The 8 most important types of collaboration apps for smart phones

According to this article which covers a recent Forrester report, the following applications will matter the most on smart phones and tablets:

• E-mail and calendars
• Document-based collaboration
• Web conferencing
• Activity streams
• Presence and chat
• Social collaboration
• Expertise location
• Videoconferencing

No real surprise, this was the kind of list that was circulated around 10 years ago except for the social collaboration and activity streams.

I found the following figure quite valuable as we always discuss the value of rich vs thin vs native type of mobile application. Clearly, the back-end is moving to the cloud while the front-end is mobile or better: multi-channels.

Omnitrol Networks Selected by Firstlight Foods and TRiDENT RFID to Integrate RFID Tracking and Traceability in Meat-rocessing Plants

Omnitrol Networks announced today that it has partnered with TRiDENT RFID to supply an RFID-based solution to Firstlight Foods to automatically capture complete pedigree, and track venison and beef processing in real time. TRiDENT RFID is a leader in integrating RFID technology in the fresh produce sector, overcoming well-known barriers associated with using UHF RFID technology to track high water content products like meat and produce. The solution will enable Firstlight Foods to automatically track venison and beef production, and to accurately generate electronic meat pedigree records enabling field-to-fork traceability.

Read more or watch the video here.

In-house 'app stores' ease tablet-management woes

Excellent article from ComputerWorld about the challenges of managing BringYourOwnDevice (BYOD) in the enterprise. The consumerization of IT and the proliferation of new devices like the ipad are changing the face of application management within the enterprise. The article highlights the three approaches to application deployment:

• Use internal app store to control delivery and update of employee LOB apps
• Use mixed model to allow employees to use externally developed apps
• Total app freedom

Each enterprise will have different requirements to choose one of the above strategies. The key is to choose an infrastructure and back-end integration that will allow the transition from one to the other based on new requirements.

AT&T To Acquire T-Mobile USA In $39 Billion Deal

The acquisition spree that started in 2005 continues. T-Mobile was the only one significant independent GSM carrier left in the US market and, logically, AT&T just acquired it. But the Feds need to approve it and this might not be as easy as it looks. The Feds will say that the merger will against the Communications Act and the concentration of market share in fewer players will hurt competition and innovation. In the US, AT&T and Verizon are in battle to become the dominant leader in controlling the Service Provider end of the network triangle. Can they succeed (and profit) without controlling another end?

Mobile App audience is still largely male, young and affluent

This won't be a surprise to anyone who followed the mobile market for sometime. The same demographic was the sweet spot for wireless voice services and then wireless data services providers. More details here. An in due time, as it did for the wireless services above, wider adoption across age, gender and revenue will take place.

Omnitrol Networks' Platform Selected By BT to Provide Retailers with Real-Time Inventory Traceability and Predictive Replenishment Services

The momentum continues around our Retail Shop-Floor Inventory Tracking Solution.

Omnitrol Networks has been selected by BT, one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services, for the deployment of RFID-based retail inventory solutions.

BT, behind Europe’s largest RFID retail deployment, will collaborate with Omnitrol Networks, to deliver proven and innovative merchandise tracking and visibility solutions for retailers around the world.
The solutions will track actual inventory movements and item-level velocity by stock keeping unit (SKU). They will deliver proactive real-time replenishment alerts and visibility for retail store managers. This will enable near-perfect tracking accuracy and forecasted inventory levels, which will help retailers dramatically increase employee productivity.

What makes this announcement significant is that other fully integrated solution providers don’t have the reach and RFID pedigree to support the global deployment of their solutions. Global retailers have specific requirements that require significant development/customization for the other solutions. Because of the proven OMNITROL platform, the new solution only requires configuration changes and minimum customization to meet new requirements. By combining this level of versatility and performance with BT’s global reach and IT expertise, the companies are now poised to deliver a truly global, RFID-based retail solution.

CHEP selects Omnitrol Networks' platform to deliver technology for the development of a track-and-traceability solution

CHEP is a global leader in managed, returnable, and reusable packaging solutions, serving many of the world's largest companies in sectors such as consumer goods, fresh produce, beverage, and automotive. CHEP’s service is environmentally sustainable and increases efficiency for customers while reducing operating risks and product damage.

This represents one of the most important scale deployments of RFID technology. We are really happy to help CHEP in their endeavour to provide visibility to their large network around the world. This is also a great endorsement for our work to deliver a real-time collaborative and operational intelligent supply-chain network. Read the news release here.