Live from Wireless Strategy 2002
I'm attending the Wireless Strategy 2002 conference in the Washington, D.C. area and there's WiFi coverage. Tim Krauskopf, vice president of product management at Motorola, is the keynote speaker. He said it's often difficult to justify the return on investment for wireless data, but it's easier to justify a "return on mobility." For example, how important is it to obtain the latest changes to your calendar to ensure you don't miss an appointment?
"M-commerce -- it's going to continue to be a challenge," he says. Motorola thought they had solved the problems, and then they tried to actually purchase a book on Amazon.com. Too many clicks!
Motorola is now working with Food.com with pizza stores. The bottleneck is the person taking the order over the phone.
The technological limitations of wireless data are less challenging than getting people to actually try it. Well, I'd say there are still some significant challenges, but the wireless industry also has been inept in providing sufficient -- and honest -- customer education.
Proteus
Jeff Lee, a director of Proteus, a Washington, D.C. Web developer with wireless experience, is talking about "the multi-modal experience." That means using voice and data to obtain information. The problem is the early implementations of 2.5G networks offer only single mode -- data or voice. If you are using GPRS for a data transmission, you can't switch to voice and maintain the data connection. Pick one, not both.
Proteus is working on creating applications where you would umake a voice call to request information, and the information is transmitted to your phone via SMS. That might make sense. It's more convenient to read directions, for example, on a cellular phone rather than trying to remember voice directions or writing them down while driving.
Ultrawideband
Listening to a presentation about wireless security and just surfing the Net via WiFi. I found a very good article from Scientific American about ultrawideband.
Free WiFi in suburban Maryland
During my panel on WiFi, Bluetooth , and cellular, Greg Messitt, the CEO of Spectrum Access, said the company would soon announce free WiFi access points in suburban Maryland, such as Chevy Chase (where I live and work) and Bethesda. Spectrum Access put in the WiFi network at the Center for Innovation in Herndon, Va., where I'm now typing this.
The announcement about free hot spots is supposed to be next month. I have been lusting for free WiFi around my neighborhood, a few miles north of Washington, D.C., and envious of the more WiFi-friendly environs of Portland, Ore., Seattle, San Francisco and even, gasp, New York. Spectrum Access could make me happier! Eventually, Spectrum Access will charge for this, but at the outset, WiFi access will be free.
I'll make sure to provide details when they're available.
Demonstrating wireless blogging
During my presentation I switched between my PowerPoint slides and the Web. I opened the presentation by showing the headline and text of this entry to demonstrate the value of wireless + Weblogs. I also discussed and showed via WiFi how journalists, such as Dan Gillmor and Doc Searls have been pioneering the use of wireless Weblogs and journalism.
9:29:48 PM 
|
