Most companies have yet to provide multiple device support, forcing many users to spend countless hours configuring and troubleshooting their personal mobile devices. Further, as users depend more on their devices, emergency recovery is increasingly important. If the device is lost, stolen, or damaged, users need a quick path to recovery.

Developing your organization's mobile strategy
Whether its mobile email or a complex mobile field service solution, most wireless experts would agree: deploy mobile solutions using proven methodologies and best practices. Start by assembling a focus team responsible for steering the adoption of mobile technologies. Resources should include users and any department or partner potentially affected by a mobile system. Mobile solutions can affect multiple business units, and having user involvement is critical.

Before adding another delivery channel using mobile devices, such as the new wireless Palm i705, first assess how mobile devices fit into the overall business strategy. When evaluating your options, consider current IT architecture, current use of mobile devices (supported or not), future mobile business initiatives, and established vendor relationships. Until these questions are answered, an organization should not go to the next step of investigating vendors and platforms that meet the overall business needs.

Next, look for opportunities to standardize and provide user support. Even if you're not purchasing the devices, formalize a partnership with a device manufacture, wireless service carrier, or both (i.e., Palm OS devices with Sprint as a service carrier). Often, a corporate discount plan or partial expense reimbursement can promote users to purchase supported devices and related operating systems. Standardization is critical for future enterprise mobile initiatives. Planning and preparation in the early stages of a mobile strategy can pay off in the long run with user adoption, reduced support costs, and improved return on investment. It can also serve to reduce the overall TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).

Recognize the need for active user support. At a minimum, incorporate a plan to support common configuration challenges. The productivity improvements of any mobile initiative can be reduced to a waste of time without effective deployment and ongoing user support. Many solution vendors offer ongoing support and device provisioning services to alleviate an otherwise daunting task for resource strapped IT departments. Palm's enterprise team specializes in providing this kind of support, or hooking you up with qualified outside teams that can help you.

Identify projects that formally extend solutions to mobile users. The first step could be enterprise email and PIM, two functions for which the Palm i705 was specifically designed. Typically these projects are lower risk and deliver a quick ROI. Average deployments leveraging existing enterprise systems can be deployed in two to four weeks. However, extensive customization and widespread user deployment can increase risk and extend the duration. Solution development may be out-sourced to companies like mine for example. I work for Experio Solutions, which does do this sort of work. However, a business should include enough of its own personnel in the project to take ownership (and get buy-in) of the solution once it's deployed.