Considerations in selecting a mobile platform.
Computer Weekly, 26 June 2007, make some suggestions on "How to make the most of mobile platforms" (p. 18). "The days when mobile devices where simply platforms for accessing e-mail accounts while on the road are gone, and a wide array of applications are now being used".
The article highlights the following points to consider:
- Availability of applications.
- Operating system choice, which may impact application availability.
- Back-end systems integration requirements.
- "Industry presence" of the platform: does it follow standards and meet security and integration needs?
- One size fits all may not be the case: different users have different needs, and satisfying them all in once device may be complicated.
- Input: keyboard, stylus / hands free, gloved hand: the physical characteristics of the device requires consideration.
- Allow time to run trials with staff, and allow time to evaluate the options.
"You have got to step back and ask what you need from a device and not get bogged down in the minutiae of its features, says Mark Blowers, senior researcher at analyst firm Butler".
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