Public CIO - December 2008/January 2009 - (Page 49)

BY EMMA NEWCOMBE CIOs Pluck BlackBerry Phones From the Field The highly popular smartphone runs plenty of government-specific applications. A lthough BlackBerrys offer music downloads, sports updates and many game applications, the device is more than just a sleek toy for the digital age. RIM, the maker of the popular mobile smartphone, has partnered with various vendors to develop applications that can help public CIOs and government workers stay up-to-date on current information, assess business analytics, communicate wirelessly with officials, and deliver fast, reliable service to constituents. Here are a few BlackBerry third-party applications, each customized to support a particular public-sector area. Webalo Mobile Dashboard Service www.webalo.com is a BI service that lets users quickly communicate essential information. Applicable to the government and higher education market, Webalo lets users load and distribute reports regarding inventory status, forecasts and other critical data. Field Service/Inspections: Fieldworkers can now access updates, dispatch information and other important data, increasing productivity and improving customer satisfaction. Vaultus Mobile Technologies www.vaultus.com lets fieldworkers access IT help desk applications on their BlackBerry. Users can view and update inventory, revise and create service tickets and perform asset management tasks. Aeroprise Inc. www.aeroprise.com gives users access to service management applications such as change management, asset management and the help desk through the BlackBerry, Aeroprise increases fieldworkers’ the capabilities. Higher Education: The BlackBerry has software for faculty, staff and students to stay connected, conduct research, update records and collaborate on projects. Impatica ShowMate www.impatica.com is a device that lets users project PowerPoint presentations from their BlackBerry without using a laptop. ShowMate displays all aspects of a presentation, from text and images to animation and slide transition effects. Public Safety/Law Enforcement: Applications give users real-time access to vital information, helping officials improve responsiveness and service to the public. ATS Voyager Technology www.atsva.com/markets-served/publicsafety.cfm provides secure wireless access to federal, state and local agency databases via the BlackBerry. Officials can conduct warrant checks and searches for stolen property without radioing a dispatcher. OnPatrol www.xwave.com keeps law enforcement officials in touch and secure. The application lets officers receive dispatches, send and receive messages, and access national police databases. Continuity of Operations Planning Applications: These applications give mobile users access to operations information, thus improving responsiveness to emergency situations in the public sector. OnSet METAmessage Emergency http://onsettechnology.com software lets users store and revise emergency documents, archive PIN/SMS (short message service) and send group messages, keeping officials in contact during a disaster. Wallace Incident Communicator www.wallacewireless.com maintains communication channels during a crisis through chat, PIN and even TV images on the BlackBerry. Ensure that plans, maps and other data are updated so that emergency management workers are prepared. Business Intelligence (BI): CIOs are turning to analytics to improve the delivery and performance of public services. BlackBerry users can extend the power of BI into the mobile work force with dashboards that give timely access to decision-making information. Cognos 8 Go Mobile http://na.blackberry.com/eng/solutions/needs/ intelligence/609071+CognosGo_FS+2.pdf analytical tool gives users access to timely, secure and personalized information on their BlackBerry. Key features include the ability to integrate reports, analyses and other BI content into applications and interfaces that everyday users are familiar with. The bottom line: From updating student records, searching a criminal database, creating a service ticket to sending a group message during an emergency, the BlackBerry has an application to help CIOs get their job done. With the development of these mobile applications for the public sector, BlackBerrys are clearly no longer just an expensive mobile phone; they can form a more sophisticated way of communicating that enhances productivity. ¨ Have a question about your BlackBerry? Talk with other government BlackBerry users at www.pinstack.com and www.blackberryforums.com. www.public-cio.com [49] http://www.webalo.com http://www.vaultus.com http://www.aeroprise.com http://www.impatica.com http://www.atsva.com/markets-served/public-safety.cfm http://onsettechnology.com http://www.atsva.com/markets-served/public-safety.cfm http://www.wallacewireless.com http://www.xwave.com http://na.blackberry.com/eng/solutions/needs/intelligence/609071 CognosGo_FS 2.pdf http://na.blackberry.com/eng/solutions/needs/intelligence/609071 CognosGo_FS 2.pdf http://www.pinstack.com http://www.blackberryforums.com http://www.public-cio.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public CIO - December 2008/January 2009

Public CIO - December 2008/January 2009 Contents Contributors Introduction Tense Times Insider Threat Twenty and Counting Labor of Love Putting Process Into Play Crossover Appeal FastGov CIO Central Security Adviser CIOs Pluck BlackBerry Phones From the Field Straight Talk

Public CIO - December 2008/January 2009

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