Hello, my name is Ernest Worthman and I would like to welcome you to the first installment of Mobile Views With Ernest. The purpose of this column is to bring to you, our readers, an inside look into today's high technology. Wether it is computing, communications, wireless, wireline, broadband, or satellite - wether it is 2G, 3G, xG, GSM, PCS, EDGE, CDMA, TDMA, EDGE, IS-95 or any other voice and data platform, look for leading edge information and down-to-earth, real-time money and time saving information, here.

Much of modern technology is trying to migrate to ubiquitous wireless connectivity. Yet the light at the end of the tunnel is still very dim. Promise after promise about being able to connect 24/7 has failed to materialize. The chances of having your call, wireless web session; interactive collaboration or any other wireless connection dropped by the system is very high.

However, knowledge is power, as we all know. And knowing what works and what doesn't, where and with what, is power! With all of the pomp and hype being proliferated by the multiple players in the connectivity business, it is difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. But armed with knowledge of the various technologies and platform's strengths and weaknesses, you can optimize your ROI.

Each week, this column will take a look at these various issues and discuss what works, what doesn't, where and when to move and how to best implement technology where it will really work for you.

Some weeks my column will address technology, other times business. I'll tell you what I think is real and what is vapor. I'll try to help you assess, analyze and dissect the issues and technologies, and take a look at what the future will likely bring.

Before I go into the nuts and bolts of "technogeekdom" I'd like to take a moment to take the bloom off of the rose. I hope this column will give you a flavor of my perspective Application Service Providers.

I've been keeping an eye on the ASP industry for a while now. I want to "drill down" (hey, gotta make sure I'm hip to the vernacular) into the industry a bit to discuss how the ASP evolution will affect the wireless industry directly, and how the wireless industry will affect the ASPs.

It seems that ASPs are putting big money on wireless. A report from Cahner's In-Stat Group, part of which I am going to share in a moment, puts W-ASPs (no, I didn't make this up) on the fast track to partners in wireless crime.

The report seems to insinuate that there is a pent-up demand for hosted wireless applications. In the report, W-ASPs: Enabling M-Services and Wireless Internet Applications, Cahner's writes: "With the ranks of mobile workers growing and wireless technology advancing rapidly, many U.S. companies are eager to make key applications accessible via a host of wireless devices. According to high tech market research firm Cahner's In-Stat Group there will be more than 700 million wireless Internet subscribers by 2004. However, wireless data technology is still immature and requires integration of multiple vendors' equipment and software.

A new class of outsourcer, Wireless-Enabling Application Service Providers (W-ASPs), has emerged to assist companies with the difficult task of making all the pieces in the wireless puzzle fit together. "W-ASPs are responsible for keeping up with fast-changing technology and assume the risk of implementing and supporting the wireless web."

Didja get the CYA that was in this quote? In case you didn't, here it is again: "wireless data technology is still immature and requires integration of multiple vendors' equipment and software."

Talk about a red flag! Herein lies the ugly, naked truth. What this really means is that business users, who are usually the ones who are first to implement time/cost saving technology are going to be the beta testers of wireless technology. They will be the ones that wireless data ASPs and other are going to use to see what works and what doesn't!

Now, some of what you can expect to see in the near future includes:

Translation services - porting or translating web content to wireless networks including initial setup and maintenance.

Wireless application services - data applications delivered for a fee.

M-Services content - Internet content translated and delivered through the wireless network.

Wireless infrastructure technology and services - including software, hardware, consulting and custom implementation delivered to the wireless carrier, content provider or wireless ASP.

In the opinion of the Cahner's writer, "W-ASPs help companies provide wireless access to vital systems like field service personnel scheduling and deployment, customer relationship management applications, fleet asset tracking, and corporate databases. Today, although nearly 70% of mobile workers have mobile phones, less than 4% have wireless access to e-mail or corporate intranets. W-ASPs will likely help boost the numbers of wireless Internet users over the next several years.

Oh the horror - Well, it seems that I've head this somewhere before. Wasn't it only a few short years ago that "those" same experts were pumping dot-coms as the only place to put your presence (and money).

If you look hard at what this excerpt says, you'd think that W-ASPs will be the grand marshals of the wireless ball "making all the pieces of the wireless puzzle fit together."

I doubt it! - First of all, it's a platform issue. Java was supposed to be the solution to bloat ware and computer sprawl. It was supposed to be the next enabling platform that would move tiny applets of server-resident code and data, to the user as needed. This was supposed to eliminate the need for large client systems with application software. Well, it hasn't happened.

Secondly, I find it extremely unlikely that all of these ASPs, existing or new are going to play nice and find a way to coexist, sorry - history indicates otherwise.

Thirdly, if you think that any one particular segment of the industry will be allowed to assume the risk of implementing and controlling both the tremendous diversity (and potential goldmine) of the wireless web, think again.

What I think is that Cahner's (and today's other think-tank pundits) are trying to do is gorilla marketing. Creating a "need" where either a solution already exists (currently provided), or creating new "needs" based upon statistics. What worries me is that again, capital will be over-invested in a "new industry" that, based upon "potential" "could," "theoretically" be worth billions. Yet should this "need" fail to materialize, billion and billions get washed down the drain. - billions and billions that could have been used to get the current systems and technologies online, reliable and truly functional.

If, however, you find this or any other "new" technology irresistible, I suggest getting a performance guarantee. GET IT IN WRITING! And don't pay up front or sign up for long-term commitments.

Now, I'll be on line to discuss this. I'd love to hear from you. You can reach me at ernest_worthman@ieee.org. And, look for online discussion groups to form in the near future.

- Ernest Worthman

Who is Ernest?

Ernest is a techogeek from way back. While other kids were playing baseball, hide and seek, and enjoying the heck out of frogs and toads, Ernest was rummaging through trashcans looking for old thrown out radios and appliances to take apart.

From that beginning, Ernest's first business venture was owning an electronics service company that became the first Epson authorized service center in Colorado, to being the principle of Worthman & Associates, a computer consulting firm. He is also the technology editor for RF Design and Mobile Radio Technology. He has been published in a wide range of technical and business publications including Communications, Cellular Marketing, Global Communications, Cellular Business, Satellite Communications, Earth Observation Magazine, Memory Card, and Broadband.isp, Wearables business, as well as several computer magazines, and even Cats magazine.

His credentials include a B.S., Electronic Engineering Technology, an A.A.S. in Electronic Digital Technology. He is a Certified Instructor for the State of Colorado - Post secondary/Adult, public and private, an IBM certified OS/2 trainer, a Lotus Corporation Developer/Consultant. He is a Fellow in the Radio Club of America a Senior Member of the IEEE, a member of the IBM Software Developers Assistance Program for OS/2 and a Member of IBM's Independent Vendor League for OS/2 He has also served as a member of Microsoft's Certification Exam Development Team.

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