Developing Mobile Communications for the Enterprise

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January 12, 2006 (Computerworld) -- Many organizations are looking to their IT departments to deliver services to their mobile workforce. So IT managers have been reading a lot about wireless technologies and what services can be offered. They've seen many different acronyms relating to wireless and mobile services and have many options on hand. Now those IT managers have been given a mandate from corporate executives to deploy mobile applications , but are not sure where to start. If this sounds familiar ... this article is for you.
What's the process for moving forward on the mobile deployment directive? What are the operational considerations? I've come up with seven steps involving the following:

1. Success metrics


2. Process controls


3. Tools and methodology


4. Human resources considerations


5. Cost recap


6. Intellectual properties


7. Getting started

Success metrics are measurable targets for the value your customers want to experience; they are not to be confused with the project scope. In other words, it's how your customers will assess your success. To support these objectives, consider the risks and how they can be mitigated. Consider the environment in which the customer will experience your product. Set a rough overall timeline and cost range that meets company objectives. These last two objectives will be refined in the project management process.
Process controls such as the Rational Unified Process, Capability Maturity Model Integration, Six Sigma and others will increase the cost and amount of time required during the planning phase. However, such planning mitigates risk, and this is a good thing for any manager!
Tools and methodologies are the next consideration, operationally speaking. In choosing a development platform, many companies have standardized their environments -- on .Net for example -- while others choose technologies on a case-by-case basis. For mobile or hybrid mobile/network applications, consider the operating systems involved:

• Symbian OS -- Currently the platform for Nokia devices, though Nokia Corp. announced recently that it will be moving to a Linux- and Java-based platform for its mobile units.


• Windows Mobile/.Net for Windows CE handhelds


• Palm OS -- Recently sold to a third party, and Palm Inc. is moving to a Linux- and Java-based platform and releasing devices based on Windows Mobile.


• Coding for the specific handheld unit that your company is using

Rather than coding for a single platform or client unit using the traditional process, a more flexible approach is to build a rich internet application (RIA). This technique leverages the intelligence on the client and the connection to the server to deliver the full application experience. Components in an RIA include Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX), Java applets, XML, Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT), Flash and others.

Human resources and the organization of the development team depend on several factors. The chosen process-control method will affect how the teams are organized, as will the choice of development platform. Is there existing expertise within the organization? If not, does this project warrant hiring staff, contracting or outsourcing? These choices are heavily dependent on the corporate culture and the constraints established by the success metrics.
Cost recap. At this point in the development planning process, there is enough information to put together a comprehensive cost assessment. The analysis should include identified risks and account for factors you know about and possible unknown factors. As in process management controls, this step adds some level of upfront cost, but the planning will save more on the back end.
Examples of factors to consider in a mobile deployment project are:

• Hardware (operations) -- mobile units, network interfaces, servers, storage, etc.


• Software (operations) -- "off the shelf" products, operating systems licensing


• Salaries -- ongoing support and maintenance


• Development -- hardware, software and staff salaries


• Mobile airtime -- cellular and wireless LAN providers


• Security -- penetration testing and analysis; ongoing monitoring

Intellectual property rights need to be secured before moving forward in the process. An organization should consider copyrights, patents and branding their know-how or trade secrets. Large companies usually have in-house expertise in intellectual property matters, while smaller firms will bring in consultant.
Getting started. Now it is time to bring in the project management team and have it refine the project scope, build an accurate budget and timeline, and then begin the development process.
In using the above process, you should be able to clearly define the project's objectives and customer expectations, be prepared for foreseeable risks and have a handle on budget and deployment schedules.
Did I miss something? Do you have feedback? Send your questions, comments and curses to y.kossovsky@ieee.org .

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