Summary

Corporations often evaluate mobile solutions by their return on investment (ROI). ROI measures the gains that can be expected in return for the expenditures. This is a very effective approach to determining whether a mobile solution is worthwhile. Many vendors are starting to realize that ROI is an important measurement for success and are providing this information to perspective customers along with the technical merits of their solution. This is helping m-business applications grow in adoption, which helps other mobile and wireless solutions succeed as well. Wireless carriers will continue to increase the capabilities of their networks and provide new services, and device manufacturers will continue to deliver innovative offerings that will be used by both consumers and business users alike.

Many challenges need to be overcome when implementing a mobile solution. Many of these challenges have been introduced by mobility-enabling technology such as mobile devices, wireless networks, and software infrastructure providers. As the industry continues to mature, these challenges will become less significant, and the opportunities mobility provides will become more meaningful. As an industry, we are well on our way to accomplishing the three requirements for substantial industry growth to occur:

• The availability of compelling applications

• The availability of suitable mobile devices

• The introduction of always-on, easy-to-use wireless networks

In the next chapter we will take an in-depth look at mobile devices and their impact on implementing a successful mobile solution.