Despite the fact that just about everyone has some sort of device in hand to stay in touch, many business owners simply aren't getting the most out of their mobile technology investments.

According to Gavin Steiner, president and owner of Interprom Inc. in Barrie, a Microsoft Gold Certified partner, "A big misconception is that business owners are not viewing their phones as part of their IT infrastructure. Mobile phones can be connected to their networks very easily - and that's when you can really see the value of mobility."

Even if they do want to get more out of their mobile investment than simply handling voice calls and receiving emails, many don't know what features and functions to ask for when visiting a retail phone provider he adds. "They don't understand the business of phone technology and often end up buying the wrong phone for their needs or don't know how to take advantage of the capabilities that the device does have. No one talks infrastructure to them."

Alec Taylor, director of Mobile Communications Business for Microsoft Canada, says that without the right mobility tools and integration, business owners could be missing out on some huge productivity gains. "If you don't have the right mobile computing solution, you have to go back to the office to do things as basic as checking email or updating files," he says.

With the resources available today, every business should have the ability to access email, calendars and contacts while they're outside the office. "The value of Windows Mobile?? in that kind of scenario is that it offers the ease of use and familiarity that a person is used to at the office, so they can have the same user experience on their phone or at their desk," says Taylor.

The first step to mobile productivity therefore is ensuring you get the right phone and plan in place. "Almost every phone can receive email," says Steiner. "That's not difficult. The real advantage can be found when you integrate Windows Mobile with your networking technology so you have a real-time window into your Outlook and other applications back at the office. You can also have access to your calendar, contact lists, Word documents, scheduling and access tools you need to collaborate with co-workers."

The newest Windows Mobile 6 platform offers a range of additional features, including the ability to search the email server directly from a mobile phone based on specific criteria, including archived messages.

Selecting the right mobile device however depends very much on your day to day needs and travel schedule. Pocket PC style PDAs with built-in phones are ideal for business owners who need to work and edit documents, download programs and communicate with the server. Smart phones on the other hand enable access to email and documents for referral but do not allow for extensive editing functions, but are more compact and easier to use. "Before you decide you should talk to an integration expert to assess your needs and determine the best solution," says Steiner.

Whatever the device or package, the right mobile integration strategy can deliver considerable rewards for a business. When Tuppen Construction, a provider of insurance reconstruction services to insurance companies, decided to integrate Windows Mobile 5.0 devices with its existing IT infrastructure, the productivity of its estimators in the field improved dramatically.

The 16 field staff members can now check their emails and respond to customer inquiries without having to return to the office, as well as also use the camera on the device to email site photos to the head office and insurance companies. According to company president Melani Deckert, a staff supervisor took the capabilities one step further. "He had created an elaborate Excel spreadsheet for the scheduling of employees, tracking what stage every job is at, including which employee and sub trade is handling the job, and the estimated completion date. Now he can view and edit all that from his Pocket PC rather than trying to juggle a stack of work orders and handwritten notes."

The Windows Mobile platform also offers the flexibility to run the software programs used in the insurance industry and update scheduling. Deckert estimates that annual savings on gas alone is in the range of $16,000, not to mention the extra 'quality' time that staff can spend serving customers and responding to claims.

"With more than 18,000 applications that can run on Windows Mobile, the opportunities are endless," says Taylor. "Whether you are using it to enable a sales force or perform inventory management, the impact of integrated access can be enormous on your bottom line and personal life. After all who wouldn't want to go home to their families at the end of the day rather than having to go to the office to catch up?"

Microsoft has a variety of articles on mobile computing strategies for SMBs. For general information on products, business strategies and offers, visit: www.windowsmobile.ca