At a point in time when wireless service providers are beginning to roll out improved - but not truly broadband - mobile data services, research firm TeleChoice has examined what end users (and particularly, business end users) will require from next-generation broadband mobile services.
"First among these user requirements is the ability to support a wide range of IP-based business applications, ranging from email to ERP" says a spokesperson for TeleChoice.
"Today's wireless data system support for limited and proprietary applications must migrate towards a broader
adoption of standard business applications."
A broadband mobile service should also provide levels of performance and security equivalent to wired solutions.
"Mobile workers require enough bandwidth and throughput, combined with low latency, to 'feel on-net' even
when they are away from the office" says the research firm.
The broadband mobile service should also utilize strong encryption and support for Virtual Private Networking (VPN) protocols to enable mobile workers to confidently use the service for confidential business communications.
Additionally, a mobile broadband service should provide "true" mobility,
offering customers coverage that is geographically both broad and deep, allowing nationwide roaming and extensive coverage throughout service areas.
Any next-generation broadband mobile service should also allow customers a
broad choice of devices -- supporting, in other words, existing devices like laptop computers or PDAs as well as providing support for future generations of purpose-built, broadband-enabled devices.
"Many service providers are considering building broadband 'overlays' to
their existing circuit-switched voice networks" notes TeleChoice Analyst Pat
Hurley.
"Business users of broadband services, on the other hand, have built a range of mission-critical applications around packet-based IP networks. In
order to meet the needs of these customers, mobile broadband solutions should
build on this same packetized IP network, and provide users the levels of performance and security they get from their wired networks."

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