Cutting through the Hype Surrounding Wireless Technology

There has been a lot of hype surrounding wireless technology. But what does it all mean? In this article, we will introduce wireless technology, discuss wireless technology business applications for contractors, and explain what you should look for in wireless devices and wireless software solutions. We will help you cut through the hype and give you the answers you need to make an informed decision.

What is Wireless Technology?

Wireless dates back to the turn of the twentieth century when Guglielmo Marconi, the son of a wealthy Italian businessman, began to research the concept of having electromagnetic waves send messages as signals through the air, just like messages could be sent over a telephone or telegraph wire. One late evening in 1895, wireless technology was born – a technology that would revolutionize the way in which mankind communicated.

As the technology developed, it became possible to transmit music and television signals via wireless, and as we continue to refine the technology and learn to better use the communication spectrum, we are now able to transmit data wirelessly.

You may not realize it, but each time you make a business call using your cellular telephone, speak with your field personnel via two-way radio, map a service call using a global positioning system, or simply change the channel on your television, you're using wireless technology. These are just some of the popular applications for wireless technology; others include cordless telephones, remote garage door openers, baby monitors, satellite televisions, cordless computer equipment, and wireless local area networks.

Wireless Business Applications for Contractors

Why is wireless technology so exciting for contractors? It offers the promise of increased efficiency between your organization and the field.

Imagine being able to dispatch service requests to technicians right in the field. The technician would then arrive at the site, assess the work to be done, produce a detailed work order, and transmit it back to the office for billing, then move on to the next dispatched job – all in the same day! This increased dispatching and billing efficiency could save your organization a great deal of time and money. Remember, an invoice that gets billed sooner gets paid sooner.

This is only one application. Other applications include remote estimating, job walk-throughs, remote change orders, remote labor/time-tracking, and the list goes on.

What Should I Look for in a Wireless Device?

When purchasing a PDA, the main areas to focus on are size, color depth, connectivity, ruggedness, and what operating system it uses.

Size and color depth are fairly straight forward. In this case bigger is always better. A sophisticated PDA should ideally support a screen resolution of at least 240x360 pixels (the tiny elements that control the illumination of your display), and a color depth of at least 65,536 colors.

Does the device have a built-in wireless connection or do you need to connect it via a cable to your cell phone? Having to connect a PDA to a cell phone may make the device very difficult to use. Imagine trying to juggle a PDA, a cable, and a cell phone just to get your solution to work.

When looking for a PDA to take to the job site, ruggedized support is extremely important. You will be working in a demanding environment, and you will need a rugged mobile computer built upon industry standards. A ruggedized device is a device designed from the ground up for use in these harsh environments. Ruggedized devices are capable of withstanding multiple drops onto concrete, and are sealed against rain and dust; however, the ruggedized support will not compromise the environmental or functional characteristics of the device.

PDA Operating Systems

There are two main types of PDAs: Those that run that run on Microsoft operating systems (Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003) and those that run on the Palm operating system. Like Windows for the desktop computer, the Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003 operating systems are complete 32-bit multitasking, multithreading operating systems. Multithreading multitasking allows users to work on a task on the Pocket PC in the foreground, while simultaneously running other tasks in the background. The Microsoft portable operating systems also feature lite versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

The Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003 operating systems provides a wide variety of robust security features that protect your handheld device from unwanted intruders including authentication, protected data storage, data encryption, and communication encryption. The Palm OS does not provide the same level of protection.

What Should I Look for in Wireless Software?

Some software vendors have already come to market with wireless software solutions for contractors. While the concept behind wireless technology is not a complicated one, the various platforms and technologies available to software developers today are very different, each offering a varying degree of user-friendliness and security. Let's look past the smoke and focus on some key considerations when purchasing any wireless software solutions from a software vendor.

Has the software user interface been optimized for the device it is being developed on and do you have to move in and out of screens to accomplish a task? Are pen/key strokes minimized? Is the amount of typed information minimized? Less back and forth operation, less clicking, and less typing equates to easier use of the software and will increase the probability of product adoption within your organization.

When performing a takeoff, can you view the entire material database? Can you see the extended view with price and labor? It may be difficult to make informed decisions if you are only seeing pieces of the information. Small handheld computers like the Palm may not be well suited for some tasks due to their small screen size.

Accubid's Contributions to the Wireless Revolution

In 2003, Accubid released Pocket ChangeOrder™, a remote handheld solution for pricing changes. With Pocket ChangeOrder, you can price changes on the spot at the job site. You can also download projects onto Pocket ChangeOrder to allow for on-site project management. At the 2003 NECA Show in Orlando , Pocket ChangeOrder was presented with the NECA Showstopper award in recognition of its power and flexibility.

Earlier this year, Accubid announced the release of Pocket Bid™, a remote handheld estimating solution for the Pocket PC. With Pocket Bid, you can perform a complete estimate, generate a bill of materials, and produce a final price, right on the job site. Back at the office, you can synchronize Pocket Bid with your Accubid desktop estimating solution—Accubid Pro, BidWinner Plus, BidWinner, or PowerBid.

While other handheld software for contractors has focused exclusively on takeoff, Accubid produced a complete solution from takeoff to bid summary, including extension. Pocket Bid can generate a final price on the spot, unlike some solutions that simply produce the total quantities of items. Pocket Bid can update from the Pocket PC to the desktop and back, unlike some solutions that can only update in one direction, from the device to the desktop.

Both Pocket Bid and Pocket ChangeOrder reduce delay, since you can prepare estimates and price changes immediately and on-the-spot. Both products save you time and reduce errors, since you don't have to rely on your memory or transcribe your notes.

Wireless technology is not new, but the challenges surrounding wireless data management are. The technology is continually evolving, and before your organization commits to any solution, do your homework. Whichever solution you choose, ensure you select a vendor that is in it for the long run.

For more information on Accubid's desktop and handheld software solutions, phone 1-800-ACCUBID (222-8243) or visit www.accubid.com.