The Wireless Data Forum celebrated its first birthday last week by releasing its first book, called “Going Mobile: A Cookbook of Wireless Data Solutions.”
The WDF said Going Mobile is the first in what is to be an annual publication on the state of the mobile data industry-detailing current market statistics, networks, equipment and companies dedicated to the field.
“We developed the book to show what wireless data solutions are available in each market segment, which companies are providing these solutions and where the market is going,” said Mark Desautels, WDF managing director. “It is a resource not just for our members, but for the entire industry.”
For instance, in the market segments chapter, the book details the different WDF member companies targeting the field service or financial service industries, the product or service each provides, its functionality and the vendor providing the equipment.
“It is rarely a single company that provides a wireless data solution,” wrote Desautels in the book’s forward. “The demand for mobile access to information has compelled computing companies, software developers, content providers, wireless carriers and Internet service providers to collaborate. This has created a very challenging, confusing and continually changing market.”
The idea of the book, he said, was to ease that confusion.
The 140-page book also includes case studies, interviews with key wireless data executives and a complete directory of all WDF members, as well as a glossary of wireless data terms. Contributing their visions for the future of the industry include executives from Bell Atlantic Mobile, IBM Corp., Nortel Networks, Microsoft Corp., Lucent Technologies Inc., Aeris Communications, Cellemetry and Nettech Systems, which also sponsored the publication.
The WDF said free copies would be provided to all its members. The group also sent a copy to the chief information officers of all Fortune 100 companies. The book is available to non-members for $25.
