iwas fortunate to see the exhibition, which features wireless devices, prototypes for wire-less technology, and twenty-first-century home office styling, but you can check out mostof the sci-fi-come-to-life goodies at home at http://www.MOMA.org/workspheres. Thereyou can see Dutch creator Hella Jongerius mixing high and low technologies for functionaland aesthetic qualities. In a specially commissioned project, she turns pillows, beds, andother domestic objects into high-tech workspaces with the help of wireless technologies.

The designer maintains that by introducing technology into the bedroom, it not only pro-vides the ability to work while in the comforting embrace of the bed, but it also exploitsthe frequent phenomenon of creative thought while at rest (see Figure 10.18).

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Figure 10.18

Take your work to bed and keyboard wirelessly with the Touch Pillow.

TAKING A WIRELESS TEST DRIVEGoing wireless can be an expensive proposition for your company. Can you try before youbuy? Increasingly, creators of wireless applications are allowing firms to do just that.CompuCom, an end-to-end technology integrator, says it offers a test drive demo systemthat lets execs put the tech through its paces for 30 days before they buy.

A typical CompuCom demo might involve 2–4 iPAQ mobile handheld devices and couldbe working in 2 days or so. In an article on WirelessFactor.com, David Hall (Senior VP andCTO for CompuCom) says that the demo can be installed, conducted, and shut down forabout $3,000. The company is demonstrating its package with Compaq, Sprint, Infowave,and Sierra Wireless services. The demo includes IPAQ Pocket PCs, Sprint’s PCS network,

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Sierra’s Wireless AirCard 520, and other applications from Infowave. CompuCom’s goal isto “open some doors and widen some of their clients eyes.”

Kick the tires first if you can. Other systems integrators might offer your firm a chance todemo a wireless product before you buy. Or, if they don’t, be sure you get to visit one ofthe wireless implementations they’ve done for another client. Ask for an airline ticketthere, too. It might be their best sales promotion ever. You’ll get a chance not only to trybefore you buy, but you also will get to talk frankly with the other client to determine howthey like the new services and what they would do differently in the future. Don’t be shy;you’re in the buyer’s seat.

Be sure to take some photos of the demos in progress—take your video camera along soyou can present the demo at your next staff meeting.

WIRELESS ISP SERVICEThe world of wireless ISPs is frankly confusing and seems to evolve by the month. Forexample, when I started writing this book, TechTV.com was recommending AT&T Wireless,BellSouth, Verizon, and Ricochet as the most popular wireless data carriers. Mobilstar, thefirm involved in bringing wireless to Starbucks and other public spaces, was also popularwhen I was in the early writing phase. Then months later, Ricochet declared bankruptcy,went out of business, revived usage for rescue operations at the World Trade Center, andlater was purchased by Aether Networks who is now planning a revival. Mobilstar appearsto almost go out of business but then gets additional funding, and the wireless ISP merry-go-round continues. As I finish the book, it seems easier to get information on how to runa wireless ISP (see http://www.isp-planet.com) than to determine which is the best wire-less ISP, especially for your PDA and in public spaces.

Be aware that many devices require users to contract with a specific wireless ISP. Checkwith the salesperson before you buy to find out which Internet service is available for yourdevice in your geographic area. You also should check with your wireless voice carrier firstto see whether it offers special deals with partners or whether it offers wireless ISP supportfor all your devices. Here are some Web sites for some of the biggest brands and for detailson wireless ISP comparison:

• GoAmerica—To get information on corporate e-mail and groupware applications,ebusiness, financial services, enterprise security, and professional services, checkout GoAmerica’s workplace solutions at www.goamerica.com/enterprise.

• Palm—For a white paper on the future of business; guidelines for securing thehandheld environment; and more information on managing mobility, field ser-vices, and e-mail on the go, go to http://www.palm.com/enterprise/resources.

• EarthLink—At www.earthlink.net/business you’ll find business solutions rangingfrom DSL to Web hosting to partner programs and live consultation sales.EarthLink has acquired OmniSky, another wireless ISP.

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You also can go to the corporate Web sites for the devices and mobile computer productsand peripherals (such as printers) that you’re using to find details on these firms’ enterprisesolutions and corporate-recommended partners.

Scores of regional wireless ISPs exist, too. You can check out some of these atwww.isp.com, or find more information at the Wireless ISP Association athttp://www.wispa.org.

WIRELESS WORKPLACE SECURITYNo section on the wireless workplace would be complete without mention of security. Howsecure is your data? Will the new hackers in suits intercept company secrets? Are yourroad warriors fair game for snooping?

The opportunities for security breeches are numerous in the wireless world. Plus, you haveto consider such factors as the following:

• How secure are your devices?

• How secure is access to sensitive corporate data?

• How secure is the transmission?

• How secure is your corporate gateway?

• Do you have a corporate wireless security policy?

• Can you authenticate users?

• Are you using your system for mobile commerce or financial transactions?

• Have you looked at smart cards or biometrics?

• Do you have a corporate virtual private network?

• Are you familiar with systems such as subscriber identity modules (SIM) that enableyour workers to move from phone to phone and device to device while keepingthe user identity consistent?

Videophones As Security Devices

Can you secure any phone conversation? If you use videophones, you can be sure of atleast who you are talking to because you see their image. New videophones are beingdeployed inside ambulances, at remote offices and utility installations, and for security andeven IT offices in the workplace (see Figure 10.19). More affordable satellite video phonesare moving to the market with consumer models that can be excellent additions to recep-tion or security areas of remote locations.

Many of the security lapses that IT execs I talk to discover are human errors. Here are fourtips from the February 2002 issue of Laptop magazine regarding wireless networks:

• Never leave visitors in unsupervised areas. After the cracker leaves your workspacewith your network information, she can assault your LAN from the convenience ofhome.

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• Tell your workers not to leave their laptops or devices unattended or to use easy-to-guess passwords such as “password,” phone numbers, or first names.

• Choose a tricky network administrator password as well. Plus, if you’re in charge ofnetwork management, be sure to pick unguessable domain and workgroupnames.

• Place your access point as far as you can from an exterior wall.

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Figure 10.19

AOS Inc. demonstrates satellite video phones like the ones that some remote offices are using for secu-rity reasons.

At press time, UC Berkeley researchers found weaknesses in the Wired Equivalent Privacy algorithm used in the 802.11 wireless LAN standard. Check outhttp://www.oreillynetw.com/topics/wirelesssecurity for a click-through tothe Wireless Development Center that shows you how to set up Secure Shell (SSH) tokeep your wireless access safe.

Hackproof Wi-Fi?

Can you make your 802.11b networks hack-proof? Smartbusinessmag.com says that youcan beef up your security system by following these steps:

1. Set up a virtual private network to secure networks that allow workers remoteaccess. VPNs come in all makes and models, ranging in cost from $100 to $1,000,and top VPN makers include 3Com, Cisco Systems, and Lucent Technologies.

2. Put a double lock on your data by making sure your VPN uses IPSec—the tougheststandard for protecting data in transit, according to Smartbusinessmag.com.

3. Cover your individual assets with personal firewalls to keep viruses out and sensi-tive information under wraps. I would add that you should have a firewall at yourhome office and for your home network even if you don’t do business from yourhouse to protect your family and your privacy.

4. Keep freeloaders off your network. Smartbusinessmag.com suggests using aremote authentication dial-in user service that knows who can log on to your net-work. A system such as Lucent’s NavisRadius Authentication Server can handlehundreds of servers and starts at $1,000.

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Intrusion Detection Systems

One of the fastest-growing sectors in the security arena is intrusion detection systems andmonitoring companies. You might want to explore these options with outside vendors whocan monitor your system and sniff for holes and hackers 24/7/365.

Wireless Privacy Policy

Don’t let your concerns about security for your network, systems, or devices bypassemployee privacy or consumer rights. Be sure to post a wireless privacy policy so youremployees and customers know your policy in advance. Then, follow that plan to the let-ter. For information on corporate wireless advertising policies, refer to trade organizations.Don’t just depend on your advertising agency or consulting firm to ensure such sensitivepolicies are in place and being followed.

One of the best resources I found online for wireless security is www.infosecuritymag.com,which features information about insecure devices, data in transit, and authentication. Thepublication covers such topics as WEP, Palm OS vulnerabilities, third-party products, lock-ing systems, default key management, open source cracking tools such as AirSnort andWEPCrack, wireless sniffers, security toolkits, PKI, biometrics (check outDigitalPersona.com), and authentication tokens. Firms the publication suggests checkingout as possible vendors include RSA, Certicom, NTRU, Cisco, Agere Enterasys, and Avaya.As noted earlier, your wireless network provider or carrier also might offer security solu-tions you can consider.

As wireless continues to expand, so will security solutions. America’s Homeland Securityprogram will help usher in such systems as photo ID, biometrics, and even DNA ID sys-tems to the wireless workplace. If you have a wireless security solution that has workedfor you, let me know at cuttingthecord@aol.com, and I’ll share it with other readers viaTechTV.com.

A VIEW OF THE WIRELESS FUTUREHow will wireless propel the workplace in the future? A better question might be, “How willthe workplace propel wireless and other technology into a new future?”

I’m including views of the future in most chapters of this book. I trust you’ll enjoy myexploration of Hewlett Packard’s CoolTown (http://www.cooltown.com) in Chapter 9“Home Sweet Wireless Home” and move on to explore Workspheres on the Museum ofModern Art Web site (http://www.moma.org/workspheres). If you’re in Seattle, you canvisit future@work, a 3,000-sq. ft. mockup that envisions the ever-evolving workplace witharomatherapy and a serenity room with a burbling fountain (see the complete story athttp://wwwmsnbc.com/news61459.asp).

Australians will want to check out Microsoft’s vision of a wireless future on display at itscampus in North Ryde in Syndey’s North. It features wireless and cable technology.

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Microsoft joined with Cisco Systems to map for consistent spectrum everywhere in thebuilding and even to outdoor seating areas. Check it out at No. 1 Epping Road.

In Plano, Texas, you can see how next-generation communications technologies such asmessaging, games, streaming media, and location-based services will work in four set-tings—home, work, leisure, and on-the-move—at the Ericsson Experience, an interactiveenvironment.

Or just head to Scandinavia where the majority of Nordic firms are planning to let theiremployees access mobile technologies, according to a study by Swedish Gallup for IBMCorp. A total of 45% of firms offer their workers the chance to access company dataremotely.

If your firm is using wireless innovatively, I want to hear about it; e-mail me at cuttingthecord@aol.com and I’ll include your comments and case histories in my writingsin the future and at www.cuttingthecord.com.

And if you haven’t read one of my favorite books, The Age of Spiritual Machines, take a peekat what one of the more optimistic prognosticators, author Ray Kurzweil, forecasts for theroles of devices and computers in the future:

• People will typically have at least a dozen computers in and around their bodies,which are networked using body LANs.

• Wireless will be everywhere, and cables will disappear. Communication betweencomponents will use short-distance wireless technology, and computers will includewireless technology components to plug into the ever-present worldwide network.

• The majority of text will be created using continuous speech recognition (CSR).

• Most routine business transactions will take place between a human and a virtualpersonality (that can include an animated visual presence that looks like a humanface).

• Translating telephones (speech-to-speech language translation) will be commonlyused for many language pairs.

Perhaps, someday we can continue these discussions wirelessly. Have your people (virtualor real) contact my people and we’ll “do lunch,” as we say in Los Angeles. Maybe one ofthose videoconference firms in this chapter will make it possible.

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