Motorola’s Mobility Services Platform (MSP3) is a comprehensive centralized deployment and device management solution.  MSP3 can be used from virtually any location to automatically stage and provision mobile devices, update the software on deployed devices and easily troubleshoot user problems regardless of where the devices are located. 

MSP3 has an intuitive Web-based interface.  Its 3-tier distributed architecture using IP communication enables it to support up to 100,000 mobile devices distributed across 2,000 relay servers located in around the world. MSP3 is offered in three modular editions: deployment, software management, and asset tracking and device support.  MSP enables customers to be up and running right out of the box and ensures mobile devices are always loaded with the most current software.  With remote device management, mobile workers can focus on their jobs rather than troubleshooting mobile computer issues.

MSP3 is network and carrier agnostic.

 Let’s get mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about Motorola’s Mobility Services Platform (MSP3).

Motorola Enterprise Mobility Services is designed to bring Motorola customers high quality support and repair. Comprehensive coverage is included as part of a standard contract.

This video gives you a behind the scenes peek at Motorola’s  impressive in-house Enterprise Mobility Services infrastructure.  

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about DecisionPont’s MobileCare™ Support including manufacturer support agreements.

Wireless data standards evolve over time with technology advancements in what are called “Generations”.   Each succeeding generation introduces higher data rates, additional features and network enhancements. The first wireless network—known as 1G—was deployed in the 1980s.  2G was introduced in the early 1990s and today 3G is implemented throughout the majority of the world.  4G is now available in a limited number of cities.  Over the next two years, 4G should become widely available with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.

The dominant cellular/wireless data technologies are based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile communication (GSM).

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is the dominant global standard for cellular communications. GSM originated in Europe in the late 1980s and has since become dominant. Today, GSM represents 80% of global digital subscribers. In the United States the largest wireless carriers for GSM are AT&T and T-Mobile. GSM data services are defined as Edge, GPRS, UMTS and HSDPA.

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) is a digital technology developed by Qualcomm and is most common in North America.  CDMA is “spread spectrum” technology allowing many users to occupy the same time and frequency allocations in a given band/space. The CDMA air interface is used in both 2G and 3G networks.  It offers good secure coverage in the United States where the largest carriers are Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel.  Coverage outside of North America for CDMA is generally not as common as GSM coverage.

The following chart summarizes data throughput by technology standard/generation: 

Throughput Summary

Let’s get mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn how.

Avalanche Mobility Center (MC) is a comprehensive management solution for the Wide Area Network enterprise that provides complete visibility and control of mobile devices from a central console. Avalanche MC streamlines the configuration, deployment and management of wireless networks while offering extensive flexibility by supporting a wide range of mobile devices over GPRS, EDGE, and 3G data connections and an optimized dual mode 802.11/Wireless WAN capability.  Avalanche also supports mapping of device location via GPS at no additional upfront or monthly cost, and the ability to send text messages to the device. 

Wavelink offers two versions of Avalanche: Avalanche Mobility Center (AMC) and Avalanche Site Edition (ASE). ASE is designed for customers managing between 10 – 10,000 mobile devices in a centralized deployment. AMC is designed for customers wanted to run in a distributed deployment. It can support upwards of 200 mobile device servers and each server can support up to 10,000 mobile devices. AMC can run on the SQL database it ships with or it can run on MSSQL Server 2005/2008. This version of Avalanche also has full support for Linux operating systems and also contains Infrastructure Management.

Both versions contain a Java interface with detailed user management, mobile device update schedules, extensive mobile device properties/tracking, and a robust reporting engine.

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about Wavelink Avalanche.

Your choice of mobile hardware is critical to the success of your field mobility program. 

Our September 10 post focused on the total cost of ownership (TCO) of mobile devices and compared ruggedized handheld computers (also known as an Enterprise Digital Assistants) to consumer phones.  The following day, our September 11 post described ruggedized testing.

Beyond TCO and durability considerations, a ruggedized handheld computer has the following advantages over a consumer phone:

• Operation under adverse weather conditions including temperature extremes, rain and screen readability in bright daylight.
• Large, high-resolution color touchscreen displays.  Some devices such as the Motorola MC75 feature a full VGA (640 x 480) display. 
• Integrated bar code scanner.
• Highly configurable including Wi-Fi and/or WWAN radio options and variety of keyboard layouts.
• Extended battery life to support a full shift of use.
• Compatibility with largest number of field mobility applications including Field Services, Proof-of-Delivery, DSD Route Sales, Sales Force Automation, Push-to-Talk, GPS tracking and more.
• Availability to buy the same device, the same OS as well as service and support over a multi-year period.
• Wider range of accessories including portable receipt printers. Magnetic Stripe Readers and Mobile Payment Module, vehicle car charger / mounting options, holster and pistol-grip options and more.

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the advantages of a ruggedized handheld computer (Enterprise Digital Assistant) and which one is right for you. 

Our September 10 post (TCO: Rugged Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA) vs Consumer Phone) took a look at the topic of total cost of ownership (TCO) for rugged Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA) vs. consumer phones. 

Even though the initial cost of a rugged device may be higher, studies indicate the 5-year TCO is lower.  Key factors leading to this surprising finding include:

• Downtime resulting in reduced productivity and customer satisfaction.  Nearly 50% of mobile computing operating costs are associated with worker productivity downtime when the device fails. Studies have shown consumer phones have 4 times the failure rate of a rugged Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA).  
• Replacement costs.
• IT support requirements as much as 44% higher.
• Device end-of-life making devices obsolete and difficult to replace.

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about total cost of ownership considerations and which mobile device best meets your requirements and budget.

Envisioning, designing and building a new enterprise system is very rewarding for many of us.  However, the value of these systems is gained through their continued operation.  For this reason, ongoing support and maintenance is a fundamental aspect of all enterprise systems and as such must be considered early in the process and support strategies must be included in the design process.

Support considerations must take into account all system components (hardware, application software, infrastructure, etc) as well as operational concerns (number of shifts per week, holiday coverage, required uptime levels, etc.). Once the operational requirements are identified, specific support strategies should be designed to minimize the outage of each system component.

When evaluating support options it is beneficial to look for integrated offerings from a single source.  This approach provides the broadest coverage and reduces outage delays due to the transfer of issues from one organization to another. 

Prior to evaluating third party vendors, examine your internal resources to gain an understanding of what you can and cannot do.  For example, many companies can leverage their internal support desk for troubleshooting tier 1 mobile device issues.  However, many of these organizations generally do not have the detailed knowledge to identify and resolve root cause issues, especially if the organization is new to mobile or wireless technologies.  In addition to evaluating your internal skill sets, also evaluate your resource availability as supporting 20 devices is much different than supporting 200 or more.

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the best support strategies for your enterprise and DecisionPoint’s MobileCare™ Support. 

Linear or one-dimensional (1D) bar codes are limited in the amount of data that can be encoded.  This limitation led to the development of a two-dimensional (2D) symbology composed of rows of data arranged in a rectangular or square pattern. The rows of data are stacked onto each other to encode an array of data. 

One example of a a two-dimensional (2D) bar code symbology is Data Matrix (also known as datamatrix).  As you can see in the sample image at the right, the Data Matrix symbol consists of light and dark square data modules representing zeroes or ones.  In addition, a Data Matrix has an L-shaped border called the “finder pattern” which is used to locate and orient the symbol.  The other two borders consist of alternating dark and light cells called the “timing pattern” which provides a count of the number of rows and columns. Within the borders are rows and columns of cells of encoded data.   As more data is encoded in the symbol, the number of rows and columns will increase ranging from from 8×8 to 144×144.  Data Matrix can encode up to 2,335 alphanumeric characters and has built-in error checking and correction algorithms that enable reconstruction of encoded data when the symbol is damaged.  By the way, the above sample contains the text “Get mobile with DecisionPoint”.

The most popular application for Data Matrix is marking small items.  Data Matrix is used for the Item Unique Identification (IUID) asset identification system instituted by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) because it can encode item details such as manufacturer ID, serial number and part number. 

Past posts have featured specifications and videos of the Motorola MC55 and MC75.  More recently, our September 11 post described ruggedness testing.  In today’s video, you won’t see a boring demonstration of standardized drop tests.  Instead you’ll see Motorola’s MC9000 subjected to extreme abuse and continue to function flawlessly!   Now that’s rugged!  

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the Motorola line of rugged Enterprise Digital Assistants (EDA).

Last week, DecisionPoint announced the launch of its MobileCare™ support services program, a customized suite of service offerings designed to maximize the value of our customers’ mobile systems.  MobileCare™ offerings include:

• Technical Support: troubleshooting assistance for mobile computing, printing and wireless networking issues.
• Software Support: extend life of your valuable software investment by ensuring your software applications continue to function properly.
• Remote Device Management: remotely troubleshoot problems, provide software and security updates, remotely disable lost or stolen devices and more.
• Express Depot: spare pool of pre-configured mobile devices
• Manufacturer Maintenance: support agreements  from manufacturers offered through DecisionPoint

Click each offering title to go to the offering page on the DecisionPoint website. You can also read the press release here.

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about MobileCare™.