Wireless data networking standards

For carriers, meanwhile, the objective is clear - deliver wireless solutions that will have the capability, coverage and longevity needed to support enterprise mobility requirements. Understanding business needs and, most importantly, coverage requirements is critical to delivering the appropriate mobility solutions to enable key business processes. Stratecast surveys indicate that enterprises are tired of carriers that function as order-takers and want more collaborative relationships with carriers.

 

Collaboration includes working with enterprises to map wireless technology to business applications, as well as ensuring that enterprises have smooth evolution paths that take into account carrier plans for network upgrades. A great way to lose an enterprise customer is to announce a new wireless standard that will ultimately strand enterprise investment and force forklift upgrades for everything from wireless devices to business automation.

 

Standards are becoming a principal consideration for enterprise telecommunications and IT planners. This has largely been driven by the increasingly strategic nature of mobility in the enterprise business model, but it is also just good business practice as enterprises invest more capital in mobility solutions. Operators must appreciate enterprises' concerns and be prepared to assist them in understanding how the network will evolve, which wireless data networking standards will be implemented, and over what time frame they will be deployed.