14.8 Mobile Office

The mobile office is essentially an extension of one's office via the mobile device. Many executives, doctors , engineers , and workers in industries such as finance, health care, and telecommunications feel the need to be connected to their office to access information as well as to be reachable . In the wireline oriented Internet world, VPNs have created an extension to corporate offices by extending the office to the user 's home or any location in the world.

Wireless data networks provide employees access to information, enabling them to be productive and effective while away from the office. They can send and receive faxes or e-mail, log onto a company's LAN, search a database for product information, or even exchange computer files. Sales-people can complete sales orders, obtain the latest pricing, or check product availability on their own without requiring a support person at the main office. Field service personnel select work assignments, get directions and service details, check inventories, review parts lists or schematics, and even handle remotely without having to be close to a phone line.

With the increase in bit rates in third-generation wireless networks, we can now expect that users will be connected to the office via their mobile devices. Notebook computers with the appropriate access interfaces, which include 802.11 as well as GPRS, UMTS, and cdma2000, will enable connectivity to the workplace from any place. While it is possible today to achieve the mobile office concept via the Internet, it is limited to places that have Internet connectivity. The capability of being connected via wireless networks from anywhere will make this feature even more enticing and be a revenue source for operators who rely on business customers for a significant portion of their revenues .

14.8.1 Secure Corporate LAN/Intranet Access

In wireless data networks, the air link is encrypted, providing security for confidential data. This enables solutions for securely accessing corporate LANs. Some service providers leverage this capability to provide VPNs to corporate LANs. Using a VPN service or application, employees can browse the company Intranet from anywhere and access all applications. A few applications that may be accessed over such VPN connections are as follows :

• Electronic mail

• World Wide Web (text, graphics, sound, links, etc.)

• Matching databases

• Remote file access

• Multimedia access (sound and video)

• Inventory status in warehouses

Efforts are underway to make the transition from remote access to local access smooth and transparent to the user. An office worker in the near future will have access to wireless data networks that deliver an all-IP, carrier-grade, access agnostic , mobility-enabled core network.

The goal of mobile office-type applications is to provide users with the capability to handle professional and personal business whenever they want and wherever they want. Grabbing a cup of coffee and the Financial Times before boarding the morning train used to constitute the daily routine. While coffee will remain a staple, imagine a commute consisting of activities that traditionally would be done at home or at the office. Accessing the corporate intranet and e-mail, reading the latest industry news, and ordering flowers can be done on the wireless network today. Future applications will be even more dazzling. Order the latest movie release on the way home and it will be waiting on a playback device for immediate viewing. Order the new Lou Reed album and it will play on headphones in real time. Watch video highlights from last night's sporting events, or log onto the live camera at Waikiki Beach. The applications are endless but have one thing in common: a wireless data network that can handle data efficiently .