Get connected: your top questions about wireless technology answered.

David King

Red Level Networks

What would be unwise for my business not to have right now, technologically speaking?

Simply put, not just backups, but online backups. We insure our cars, employees, even ourselves - but what about our business? In today's modern information-driven business environment, our business is our data. Being without that information is very costly, and in many cases, can put a company out of business if the information loss is serious enough. For the cost of a few cups of coffee, online backups can augment or even replace traditional methods of backups removing human intervention, which is most often the cause for incomplete or inconsistent backup operations.

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Earle Powers

Verizon Wireless

What's new in wireless technology for my business?

BlackBerry Professional Software is an affordable in-house solution providing user-friendly wireless access to e-mail, calendar. Internet and intranet applications with advanced security. When installed onto a company's in-house Microsoft Exchange or IBM Lotus Domino messaging and collaboration server, this software tightly integrates with the server to provide synchronized and secure wireless access to e-mail and Java-and Internet-based applications. The software is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

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Glen Flower

MetroPCS

If I want to advertise to wireless customers, what are my options today? In the future?

Nowadays, cell phones are becoming a necessity, and no matter what age someone is, they are bound to use it as their first choice of communication. This can be easily seen as more and more people are eliminating their landline and replacing it with the cell phone. Cell phones allow advertisers to advertise on a medium that is guaranteed to be seen or heard, via text message, picture mail or voicemail. The usual outlest like TV and print are a very crowded market, which is why cell phones offer another outlet that is less crowded and used quite frequently.

When will I be able to use any device I want when I sign up for a wireless plan?

There are certain technical issues that have to be over come for this to happen, however, there are solutions becoming available that may make this possible in the near future.

Ron Petrous

Wireless Toyz

When will I be able to use any device I want when I sign up for a wireless plan?

The wireless industry is beginning to respond to consumers' increasing demand for the freedom and flexibility to 'mix-and-match' their phone with a plan. Every day more manufacturers, such as Nokia and Sony Erickson, are offering "unlocked" phones that will work on any network - very similar to the freedom enjoyed by European and Asian consumers. The advantages of unlocked phones include allowing individuals to keep their phone regardless of whether they decide to switch service providers, having the ability to load any application on the phone and easily making overseas calls by switching the phone's SIM card.

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Can I prepay for the number of minutes I want my sales reps to use so they can buy their own minutes for anything more?

Prepaid service plans such as those offered by Metro PCS are one option businesses consider, particularly those that employ sales associates that travel locally. Another alternative is the 'unlimited' plans several national and regional service providers have recently unveiled that allow you to offer your staff unlimited calling plans at a set rate, saving time for you and your staff to focus on bottom-line results rather than combing through monthly bills to identify and expense business calls.

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If I want to advertise to wireless customers, what are my options today? In the future?

Mobile advertising is really in its infancy today and it will continue to evolve as the sophistication of the features and functions of the phones develop. Currently, text message-based mobile advertising is the most common, but as mobile networks combine everything from the Internet and video to texting and gaming, mobile advertising that incorporates all these features will become more common.

Is there a data-only wireless solution available today, or do I need voice too?

Currently, service providers offer data packages as 'add ons' to existing voice plans. This arrangement has worked well to-date, particularly for business travelers, because it allows them to stay connected to the office in a variety of ways. That said, as the popularity of data services like text messaging and e-mail continue to increase, the industry will likely evaluate the needs and demands of consumers and adjust their plans accordingly. Another product that individuals looking for a seamless from the office to the road should consider is an Air Card. An Air Card allows you to connect easily to the Internet anywhere a cell phone works. You no longer have to worry about the reliability of hotel, airport or cafe Wi-Fi.

Brain Ducharme

AT&T Wireless

What would be unwise for my business not to have right now, technologically speaking?

It's all about connectivity these days, and AT&T is committed to making sure professionals can access information they need everywhere they live and work. Devices such as the Blackberry Curve and the Blackjack II help keep business people connected. And, of course, the ever popular iPhone is a hot item now that it's available to small businesses. Next, customers should leverage our laptop cards-these laptop cards allow customers to have high speed Internet access throughout the Detroit area and when they travel. AT & T is pleased to offer a wide variety of devices to fit the needs of our business customers.

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When will I be able to use device I want when I sign up for a wireless plan?

AT & T offers customers more choices of devices, applications, service plans, billing options, places to shop and worldwide coverage than any other U.S. wireless provider. This choice is what really matters to customers. If a customer brings us any GSM phone that works on our frequencies, we will set them up with the service to meet their needs. CDMS carriers do not and cannot offer this ability today.

Kimberly Green-Kerr

Sprint

When will I be able to use any device I want when I sign up for a wireless plan?

The United States offers consumers the advantages of an open market. As a result of the carriers' ability to select technologies based on their competitive advantage, the industry is one of the most competitive in the marketplace. The carriers are using several different technologies-CDMA, iDEM and GSM.

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If I want of advertise to wireless customers, what are my options today? In the future?

Ultimately, mobile advertising will benefit customers by accelerating and enriching the development of mobile entertainment content to provide a richer, more relevant and satifying experience. This new revenue source will allow content developers to continue to affer and improceimprove mobile web content. For example, the Weather Channel's Hurricane Tracker service may not have been possible if it weren't for the support of sponsors. In addition, FOX's Prison Break mobisodes launched on Sprint phones earlier this year with a 10-second promotional message from Toyota.