Rogers introduces innovative wireless solution to help SMBs improve customer service, increase productivity and lower costs
17 11월 2005 - 1:15AM
PR Newswire (US)
Built upon industry-leading technology from HP, Microsoft and
TrueContext, Rogers mFORMS enables small and medium-size businesses
to empower field staff with the latest mobile technology TORONTO,
Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rogers Communications Inc. today
introduced mFORMS(TM), an innovative wireless solution designed to
help small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) leverage the latest
mobile and wireless technology to increase productivity and lower
costs. The mFORMS solution is built upon industry-leading
technology from HP, Microsoft and TrueContext. Rogers mFORMS will
enable SMB field staff to convert less efficient paper and
voice-based data exchanges - such as work orders - into wireless
communications using their Windows Mobile(R)-based devices as an
electronic clipboard. mFORMS will be available exclusively through
Rogers over the Rogers Wireless GPRS/EDGE network nationwide.
mFORMS is designed to save SMBs time and money by ensuring that new
or updated customer information can be sent and received wirelessly
by the right company resource at the right time. By offering unique
features such as pre-filled customer and job information, mFORMS
will also help SMBs minimize costly errors and unnecessary data
entry. Completed forms are automatically and securely transmitted
from the mobile device back to the office for processing and
invoicing, creating further efficiencies. In addition, mFORMS will
allow SMBs to bring multiple business processes, such as work
orders, timesheets and expense reports together on a single mobile
platform. "The mFORMS solution is a great example of how Rogers
delivers added value to its small and medium-size customers," said
Mansell Nelson, vice president, planning and business development,
Rogers Business Solutions. "Together with our business partners,
we've created a simple, flexible, wireless solution that will help
businesses dramatically improve customer service and enhance the
productivity of their mobile workers, thereby leveling the playing
field for SMBs and helping to drive their business results." For
SMBs, mFORMS will simplify the process of mobilizing a workforce by
offering an out-of-the-box (yet easily customizable) mobile forms
solution, encompassing the operating system, software application,
wireless data network, mobile device and help desk support.
Recognizing the needs of SMBs, the solution requires virtually no
start-up capital versus traditional, behind-the-firewall solutions.
"In seeking greater productivity gains and responsiveness to
customer needs, Canadian small and medium-sized businesses continue
to mobilize their organizations through improved workflow and
adoption of mobile and wireless technologies," said Eddie Chan,
research analyst, mobile/personal computing & technology, IDC
Canada. "With organizations continually looking to gain a
competitive advantage by accessing business-critical information
anytime, anywhere, IDC Canada continues to see increasing interest
in extending the rich mobile device platform to include field
service and other customer relationship management applications."
mFORMS has been optimized for superior performance on HP iPAQ
Pocket PC mobile devices. HP will also provide mission-critical
information technology infrastructure and services including
application hosting, security management and second-level support
to ensure reliable data delivery to mobile field workers.
"Cost-effective, secure mobile access to business-critical
information is no longer just for the enterprise," said Reg Schade,
vice president and general manager, HP Services, Hewlett-Packard
(Canada) Co. "With mFORMS, mobility is delivered to SMBs as a
utility, with the hardware, software application, network access
and support services bundled in a way that is easy to buy, easy to
use, and easy to support." Through Windows Mobile, Microsoft
delivers a flexible platform that enables the creation of
solutions, such as mFORMS, for the SMB market. Microsoft works with
business to develop products that address SMBs' needs for robust
software at an affordable price. "Information sharing between the
office and field staff is becoming a critical business advantage
that goes beyond email, calendar and contact updates," added Sean
Seaton, director, Windows Mobile and Embedded Devices, Microsoft
Canada. "Applications that run on Windows Mobile(R) provide
efficient, cost-effective ways to enable a highly productive field
operation." The mobile forms technology which underpins the
solution is provided by TrueContext, a privately-held company based
in Ottawa. The TrueContext mExperience(TM) service platform enables
the creation and deployment of secure, scalable, and easy-to-use
mobile forms that extend traditional business processes to the
field. According to Alvaro Pombo, president & chief executive
officer, TrueContext, "Historically, businesses of all sizes have
struggled to build, buy and manage all the discreet pieces needed
to create enterprise-class mobile solutions for their workers. Our
technology enables market leaders like Rogers to deliver secure and
simple mobile solutions for customers and business partners."
mFORMS will offer specific templates focused on the needs of SMB
customers, including: service and support, pick up and delivery,
regulatory compliance, field inspections and more. mFORMS is
designed to simplify and speed data capture and exchange with the
field, and supports: digital signatures, photographs, sketches,
mobile printing and other customization. If you are interested in
learning more about mFORMS, please visit
http://www.rogers.com/mforms. About Rogers Communications Rogers
Communications (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RG) is a diversified Canadian
communications and media company engaged in three primary lines of
business. Rogers Wireless is Canada's largest wireless voice and
data communications services provider and the country's only
carrier operating on the world standard GSM/GPRS/EDGE technology
platform; Rogers Cable is Canada's largest cable television
provider offering cable television, high-speed Internet access,
voice over cable telephony services and video retailing; and Rogers
Media is Canada's premier collection of category leading media
assets with businesses in radio, television broadcasting,
television shopping, publishing and sports entertainment. Rogers
Telecom is a national provider of voice services, data networking,
and broadband Internet connectivity, to small, medium and large
businesses across the country. For further information about the
Rogers group of companies, please visit http://www.rogers.com/.
About HP HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers,
businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span
IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing,
and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended July
31, 2005, HP revenue totaled US$85.2 billion. More information
about HP (NYSE:HPQNASDAQ:HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.
About Microsoft Canada Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is
the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT")
the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help
people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft
Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local
support services in both French and English. Headquartered in
Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the
country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any
time, any place and on any device. For more information on
Microsoft Canada, please visit http://www.microsoft.ca/. (x)
Microsoft and Windows Mobile are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other
countries. About TrueContext TrueContext mExperience is a service
platform that enables the delivery of volume enterprise data
services such as mobile forms, and content and device management to
companies of all sizes. Available as a hosted service or deployed
behind the firewall, TrueContext solutions are sold through Mobile
Network Operators, Independent Software Vendors and VARs, and are
suitable for organizations with mobile workers in the areas of
Field Services & Support, Inspection & Reporting, and Field
Sales & Executives. http://www.truecontext.com/ DATASOURCE:
Rogers Wireless Inc. CONTACT: Press Contacts: For Rogers - Brad
Cicero, (416) 705-8119, ; For HP - Lizanne McReelis, (905)
206-4693, ; For Microsoft - Sarah Vella, (416) 368-8348 x270, ; For
TrueContext - Michael Stephens, (613) 831-2878, ; Archived images
on this organization are searchable through CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca/. Images are free to
accredited members of the media.
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