One of the challenges when travelling abroad on business is finding the best connectivity solution to get online. Your regular WiFi service may provide roaming access to local WiFi hotspots, alternatively paying for access to a local network may be a cost effective option. If all else fails, using 3G data roaming is an option, provided you or your employer has deep pockets!
Deciding which option to try involves some understanding of technology and the associated costs, or ignoring cost considerations and hoping for the best! The costs to enterprises of data roaming on 3G networks can be huge and apart from education, it’s very hard for enterprises to ensure their users use the most cost effective option for going online when abroad.
Yesterday I spoke to Matt Cooke from iPass who explained what iPass is doing to help enterprises address these issues. iPass has launched their Open Mobile Platform which allows enterprises to simplify and manage mobile connectivity across both laptops and mobiles in both their home country and when travelling. Plus crucially, iPass helps enterprises understand how users are connecting and the associated costs. The Open Mobile Platform comprises four components.
- Mobile Connect provides connectivity management to ensure that the most appropriate or cost effective connectivity option is seamlessly used with no user intervention. The user no longer has to decide which option to use, the software will identify what’s available & automatically connect. Users have access to their existing WiFi and 3G services plus they can also access the iPass network of WiFi hotspots.
- Mobile Insight provides analysis of usage to allow enterprises to identify where expenditure is going and how connectivity should be managed.
- Mobile Control provides policy management and allows system administrators to push the appropriate policies out to all users across all devices.
- Mobile Network delivers access to the iPass WiFi network, in addition to an enterprises existing networks.
From conversations I’ve had about both the administrative burden and connectivity costs of enterprise mobility, iPass should find an enthusiastic response to their proposition.
