When Mobile, Connectivity Is Everything

Computerworld - It would be great to have a unified architecture for mobile digital content, applications and devices, an architecture that would let me link my efforts at work with my content and information at home seamlessly. I could be mobile and still access any critical information that was contextually relative.
Although the unified platform doesn't exist, an emerging crop of portable devices does, thankfully, grant me greater flexibility in synchronization and connectivity. While the PDA started a revolution years ago, the need for disconnected PDAs is rapidly declining. In fact, a few years ago, I predicted that most portable devices sold on the market would have at least two forms of connectivity built in. That proved to be correct, and today connectivity should be a primary driver when you're looking into mobile device purchases for business use. There are several factors that come into play in making the purchasing decision.
First, you need to decide how many devices you (or your users) want to carry. For most users, it will be no more than three, with two being the sweet spot. Form factor is important as well -- there's a huge difference between a device that's truly pocketable and something that needs to go into a case with a laptop. And pay attention to battery life. No matter how small the device is, once the battery goes, it's a brick.
Then focus on the importance of primary and secondary functions. If voice is important, you might want a small, dedicated cell phone that's separate from other functions and therefore always available. If e-mail or messaging is important, make sure a keyboard is available for the device. (A good rule of thumb when it comes to mobile messaging is that the worst keyboard is better than none at all.) If you need to access other information, make sure the device is compatible with Microsoft Office applications so you can read attachments when on the road.
Finally and most importantly, remember that the key these days is connectivity. For phone-centric devices or PDAs, Bluetooth is a must so you can connect them to other devices or headsets. For e-mail-centric devices, make sure coverage areas match your usage pattern. The best products on the market offer Wi-Fi in addition to WAN or Bluetooth, which is great for connectivity at home, on campus networks and via hot spots on the road. Unless you're sure about where the device will be used, you will want connectivity options that give you more flexibility for staying connected --