Posts Tagged ‘access’
Two-Dimensional Barcodes – Using Mobile Taking to Expand the Internet
By Mark Trumper
The line between online content and the offline world is quickly eroding. For years it has been common place to include a web address on Marketing materials, package wrappers, and signage, but these addresses required the viewer to maintain an interest in a company or website from the point of discovery to they reach a computer, or to peck out an address on a cell phone. This gap in access between discovery and information, allows for any number of distractions to swoop in and siphon off a customer who might be fence sitting on a product. A unique combination of several technologies is doing what it can to erase this gap. That practice, already widespread in Japan, is set to make the jump to the United States in the near future.
The concept is called “mobile tagging” and it typically involves a two-dimensional barcode, a camera phone, and a webpage created specifically for mobile phone browsers.
The two-dimensional barcode is not necessarily a new invention, having been created in both the United States and Japan almost simultaneously in the mid-1990s. The result is a barcode that makes use of blots, or boxes, or dots rather than simple vertical lines. These barcodes are able to encode a great deal of data – an upper limit of 4000 or so characters compared to the twenty or so of a traditional barcode. The ability to pack that much data into such a tiny spot has turned the barcode from a simple method of tracking into a means to relay human-meaningful information.
The cell phone isn’t new either. However, the wide scale proliferation of mobile phones was paired by the addition of inexpensive digital cameras and access to the mobile internet. With the aide of relatively simple programs, mobile phones could learn to read matrix barcodes, and if the barcode contained a web address, the mobile phone could access the website right then. The gap between discovery and access was stopped.
The concept itself seems rather simple. However, it’s the applications that hold a great deal of potential. The matrix barcode, when used in mobile tagging, has several advantages over the written web address.
First, and perhaps foremost, the viewer does not know exactly what to expect when they view a matrix barcode without a camera which can read it. Sure, the viewer can garner some basic assumptions from context clues, but where the code points to is actually a mystery. To capitalize on the mystery, it is common for two-dimensional barcodes to be served without context clues on plain white billboards. For a viewer, the need to understand, the need to justify such a massive barcode, is prompt enough actively respond to the tag, pull out a cell phone and snap a photo. At that point, the website is a click away and the viewer has done a great deal of the leg work in become an actual consumer.
Another advantage of using a two-dimensional barcode over a printed web address: long and specific addresses are preferred rather than forbidden. Customers engaging in mobile tagging can be directed to specific landing pages, tailored not only for a mobile device, but also based on geo-location. When a unique two-dimensional barcode is created based on the location in which it will be displayed, or to match the content it is paired with, the end result is targeted information that is greatly more relevant to the viewer. The more relevant the content, the greater the chance of turning a visitor into a customer.
Not all two-dimensional barcodes are simply Marketing tools, though. Nor do they have to contain a simple web address. In Japan, matrix barcodes have replaced nutritional labels on food packages – redirecting the viewer to a mobile webpage that contains that information instead. Another common use is location-specific information, which is particularly popular in the tourism industry. A two-dimensional barcode next to a work of art or historic building can direct visitors to information that is far too detailed and lengthy to fit on a sign.
In the end, the variety of uses for two-dimensional barcodes is largely limited only by the imagination of the creator. Much as the internet is freeing ideas and connecting individuals, the question one should be asking about mobile tagging is “How could the internet help my situation if it weren’t bound to a computer?” After all, this isn’t a technology that’s bound solely to Japan. Currently in Apple’s App store, there are no fewer than three mobile tagging programs for the device. Mobile tagging is coming.
About the Author: Mark Trumper is the president of MaverickLabel.Com, a company founded to meet the growing need for custom stickers utilizing the latest technologies. MaverickLabel.com is your source for custom barcode labels in both the traditional and matrix varieties. http://www.mavericklabels.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=350777&ca=Marketing
Here is the original post: Two-Dimensional Barcodes – Using Mobile Taking to Expand the Internet
Related External Links
Why Invest in a Mobile Application Strategy For Your Business?
By Ryan J Bell
Today, more people access the internet using mobile devices ( 1.05 bn. ) than by any other strategy, including by PCs ( one bln ). The web no longer is restricted to a personal PC and Web browser. Run on a mobile gadget, the Net has become an always-accessible entity with myriad life-enhancing features : the iTunes App Store; GPS; gaming; email; camera; contacts; photograph albums – your life, anytime, anywhere.
Even the arena of at-home computers speedily is developing with the highly interactive Nintendo Wii or Microsoft Xbox, which may revolutionize media entertainment centers. Businesses increasingly are incorporating video conferencing technology into their workplaces and providing workers with mobile devices that place the office – from client e-mails to meeting reminders to on-the-go Web research – at their fingertips.
While 84 percent of mobile Web users access the Web at home, 87 % of those individuals who own Web-enabled mobile devices access the web each day. Now is the perfect time to create an innovative, engaging mobile strategy. As cell phone functionality and accessibility increase, the capability for your mobile product to be more all-inclusive also improves. When expanding your brand online, you cannot disregard the mobile Web; possibilities are great that your clients already are on the lookout for you on their phones.
Designing Your Mobile Strategy
There are 2 completely different positions on mobile application development. In Part II, two leading developers offer some recommendation on these contrasting development philosophies.
Sean Christmann supports a universal approach, which allows the maximum amount of users to access an application on their preferred cell-phone.
John Blanco, on the other hand, believes developing a native-language or platform-specific application ( sometimes called ‘native’ ) offers a better overall user experience and is more likely to be adopted by the masses.
Before building a mobile system, it’s important to understand that different mobile phones talk different languages. As an example, iPhone applications can connect to a mobile phone’s hardware, allowing rich native applications to employ GPS, multi-touch and accelerometer features and display content from any web browser, excepting Flash content. While Flash is the leader in Web-animation technology, mobile applications do not support it.
Some smartphones might have similar hardware capacities,eg GPS, but they only can handle Flash Lite, a lightweight version of the platform. Others only could be able to display HTML. Because capabilities among mobile devices vary, developing universal solutions is hard. This has become particularly challenging, due to a market that heavily favors the iPhone.
According to the NPD Group, the following were the best-selling smartphones in the U. S. in quarter one of 2009 :
RIM BlackBerry Curve ( all 83XX models )
Apple iPhone 3G ( all models )
RIM BlackBerry Storm
RIM BlackBerry Pearl ( all models, except flip )
T-Mobile G1
The issue is this : Do you develop an app that less than half the cell phone market can understand, or do you create an application that leverages all the capacities of the phone your audience is carrying? Or, do you build a couple of local applications to the specs of the BlackBerry and iPhone, which enjoy the best market share?
In Part two of this Article, we’ll let the experts weigh in with their viewpoints.
About the Author: This tips series has been provided by EffectiveUI, a leading consultancy providing great mobile application development. If you need http://www.effectiveui.com/ visit them online at http://www.EffectiveUI.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=477868&ca=Computers+and+Technology
See the original post: Why Invest in a Mobile Application Strategy For Your Business?
Related External Links
How Mobile Phones Have Made Life Easy
By Mark Bishop
Mobile phones are great way to stay connected even if you are far way. Have you ever thought what your Reasons for buying A Mobile Phone are? Let’s say you’re wondering whether or not to buy a mobile phone or what you should get. In this modern age where everything is automated, everyone needs a mobile phone. Mobile phones are the perfect way to stay connected with others and provide the user with a sense of security. In the event of emergency, having a mobile phone can allow you to contact anyone quickly and could possibly save lives.
You can even be noticeable in a crowd if you owe a mobile phone with your distinct mobile ringtone. If you have a latest mobile phone with polyphonic ringtones, you can listen to high quality songs when your phone rings. Modern phones are capable of internet access, sending and receiving photos and files. Even if you’re not into fancy features and services, at least get a basic mobile phone to make calls. You can make the most out of your mobile phone by making use of all the features it is having. Mobile phones are amazing way to keep in touch. We have become so dependent on mobile phones that we tend to panic when we loose them. We feel like loosing out something. Mobile Phone manufacturers understand this and have come up with clever ideas to make it trendy as well as functional. There are so many features in a mobile phone that makes it worth having one.
Most mobile phones come with a built in alarm feature which is very useful for people on the move or even you can begin your day with it. You can even organize your contacts into distribution lists and access them whenever needed. The SMS feature allows you to send a message to anyone who is owing a mobile phone.You can also send a particular SMS to all phone numbers in that group. Some people can’t keep track of how much time they talk on the phone. The feature ‘call register’ contain received calls, dialed calls and missed calls. There are so many people using their mobile as a watch.
You can organize your life and keep in touch with friends and family all with one electronic device. So depending on the mobile phone you choose, you can stay as connected as you want, and it can help simplify your life. Mobile phones, the prepaid ones, are the great way to stay within your budget restraints. Mobile phones also have entertainment games which don’t give leave you with empty time.
These games vary from the most ordinary games to the advanced technology mobile java games. Mobile phones are also a valuable tool for your business allowing you to communicate regularly with your family and friends. With so many features in one gadget, do you need to ask something more?
About the Author: Mark Bishop is the webmaster of http://www.ringtoneship.co.uk , a site specializing in the different genres of ringtones, including polyphonic ringtones, mobile games, mobile phone, wallpapers themes and logos…
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=36498&ca=Computers+and+Technology
Visit link: How Mobile Phones Have Made Life Easy
Related External Links
Most Wanted Apps For Mobile Phone
By Trevor Stone
Mobile phones that are powered by operating systems like Symbian, Android, Windows Mobile, etc allow the user to install their favourite applications on the phone. On the web you can find plenty of websites that lets download your favourite mobile phone application.
Here are some of the most wanted applications for mobile phone:
1. Web browser
Most mobile phones come with standard web browser. However, installing a third party web browser such as Opera Mobile can give you the best browsing experience. It lets you zoom into any area of the page; you can download web pages on to your phone, make use of speed dial feature to access frequently accessed websites, add bookmarks, and loads the pages very quickly.
2. Chatting application
There are plenty of chatting applications such as fring, NimBuzz, Slick, etc that lets you access all your favourite instant messengers like Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, Window Live, AIM, and famous social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Such chatting applications can be used to stay in touch with your buddies wherever you go.
3. Anti-theft application
A mobile tracker or an anti-theft application such as SecureMe and WaveSecure can help you recover your phone in the event of loss. If there is a loss, the anti-theft application will automatically password protect the phone and will send the details about the location of the phone to a predefined number.
4. Antivirus
If you do not use your phone carefully, your phone can get be victim of a virus attack. Virus attack may cause you to format the phone and lose all the data. Hence, it is very important to install antivirus on your phone and update it regularly and also perform scans on regular basis.
5. Video converter (for using on computer)
These days leading mobile phone manufacturers are producing cell phones with bigger display screen such as Nokia XpressMusic, Sony XPERIA X2, Samsung Omnia HD 2, etc. You can easily view movies on such phones. All you need to do is download a free video conversion application such as Total Video Converter or Any Video Converter on your computer and convert the videos in the resolution size and file format that can be played on your phone.
6. Office document viewer
Applications such as Quick Office and Adobe Reader can let you view and edit office documents such as Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and PDF files on the go. This application is not available for free and you may install the train version of the application to check out the features of the phone.
7. YouTube application
A Flash enabled phone can be used to enjoy YouTube videos. If you have an unlimited data plan, you can watch online videos with ease.
8. Miscellaneous applications
Some of the other applications that should be installed on the phone includes dictionary, currency converter, SMS scheduler, music player with equalizer, etc.
Installing such applications will truly help you in using your phone like a portable computer. So, what are you waiting for? Start downloading these applications today and have a great time.
About the Author: To find out local mobile phone sellers that sell smartphones at cheap price visit the website: mobile phones locally.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=543741&ca=Computers+and+Technology
Continue reading here: Most Wanted Apps For Mobile Phone
Related External Links
The Benefits of Mobile Broadband – It’s Time to Get Out More
By Natasha Copley
From time to time many will have wondered about chucking it all in and taking up a job that gets them out of the office more – or, at least, tried to figure out a way they can avoid wasting the best part of the day.
Even if they have a laptop computer, the amount of time office workers typically need to spend connected to the internet means that taking it outside isn’t going to be an option without trailing a long, cumbersome cable behind them. Discovering the benefits of mobile broadband brings an end to the dilemma of combining work with the outdoor life.
What is mobile broadband and how does it work?
Mobile broadband gives you access to a wireless high-speed internet connection by means of a device that connects to your laptop. These devices, or ‘dongles’ as they are widely known, are available from major mobile phone and internet service providers.
Although it has taken a little while to gain momentum, the concept of mobile broadband is at last mainstream and today it is possible to access the internet from anywhere you would normally be able to use a 3G mobile phone. In other words, just about everywhere short of the London Underground, basements and the more remote corners of the country. In many areas, particularly cities, coverage is good enough to achieve browsing speeds comparable to what you would have via your regular broadband at home.
The dongle might take the form of a mobile data card, a USB modem or stick, or a device that connects your mobile phone to your laptop. Your service provider will give you the dongle when you sign up for the mobile broadband deal. Many laptops now have 3G technology built into them, meaning that they are capable of broadband internet access more or less as soon as you buy them. With longer contracts, usually 18 or 24 months, some companies will even throw in a broadband-enabled laptop computer for free.
Enjoy flexibility and freedom with mobile broadband
The benefits of mobile broadband mean that your office no longer has to be in the office and work locations become far more flexible. You can carry out your computer-based job just as well outside, in a park or at a caf
Related External Links
The Evolution and Advances of Mobile Phones
By Daniel Millions
Mobile phones have become an incredibly huge part of daily life, although it is hard to believe that only a couple of decades ago, cell phones were virtually nonexistent. Portable phones were the size of briefcases, and carrying one around was a hassle that most people wanted to avoid. Over the years, advances in technology have led to smaller, more capable phones, and now it is hard to find someone who does not own a cell phone. Some users cannot even remember what they used to do without the device.
The first mobile phones were large two-way radios that were used only in vehicles, as they were too heavy to be carried around by people. In fact, they were installed directly in to vehicles, as there was no point in removing them. Eventually, suitcase and backpack two-way phones were invented, and while they were extremely large by today’s standards, in the 1940s they were quite innovative.
When cellular communication was first proposed in the late 1940s, technology was not advanced enough to support cell towers and phones themselves. It was not until the late 1950s that telephone network connected cell phones began to arise. Phones weighed between twenty and ninety pounds and not more than a few hundred people ever bought them. They were also bulky and incredibly expensive.
One of the main purposes of a mobile phone is to be able to talk while you are traveling, but initially, one had to stay within a small area of a single cell station, and if they left that area, the call would disconnect. Bell Labs was responsible for numerous cell phone innovations, and there was no lapse when it came to this dilemma. In response to the problem, a call handoff system was developed, in which users could travel through several cell areas and not lose the connection. This system is still in use today, although it has been improved and elaborated upon in some cases.
The true father of cell phones is widely regarded as Dr. Martin Cooper, as he holds the US Patent for his radio telephone system, which translates today as a cell phone or portable handset. He also was the first person to make a cell phone call, which was conducted on a street in front of surprised pedestrians. While there had been several types of mobile phone systems before Cooper, he was the first to develop a cell phone that did not require all the extra baggage that came with other products.
The 1980s and 1990s saw the fastest improvements in mobile phones than ever before. Two generations spanned both decades, 1G and 2G, and currently, 3G phones are most widely used, and have the abilities to transmit text messages, stream audio and video, and take pictures. Many people use their phones more for the other applications than for calling. It is essentially impossible to find a cell phone that is limited to just making calls. The most advanced phones currently have access to the Internet, offer GPS services, and can record long videos with amazing quality. The iPhone, for example, is the epitome of innovation, utilizing a seamless touch interface to allow the user to quickly access anything they want. What the future holds is a mystery, and one can only wonder what new features lie before us.
About the Author: If you are looking for the latest and greatest cell phones such as the new Sony Ericsson visit Unlocked Phones.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=295395&ca=Computers+and+Technology
See the Article here: The Evolution and Advances of Mobile Phones
Related External Links
Mobile Media And Iphone Ringtones
By Daniel Millions
The summer of 2007 saw the introduction of the new generation of mobile multimedia interactive cell phones with the release of Apple’s iPhone. Crammed into a package only 4.5″ inches and weighing less than 5 ounces, the Apple iPhone offers users so many features the company offers video tutorials to help customers learn all the things it can do for them.
Contained just within the phone functions are such pro-business features as call conferencing and merging, hold feature, caller ID and the ability to integrate with other cell networks. The iPhone offers voice mail listings without having to access the actual Voicemail and one can pick and choose between calls rather than have to move through them sequentially.
Due to the popularity of ringtones, it was only a few months before Apple upgraded to ringtone functions. By partnering in this feature with iTunes, users can custom design their own ringtones from purchased songs through the iTunes network or the Apple GarageBand software. These ringtones can then be used not only to alert one to an incoming call but can be associated with specific alarm and notification features as well.
Text messaging has been made easier with the implementation of a virtual keyboard on the touch screen. For increased accuracy the texting program includes such aids as predictive word capabilities coupled with automatic spell check and correction and a dictionary that allows you to add words as needed to help it understand topic related jargon, names and special purpose words and phrases. The virtual keyboard has been made a bit larger than previous attempts at this virtual technology and, with two-way orientation, is at its best in landscape position.
As well as superb telephonic utilization, the Apple iPhone has the capability to access e-mail clients through both IMAP and POP3 servers. Both Yahoo and Gmail offer a program for access from the iPhone and by mid 2008 are planning to upgrade to sync with both Apple’s mail application but with Microsoft ActiveSync to connect with Microsoft Outlook and Entourage. The e-mail capabilities include HTML acceptance for graphical e-mail that can include digital photographs and graphics and can embed pictures in outgoing mail as well. Portable Document Files (PDF) as well as Word and Excel documents can be attached and viewed on the iPhone screen.
With a picture being sometimes more informative than any amount of verbal description, the iPhone does have a two megapixel digital camera onboard and the output can be copied directly to an e-mail. The iPhone does not, however, offer video camera functions.
The Apple iPhone was originally released with the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card locked into the AT&T network exclusively. However it did not take long for hackers to find a way to unlock the card for use on other networks and now nearly a fourth of the iPhones sold in the United States are not registered with the AT&T network. While originally designed to block the multimedia and web access functions without an authorized subscription; this too has fallen to the hacker’s craft and various software programs and modification cracks have emerged to free the access to these features outside the AT&T network.
These features make the Apple iPhone a powerful business asset even without even beginning to discuss the many other multimedia and web accessibility features that have made the iPhone worthy of Time magazine’s Invention of the Year award.
About the Author: Find iPhone ringtones and get a iPhone ringtone for your new phone.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=254916&ca=Computers+and+Technology
Read this Article: Mobile Media And Iphone Ringtones
Related External Links
Review Of O2XDA Atom Mobile
By Lijo George
Work and huddled around to watch excitedly as the wrapping was torn off and we opened the box to review it!The Atom Life enters the Indian market as part of 02′s new strategy to divide its five main product segments: performance, lifestyle, messaging, hybrids, and smartphones. The products in each segment have feature sets appropriate for their target market. This device fits into the lifestyle category with its good looks and multimedia capabilities. Speaking at its launch in Mumbai recently, 02 Asia Pacific and the Middle East CEO, Mark Billington, stated that the Atom Life is a PDA that will power the user both at work and play. We decided to put this claim to test.
Packed with Features
The 02 XDA Atom Life is a tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 phone with GPRS and EDGE capabilities. The built-in Wi-Fi functionality makes it an excellent device to check e-mail on the go. GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation is not built in, but it’s possible to add an external receiver. The Atom Life is 3G capable–the front-mounted VGA camera makes video calling simplistic In-call voice reception is nice and dean.
The Atom Life runs on Windows Mobile 5, so mobile versions of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel are included. These applications ens that your work won’t suffer no matter where you are. Other preinstalled applications include 02 AutoConfig, 02 Autolnstall, 02 Connect, 02 MediaPlus. 02 SMSPIus, and 02 PhonePlus, which make the phone economically strong. 02 Connect offers access to software updates via a GPRS connection, while 02 MediaPlus allows you to access all your stored music, videos, and photos from a single interface. You can use PocketMSN to access your Hotmail account and chat with your contacts through MSN Messenger. The Internet Explorer makes browsing the web a breeze. There’s also a mobile version of Windows Media Player 10. And to round off the package, there is Microsoft ActiveSync to connect the Atom Life to your PC.The Atom Life is powered by an Irte XScale PXA 270 processor running at a mind-blowing 624 MHz. We were impressed by the capabilities of this processor, which was able to multitask and run heavy applications without am hiccups. It features 64 MB RAM and 1GB of internal flash memory. A MiniSD card slot for expanding the memory is located on the top of the phone.
Camera
The 2 megapixel camera takes decent pictures with resolutions ranging from 80×60 to 1600×1200. An LED strobe flash and a self-portrait mirror are also built in.
Shaping the Masterpiece
At first glance, the Atom Life looks like any other 02 model, but look closely and you’ll see a few subtle differences. The device’s glossy black plastic screen is the in-call speaker grille, which also houses status lights–green for standby, red for charging, and blue to show that Bluetooth is switched on. Volume controls are on the left, and the camera and record buttons are on the right. Keys on the front panel include call accept and reject controls, two soft and media player shortcut keys.
The Atom Life weighs 145 grams which is quite light for a PDA. Its slick form makes it a true style statement.
Chinks in the Shining Armour
02 markets the Atom Life as a PDA that doubles up as a multimedia device. Even though it has SRS-WOW surround speakers, the volume levels could have been higher. The glossy black plastic finish is prone to fingerprints and smudges, and the chrome plating– especially around the stylus holder slot–wears out easily with heavy use. The 2.7-inch LCD screen might look good at first, but it isn’t the clearest we have seen. Team this up with terrible viewing angles and you have real disappointment on your hands. The quality of still and video photography is also below average.
Verdict
The 02 Xda Atom Life is a brilliant device, and a great solution for all your business and multimedia needs. There’s a chance that you might find it a little confusing to handle initially but once you get the hang of it, organizing your daily schedules and carrying out vital daily tasks will become very convenient. Also, the enhanced multimedia functions make the Atom Life a pleasure to work with. The elegant shape ensures that you are carrying a guaranteed style statement in your pocket. As the maufacturers said–the Xda Atom Life surely does power you at work and play!
About the Author: sony ericsson themes | mobile reviews
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=174279&ca=Computers+and+Technology
Continue reading here: Review Of O2XDA Atom Mobile
Related External Links
Mobile Crm Sale Team Management
By Syed Ali
In today’s competitive marketplace, customers have come to expect excellence in service and immediate provision of information. Personal contact at the customer’s site has become of extreme importance, and the provision of immediate communication with head office has become essential for the modern sales representative. Mobile CRM solutions can provide this.
Your company must be perceived as being customer friendly, customer orientated and able to provide whatever your customer requires when your customer requires it. Customer service can create or lose sales. Create or lose profits. Orders can be won or lost through the time delay between an enquiry and a quotation; between an order and its execution. This requires an efficient communications system that far exceeds anything a sophisticated telephone system could provide.
A good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system can provide this, and many provide the mobile CRM solutions required.
Customer service takes up a large slice of your company’s budget, which is why the management of your mobile sales team should be regarded as a priority and the tools required for a professional job be provided.
There are many mobile CRM software systems available, but it is difficult to escape the fact that most companies use Microsoft applications in their business, from Microsoft Word and Outlook, to Access for their database management requirements. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 interfaces seamlessly with these applications to provide a peerless customer relationship management solution that is not only simple to integrate with your existing IT system, but provides the mobile CRM sales team management answer you are looking for.
Your sales team can use palm computers or laptops to provide quotations instantly on-site, together with product availability and delivery dates. No more need for endless phone calls or emails flying back and forth. Your field staff will have full PC access from mobile equipment using a system that supports most PDA, laptop and palm devices to give screen displays providing any information necessary for instant communication to the customer at his site. Modern mobile CRM systems even come with mobile printers and scanning devices can provide instant hard copy to the customer without the need to use HIS fax or HIS printer – and how important and impressive is that!
Nothing is more important to a company that a customer. Without customers companies would not exist. The way to provide customers with the best possible service is to ensure that they have instant answers to any question or query they have, whether from the person in the office, or the rep in the field.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 will provide this capability: you look after your mobile sales team management, and mobile CRM will look after the information they require to respond efficiently and effectively to all customer needs.
About the Author: Syed Ali, is the lead CRM Analyst for a Toronto based company. His company, offers Microsoft CRM software Solutions www.crmsoftwareprovider.com Syed can be reached at Tel : (905) 815- 1995 ext 22, email :asyed@cqsolutions.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=110329&ca=Business+Management
Excerpt from: Mobile Crm Sale Team Management
Related External Links
Mobile Web Access: The Wave Of The Future?
By Gabriel Adams
Mobile Web Access is a term used to describe accessing the internet through mobile devices such as cell phones and PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistants). Web enabled mobile devices are becoming more and more common – most cell phones now come with some form of internet and/or data access feature on them.
Mobile web access has many advantages. One of the greatest is that you can take your internet access with you wherever you go – you can download driving directions, find nearby restaurants, use online yellow pages, to name a few uses.
Mobile web access could play a vital role in other tasks as well. Take for example a remote search and rescue mission – rescue teams could use the internet to download medical information or to communicate with other authorities. Improved mobile web access could improve communication abilities for anyone on the move – salesmen, law enforcement officers, truckers, pizza delivery drivers, etc.
The mobile web has a bright and promising future, but it needs some work and development if it is going to reach it’s full potential. Mobile web access currently faces many usability issues, due largely to the lack of interoperability between computers and mobile devices.
One example is the small screen size of mobile devices. The small screen size means that they cannot view most standard websites. There are websites designed specifically for mobile devices, which is excellent. Ideally, though, a standard could be developed to allow mobile device users to easily view any website.
The W3C, the organization who administers many web standards (including HTML), is taking steps to improve the usability of the mobile web. They are attempting to lay down standards, best practices, recommendations, and work on interoperability between devices. Mobile devices are widely variant, unlike computers, which can be distinguished by a few characteristics, as far as web browsing is concerned.
About the Author: Visit Wikipedia for mobile devices – get the info you need on your mobile device!
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=79453&ca=Computers+and+Technology
See original here: Mobile Web Access: The Wave Of The Future?
Related External Links
The Future Of Mobile Phone Technology
By Dave Lloyd
The past, present, and future of cell phones
Just in the last few years cell phones (usually called mobile phones outside the US) have become de facto standards for most of the population. What once used to be a luxury item for a select few that was carried around in a large leather bag and was the size of the brick, is no longer.
Technology has advanced the mobile phone industry to the point where the phone is a mere commodity for vendors, meaning that’s not where they make the real money. It’s in the service plans, which require 2 year commitments usually, where companies like Sprint, Nextel (now Sprint Nextel), AT&T (now Cingular), Cingular, Verizon, and T-Mobile make the revenues that enable the cycle of technology innovation and Marketing to continue.
While the downsides of cell phones have focused primarily on the annoyance of public conversations and the small possibility of brain damage due to cellular coverage near the ear, these pale in comparison to the benefits derived from cellular technology. For those who have had cell phones most of their lives (think anyone under 25), it’s hard to imagine life before cell phones. Writing down numbers in a paper directory, having change on hand (first a nickel, then a dime, then two dimes), knowing how to make collect calls, and finding pay phones in new cities were frequent logistic challenges. Not to mention the inconvenience of not being able to get access to those you need at any time.
At this point, corporate employees, sales professionals, parents, young adults, and anyone in industries where communication among many is critical could hardly imagine life without the benefits of mobile phones.
As technology matures, ringtones, cameras, GPS features, music, and multiple other features will be added to the hardware. And the software on phones will progress to include easier web access, advertisements, news downloads, and easier chat and email features – becoming the only piece of technology most use. In fact, in many countries in South Asia (where the industrial revolution never occurred) they have gone from agricultural industries right to technology, bypassing an entire type of economy. It is in these countries where the cell phone is an essential tool, enabling communication among millions who don’t own a computer.
As technology advances, and people respond positively to resulting changes, we will all benefit.
About the Author: Dave Lloyd has created an online guide to cell phones and mobile phones at http://www.mobilephonedata.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=23340&ca=Computers+and+Technology
The rest is here: The Future Of Mobile Phone Technology
Related External Links
Using Mobile Technology For Your Payments
By A Nutt
We now use our mobile phones for everything that we do. We talk on them, we text message, we email, take pictures, record videos, send those pictures and videos in messages, play games, and so much more. But now you can use mobile technology to make bill payments. That is how advanced this system has become.
But how secure is this system? Is it something that you really want to do? Many individuals are not secure with this sort of system and others are. That is why it is good to evaluate the situation to see if this is something you would like to do.
Security
Many individuals have mobile phone carriers that enable them to make their mobile phone payment right from their phone. Their payment account information is already in the system, so all they have to do is push a button and their payment is made. They then don’t have to worry about their payment again until next month.
But due to the fact that the Internet has become available on mobile phones, there are people wondering if they can make their other payments over their phone just like they do with their personal computers. Is it as secure?
Well, since mobile Internet is being phased out because mobile phones can access the same Internet that personal computers access, it is fair to say that it is just as safe. If you are accessing a secure site over your phone, you should have no issues making your payment. The only problem that you may encounter is the fact that you have to have a solid connection when you carry out your transaction. This will not compromise your security, but could result in you actually making a payment twice if you’re not sure it went through the first time. This can result in you having to consult with the company you made a payment to and telling them that you had a connection issue that resulted in a double payment.
Conveniences and issues
It is very convenient to be able to make payments over your mobile phone, but there are still some phones that do not support the more advanced Internet access. Because of this, you may not be able to make your payments over your mobile phone, especially since thee are some websites that are not mobile enabled. They won’t display right or will not be able to give you the option to pay at all. In this case, you would be better off making a phone call to make your payment.
But the convenience of it cannot be denied for the fact that you can be sitting on a bus, on a subway, in a cab, standing in a long line at a department store, or even at a sporting event and pay your bills. You don’t have to wait until you get home in order to make your payment. You can do it right then and there without any issues. Just make sure you have an adequate connection to ensure that you can process the payment smoothly.
Will you do it?
With this said, will you do it? Will you make your bill payments over your mobile phone? If you are in a situation where you need to make a payment right now, this may be a viable solution. This is especially true if it is the difference between you getting a very high late fee or not getting a very high late fee. If it is a credit card payment, it could be the difference between having to pay a higher interest rate because of a late payment and not having to pay a high interest rate. That is the convenience of making payments using your mobile phone.
About the Author: North America’s leading offline and online payment processor for debit and credit card processing offering merchant account services, and payment gateway. Accept Credit card and Debit Card Payments with our POS equipment.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=353792&ca=Computers+and+Technology
Here is the original post: Using Mobile Technology For Your Payments
Related External Links
Create Mobile Website
By Jackie Johnson
Mobile or WAP websites as they are often called are mini websites that have been configured to fit the smaller screens of mobile phones because regular websites made for PC’s cannot always be viewed properly on mobile phones and devices. A mobile website is similar in function to a typical website created for PC viewing but is different in that both its size and content layout have been specifically configured to fit the small screen sizes of mobile phones and devices.
Before anyone thought to create mobile website features specifically for mobile internet users, there was a common problem that regular websites would not display properly or at all on the small mobile phone screens and would be very difficult for mobile viewers to maneuver through since they do not have easy access to a large screen, mouse and keyboard as do PC website viewers.
Mobile websites are often called WAP sites. WAP is an acronym that stands for Wireless Application Protocol. This is simply a means of presenting and delivering wireless information to mobile phones and other mobile devices. The basic purpose of WAP is to provide internet access to anyone a mobile phone or mobile device. Mobile websites can be viewed from anywhere in the world if you are using a WAP enabled mobile phone or device.
If you want to create mobile website features of your own, there are several online services that will help you create and customize your own WAP website either for free or at very affordable rates. One of the best services available is from Mobilemo. Using this service, you can create mobile WAP sites with ease even if you don’t have any programming skills because they smartly designed the interface and tools to be very intuitive and self-explanatory.
One of best things about being able to create mobile website features through Mobilemo is that they give you many options to customize your site to meet your own personal tastes or particular business needs. Other free mobile sites sometimes provide you with just plain text. With Mobilemo, you can combine text with photos and other images using the text wrapping feature and you can also choose font and color background options. They also provide you with a lot of options for interactivity with your mobile website visitors. You can use interactive mobile site tools like surveys and polls, forms creation tools, a guest book creation tool so visitors can send you their contact information, and a comments tool where you can collect comments from visitors to your site. There is also a nice email alert feature that will inform you anytime someone has submitted feedback to your mobile site.
There are several different account types to choose from at Mobilemo. They have Personal service plans that are made for anyone who wants to create mobile website features for blogging, social networking, file sharing, or just staying up to date with friends and family. The Personal service is available for free or, if you need more features, control settings or storage space, you can pay $5 a year. The Business account is $10 a year and offers enhanced mobile site tools, larger storage space and mobile site settings available at your discretion. A free 15-day trial is also available on the business service plans.
For more information visit http://www.mobilemo.com.
About the Author: Mobilemo is Mobile Web 2.0., i.e. it’s about user-generated content. Mobilemo allows ordinary people, businesses, and institutions to create and manage mobile sites. For more information on how to create mobile website visit http://www.mobilemo.com.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=339148&ca=Computers+and+Technology
Read more: Create Mobile Website
Related External Links
Mobile Search – The Next Big Thing?
By Mark Scriven
Annual mobile phone sales are predicted to hit 1 billion by 2009 and there are already 4 times as many internet-enabled phones in the world than there are PC’s.
According to Dotmobi (www.dotmobi.net), one third of the global population are connected via mobile phones today and approximately half are expected to be using a mobile Internet phone by 2008. An IPSOS survey suggests that 29% of mobile phone users in the UK searched for news and information on their handset during 2005.
The statistics are impressive and will get any marketers pulse racing. But it does seem as if we’ve been hearing about the potential of mobile search market for some time, and yet very few travel companies appear to be active in the mobile search space and mobile e-commerce revenues are still modest.
Up until now most advertisers have been ignoring mobile as a Marketing channel, according to a new report by Forrester Research called “Interactive Marketing Channels to Watch in 2007.” It suggests that only 13 percent of marketers use mobile text message ads and only 11 percent bother advertising on wireless application protocol (WAP) sites. It seems clear that advertisers are waiting for evidence that the market is there before deciding to jump in themselves.
Barrier and limitations to growth
Despite the huge number of people that have access to the mobile internet there are a number of barriers to mobile web adoption. For example;
1. Cost and clarity – carrier data plans can be expensive and confusing compared to normal internet access plans.
2. Screen Size – the limited screen size of many hand sets negatively impacts the user’s browsing experience.
3. Ease of use – due to the limited screen size there is an increased number of clicks needed to get to content.
4. Lack of content – there is a ‘walled garden’ approach to the content offered by many mobile network operators which means that not all mobile users get full access to content.
Competition – the WiFi explosion
Another factor that may have impacted on the growth of mobile internet usage is the increasing availability of high-speed WiFi internet access in many public areas. Airports, hotels, bars, libraries and commercial shopping centres are increasingly offering WiFi, and it’s often free. This has encouraged users to use laptops and PDA’s to access the internet while on the move rather than through mobile phones.
Mobile is the perfect advertising platform
Despite these barriers to growth travel companies cannot afford to ignore the e-commerce and marketing potential of this platform. All of the barriers to growth outlined above will be overcome over time as technology improves and network and content providers adapt their services to facilitate the growth. The issue is not really whether the mobile search market will make an impact, but how it will make an impact.
In many ways mobile is the perfect advertising platform. It’s always with the consumer, it’s always on, it provides personal profiling data, it provides location data, it’s interactive and it has multiple billing options already built in.
At present the major bulk of mobile searches are related to ring tones, news, entertainment, maps and directions, directory listings, local restaurants and other local services. As many as 60,000 UK users a day are checking train times on their mobile phones.
Local search is clearly the natural Mobile Advertising opportunity. Going forward, more complex searches and bigger transactions will become viable as technology advances and users become more comfortable with using their handsets for searching.
In a recent Travelmole interview, Nancy Lyndhurst, the product manager for O2, said some of the larger travel brands like Cathay Pacific, Accor Hotels and KLM are already successfully marketing with mobile technology. She also cites the example of Lastminute who received a
Related External Links
The Arrival Of The Mobile Internet
By Colin Campbell
Mobile phones are changing fast. Over the years they have shrunk in size and have become packed with additional features. Almost all phones now come with a colour screen and can play a range of games. SMS Text Messaging has boomed in the last 5 years and has been extended with Picture Messaging using inbuilt cameras.
The biggest change however is just around the corner. This is using the mobile phone to connect to the Internet and use the device much like you use a desktop computer to browse websites and read and write email.
Most mobile phones have been able to do this to a limited extent for about 5 years. However they were limited to accessing specific web sites cut down for mobile devices. Also connection speeds were slow and overall it wasnt a great experience for the phone user.
Now though, the mobile phone networks have got faster with the rollout of what is termed 3G (for 3rd generation). Newer phones come enabled to use this faster network and they also have better Internet browsers so they can work with most web sites.
Very soon it will not be uncommon to see people on the move using the Internet on their mobile phone to search for phone numbers, look at a map showing locations of interest such as restaurants, and even make an online purchase just as you would from a PC.
In fact it is suggested that more people will eventually access the Internet from their mobile phones than with their desktop PC. In particular this is forecast with emerging markets such as Africa where desktop PCs are not so common.
The rise of the Internet search engine has contributed significantly to how people use the Internet today. The home pages of companies such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN are often the first places people go to when they use the Internet. From there they can search for pages of interest based on a key word search. These search companies are now very interested in the mobile Internet and intend to have the same influence with mobile users. They do this by providing a search page optimised for the mobile user which will work well with small screens and contain references to useful information such as directory searches and maps.
The operators who run the mobile networks are also particularly interested in the mobile Internet. When their customers access the Internet from a mobile phone, the operator will typically charge them based on the amount of data transferred when the page is loaded. More and more network operators are offering unlimited access to the mobile Internet for a flat fee to encourage mobile Internet use. The mobile network operators are also partnering with the search companies to make it easy to use the mobile Internet and find information quickly.
One of the most interesting areas in the mobile Internet is the use of Mobile Advertising. The search engine companies make their money with the desktop Internet search through placing advertisments on the search results pages. A lot of web sites also use adverts within their pages to pay for the development of the site. Doing similar things with the mobile Internet is generating a lot of interest.
The mobile Internet now seems set for widespread use, making the mobile phone a much more useful gadget. As well as making calls from most places in the world you can connect to the Internet, browse, buy, and email from just about anywhere!
About the Author: Colin Campbell is a software specialist and has worked with the mobile Internet since it’s early days.
See his mobile business website at http://www.mobilebeacon.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=120453&ca=Internet
See the original post: The Arrival Of The Mobile Internet