The recently launched Office Anywhere offering from Vodacom will be beefed up beyond office automation, say partners Vodacom and Accenture. In first mobilising Vodacom`s own IT helpdesk function, the companies are focusing on mobilising corporate systems.
The move is intended in part to provide a proof of concept for the partners` own sales pitch.
To drive adoption of mobile data, Vodacom has developed a partnership network with service providers, application and device vendors as well as systems integrators.
The partner network`s first move, according to representatives, had been for Vodacom employees to be given mobile access to e-mail, using Microsoft technology and Accenture expertise.
According to Chris Ross, Vodacom Connect director, the pilot fuelled Vodacom`s intent to mobilise other business systems, such as the IT service desk, customer relationship management systems and enterprise resource planning systems, among others.
"The IT service desk will be the pilot project used to prove the value of mobilising business systems other than those related to personal information management which are mainly e-mail, calendar and contact directory functions."
According to Accenture associate director, Ashraff Paruk, and Microsoft SA telecommunications industry manager, Cyril Belikoff, the mobile IT service desk will increase the helpdesk`s productivity. Access will be given via multiple mobile devices, including Wireless Application Protocol phones and Pocket PC personal digital assistants, using General Packet Radio Services technology.
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