Oracle’s FastForward Promises Businesses Wireless Access in 15-
Days
No reason to be left behind by the wireless world.
But for some companies wireless technology stirs up visions of
complex and costly systems that take months to implement. Out to
conceive the unconverted is Oracle Corp. with the release of its
FastForward program that helps companies, in less than 15-days, to
implement wireless access to corporate e-mail and directory
services.
This fixed-cost, -time, and -scope implementation program will be
rolled out in the U.S., Asia and Europe with the help of ten
partners, including Internet service provider AnswerThink Inc.,
consultants Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, and global digital
solutions provider Razorfish.
FastForward is built on Oracle9i
Application Server Wireless Edition enabling workers fast access
to business information. Remote workers equipped with virtually any
wireless device including a Web-enabled phone, Palm Pilot or
BlackBerry will be able to check and respond to e-mail and find a
colleague’s contact information.
According to Francesca Mabarak, senior analyst, Wireless and
Mobile Technologies at The Yankee Group, FastForward is a low risk
way to offer workers wireless access to basic business functions
such as e-mail and directory. She added that once productivity
benefits are realized, "companies will quickly look to innovate
their business processes in other ways with mobile technology."
By getting companies onboard through a basic, low investment
plan, Oracle is obviously looking to retain FastForward customers
for the long-term, selling them upgrades for mobile products and
services.
For more information: http://www.oracle.com/corporate/press/index.html?679340.html
Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: We applaud Oracle
for FastForward implementation strategy for one of the most
important wireless applications i.e. e-mail. This is one of
the better ways to get your feet wet in wireless. However, a note of
caution if Oracle recommends its own e-mail infrastructure that is
not compatible with your corporate e-mail standards. Also, watch out
for the network service provider that Oracle and its business
partners may want to push. The implementation strategy is right but
the components that they may use to build your wireless foundations
may not be.
