The Enterprise Mobility Blog
Everything you need to know about mobile, wireless and wired technology

Wireless Technology Transforms Mole Valley Farmers

Rural and agricultural retail specialist Mole Valley Farmers (MVF) is benefitting from real-time data and enhanced accuracy of reporting, thanks to a new wirelessly enabled automated data capture system from Jade Communications.

In order to successfully implement a range of inventory management and in-store applications on MVF’s existing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, the company needed a wireless infrastructure to provide fully mobile data acquisition and real-time functionality. Jade specified and installed ADC Krone Structured Cabling, Motorola WS2000 wireless switches and AP300 access points (internally and externally) for MVF’s estate-wide wireless infrastructure and approximately 70 Motorola MC3090 handheld devices.

Mole Valley Farmers is now benefiting from seamless real-time integration of stock control, inventory management and in-store applications within its ERP system and has plans to further develop the use of its new wireless technology in 2009.

Click here to read the full case study


Posted by on August 25th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

Affordable Mobile Computing for Construction

Jade Communications, one of the UK’s leading providers of mobile voice and data communications technologies for business, has launched Mobility as a Service, a highly affordable package enabling organisations in the construction sector to improve productivity and customer service, reduce costs and enhance profitability with the latest mobile communications technology.

Jade’s Mobility as a Service package allows architects, surveyors, engineers, projects managers, installation engineers and other mobile construction professionals to outsource their mobile data communications, removing the headache of deploying and managing a mobile computer estate. The Mobility as a Service package includes rugged mobile devices, specially-designed software, accessories and service desk support. Typical functionality available with the package includes mobile office and email, project management and scheduling, asset management and inspection, time in attendance, navigation and route optimisation.

“We have launched Mobility as a Service to give construction and other field service organisations highly affordable, hassle-free, quick and easy to implement mobile technology that genuinely transforms their operations,” says Mark Brackley, Managing Director of Jade Communications. “Creating an IT infrastructure in construction settings isn’t often easy, but from as little as £20 per user per month, with no capital outlay, Jade’s Mobility as a Service will enable organisations to raise productivity and efficiency, cut out paperwork, and reduce cost.”

Click here for more information on Mobility as a Service for Construction


Posted by on August 20th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

Jade Signs Strategic Partnership with ISV Momote

Looking to optimise field service processes, improve revenue generation and increase jobs completed while removing the admin costs associated with paper based systems? Jade Communications can offer both the mobile hardware and customised software to meet your needs via our strategic partnership with Momote.

Medium and large organisations who want real-time visibility of field service workers use Momote mobile workforce management software. The rapid development enabled by Momote’s MX Platform is perfect for the design, development, management and deployment of customised mobile field service applications.

Well-known companies like Iveco, Autoglass and Harvey’s Furniture are among the many satisfied customers using Momote applications. Common features include signature capture, photograph capture and job dispatch systems, all completed on a mobile device for real-time data transmission.
 

Click here for more information on how Jade and Momote can together help to automate your field service administration and management


Posted by on August 18th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

Sainsbury Centre Shops at Jade

Jade Communications has provided a complete structured cabling infrastructure for the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts (SCVA) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich. The purpose built museum and event venue was refurbished to the design of leading architects, Foster and Partners.

Jade installed a mix of ADC Krone TrueNET Category 5E copper infrastructure and fibre optic products for efficient data transfer across the internal network. Voice cabling was also installed and linked to the university’s central telephony system.

Foster and Partners’ designs are both modern and complex in terms of layout and use of materials. The challenge for Jade was to work within these design constraints – finding innovative ways to house all cables without detracting from the aesthetic look and feel of the centre.

Efficient project management and careful planning by Jade’s eight-strong team allowed for a phased approach to the installation, working around the construction teams and within the agreed timescales for completion.

To read the full case study, click here


Posted by on August 11th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

Sign up for your free wireless security scan

The chances are, if you have a wireless network, you have at some point assessed the security of your infrastructure.  Wireless security is a massive concern to all businesses regardless of their size and number of locations.

It’s even more of a concern if you process and handle card payments.  You have to be PCI DSS compliant or you will face heavy fines or even have a total bar on processing card payments.

With this in mind, we have introduced a service to identify any gaps in security and allow you to take steps to rectify them.

Using Motorola’s Air Defense, the latest in Wireless Intrusion Protection Systems (or WIPS for those who like a snappier name) we can scan your WLAN without actually becoming part of the network.  This scan identifies:

  • Any rogue stations/devices/laptops etc. trying to connect to your network
  • Any rouge access points which are plugged in to your network via ethernet and creating a wireless path in
  • Any wireless security or configuration issues which could potentially create a security issue

As part of the service you will receive a report highlighting any issues and initial steps to tackle them.

This is a great service for those who would like an assessment of their WLAN but can’t afford the time or expense in assessing it themselves.

However it is important to note that this is not a full WIPS or PCI DSS compliancy service.  This service is purely a snapshot of the current security status of your WLAN.

For the launch of this service, we are offering the first 50 bookings absolutely free.

To book your scan, contact us on 01925 295 400 or sales@jadeonline.co.uk.


Posted by on August 6th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

Avoid PCI (Payment Card Industry) Compliance Issues

To help retailers ensure ongoing compliance with the latest Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) for wireless networks, Jade is now offering a Wireless Intrusion Prevention Service (WIPS).

In 2007 over 45 million card details were compromised by hacking at TK Maxx, hugely damaging the retailer’s reputation and leaving it exposed to customer litigation. For a retailer with around 100 stores employing an auditor to prove PCI DSS compliance could cost between £60,000 and £100,000 a year.

Jade’s new Wireless Intrusion Prevention Service can conduct network security audits, automatically compile reports and continually scan client networks 24/7/365 to keep networks secure and customers’ details safe.

Click here for more information on how you can become PCI compliant


Posted by on August 4th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

Watch your productivity Soar

Field Service Mobility Solutions for £20 per month*

Improve the productivity of your field service operation with a Mobility as a Service solution from Jade.

Jade’s Mobility as a Service package allows you to effectively outsource your mobile data solution, removing the headache of deploying and managing a mobile computer estate. Mobility as a Service includes field service software, mobile devices, accessories and Service Desk support from £20 per month*.

With the Mobility as a Service solution you can:

  • Increase service levels by viewing real-time job updates, spare part stock and customer data via a mobile device
  • Enhance productivity by instantly assigning job sheets over-the-air
  • Improve profitability by achieving a rapid ROI and a lower TCO, facilitated by a low monthly fee

Find out more about Mobility as a Service and how you can benefit, by clicking the following link:

http://www.mobilityasaservice.co.uk


Posted by on July 24th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

10 Things You Need To Know About Developing Mobile Applications

Designing and writing mobile device software for Windows Mobile is completely different to writing for desktop environments. The decision to develop in house may not be as cost-effective as you think.

Save yourself a lot of wasted time, energy and money by downloading our white paper – 10 Things You Need To Know About Writing Mobile Applications.

The white paper tells you what you need to know about mobile applications which set them apart from desktop environments, such as resources, memory, interface, data transmission and security.

Click the following link to download this free white paper:

http://www.jadeonline.co.uk/division/development/white-paper.php


Posted by on July 20th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

Real Time Locationing over WiFi

Jade Communications, one of the UK’s leading providers of mobile voice and data communications technologies for business, today announced that they have been  appointed as a UK Reseller for Ekahau’s Wi-Fi based RTLS (Real time Location Systems) tracking and communication solutions.

Ekahau RTLS is the only Wi-Fi-based location tracking solution that can operate over any brand or generation of Wi-Fi network while offering room-, floor- and building-level accuracy,” says Mark Brackley, Managing Director of Jade Communications. “Because the Ekahau system relies on existing Wi-Fi infrastructure, it offers superior tracking accuracy at a fraction of what proprietary systems cost and does not disrupt day-to-day business operations.”

“We are delighted to have appointed Jade Communications as an appointed Reseller of Ekahau RTLS Solutions in the UK,” says Barry Read, Business Development Manager, Ekahau. “Their knowledge of RFID and wireless networks combined with their deep understanding of customer needs in retail, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries makes them an ideal partner for UK applications of Ekahau real-time location tracking and communication systems.”

Ekahau solutions provide the easiest, most cost effective and accurate positioning solutions for locating people, assets, inventory and other objects using existing Wi-Fi networks. They track wireless laptops, PDAs, VOIP phones, Wi-Fi tags and other 802.11 enabled devices in real time. Ekahau RTLS does not require installation of proprietary wireless infrastructure. It can be done individually over the private Wi-Fi network, keeping deployment cost to a minimum and helping to speed overall system payback time.

For more information visit: http://www.jadeonline.co.uk/supplier/ekahau/ekahau-demo.php


Posted by on July 20th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

Jade Appointed 1st UK Certified TEAM Partner

Motorola TEAM devices

Motorola TEAM devices

Jade Communications, one of the UK’s leading providers of mobile voice and data communications technologies for business, has been appointed the UK’s first Certified Partner for Motorola’s Total Enterprise Access and Mobility (TEAM) VoWLAN (Voice over Wireless LAN) solutions.

Ideal for mobilising workforce communications in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution and hospitality applications, Motorola TEAM transforms the desktop into a pocketable virtual office, delivering mobile access over the WLAN to the voice and data services needed to increase productivity, collaboration and customer satisfaction.

“We are delighted to have appointed Jade Communications as the UK’s first Certified Partner for TEAM solutions,” says Michael Womeldorph, Director of Product Marketing, Motorola’s Enterprise Mobility Solutions Business. “Jade’s in-depth knowledge of wireless networks and mobile voice and data communications means it is uniquely well-placed to help UK enterprises to deploy TEAM solutions quickly, cost-effectively and for maximum ROI.”

“TEAM is a very attractive proposition for our customers because it provides a unified platform and integrates easily with existing PBX and WLAN infrastructure,” says Mark Brackley, Managing Director of Jade Communications. “It also offers unmatched scalability with common management and security for both voice and data services. Users will admire the enterprise-class business smartphones and call quality matching traditional landlines.”

The Motorola TEAM products now available from Jade Communications include:

  • TEAM VoWLAN, which provides mobile users inside the enterprise with mobile access to the voice and data services
  • TEAM Common Voice Client (CVC) with voice capable devices, such as handheld mobile computers and bar code scanners
  • TEAM Dual Mode (VoWLAN and Cellular) which delivers mobile access to voice and data services over the WLAN, seamlessly extending those capabilities to the wide area cellular network for use outside the enterprise.

 

For more information visit: www.jadeonline.co.uk/team


Posted by on July 20th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized