segments

SPOTLIGHT: Gartner: iPhone cleared for enterprise takeoff

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:59:52 -0400

Is the iPhone ready to take on the enterprise? According to Gartner, the answer is a resounding "yes." "The iPhone will thus match up initially in several segments against its main smartphone competitors--BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60," Gartner analyst and vice president Ken Dulaney says. Article

Boost from open-source?

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

The response to Android is beginning, though right now more people are responding to the concepts than to any hands-on experience. The concept is getting generally-high marks, though, as you'll read below, there are some notes of caution, as well. The big questions are just how much Android will actually move the market, and how much of that impact will be based on the open-source nature of the system. There's no question that an open-source framework makes it possible for many more individuals and organizations to write applications for the platform. There's also no question that the FCC, among others, has indicated significant uneasiness with allowing "just anyone" to write code that can have an impact on how a radio performs. It will be interesting to see how Android segments the application space from the radio space in the programming environment, and whether they're able to build enough of a wall to keep the FCC happy, while making the wall low enough to allow developers to create meaningful applications for the platform.

I don't have a good crystal ball for this one, though I'm excited by the possibilities of more applications for a platform. I'm also enough of a realist to know that cell phones and wireless mobile platforms aren't simple PDAs--you have to understand how the various radios will work to know how to best build meaningful apps. The learning can begin, though, and that will certainly shorten the time until we can see the beginnings of the creative new apps that Google (and most of the rest of us) want. Let the Android games begin... -Curtis

Auditing, risk assessment a mandate

Sun, 14 May 2006 20:01:38 -0400

If you've spent more than a few years toiling in the IT environment, you probably remember the days of 'hubs' and how excited everyone was to plug them into corporate networks. You also probably remember the horrible experience related to the security risks involved in making such a move. The same is true with today's wireless networks, which is why experts are pushing IT leaders to implement and establish strong audit processes and procedures. Risks come from several different segments of the network system and wireless LANs are much more insecure than internal network environments.

The continual quest to get users access everywhere and anywhere creates a substantial security element. Tech leaders need to assess this security threat and then formulate approaches to stop intruders and protect the information being shared. One of the easiest and most common strategies is using the hidden service set identifier, but that isn't foolproof since it also relies on the user's knowledge and responsibility. That's why auditing has become such a valuable tool. As enterprise use a variety of security tools to keep intruders out, the wireless review must become part of the annual IT risk assessment effort. It's the only way potential wireless problems can be treated, like the traditional network issues of authentication, access control, availability and encryption. Article

Microsoft's efforts will boast loads of new tools

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:01:37 -0500

While some organizations and users may not be that thrilled, the emergence of Microsoft within the wireless and mobility segment will very likely prove beneficial to organizations and users wanting new and better tools when it comes to mobility. Microsoft and Vodafone are working together, and the result is that Vodafone customers will now have Microsoft mobile email technology. Microsoft is also working with Motorola on incorporating Microsoft's music tools into the handset maker's product line. And it's working with once competitor Nokia to have its email and calendar software put on that vendor's handset line. Meanwhile, it's boosting partnerships to push its MSN instant messaging application into new user bases and buying up small tech companies to increase its mobile search products. When tallied up it's clear that Microsoft is becoming a big name in many segments of the mobile and wireless environment. Article

Security guide for WLANs

Sun, 09 Oct 2005 20:01:36 -0400

If you're ready to deploy a large enterprise wireless LAN, or looking to grow small segments of network on a continual basis, the security requirements are quite different in each scenario. A good resource to check out in either effort is George Ou's Wireless LAN Security Guide. It offers up specific recommendations for any size WLAN you're looking to build today and down the road.