Development of Smart Phone App for Business, Assessment Example

The company has implemented a new IT system and in order to help this new system the company requires new hardware. The IT system comprises of two elements. One is the offsite remote access and the other is an onsite network that gives access to the network. The engineers not having remote desktop access are not able to use the system; so they have to come a long way from their site to the office for reporting. In order to facilitate them, the company requires new hardware and a software application that will help their engineers who work on site. Due to the emergence in mobile technology and smart phones, it will be more beneficial and effective to have the mobile application for the Smart phone. 

Report A: Technical and Specific Valuation of the Technology

Smart Phone App:

The Smart phone applications selected are ‘Microsoft Remote Desktop App, Windows Remote Desktop, Splash top, Parallels Access, 2 X clients and Pocket cloud. The types of Smartphones that support this application are android phones, tablets and Apple iOS.

 Discussion of the Types and Costing guidelines

1. The Microsoft Remote Desktop app is free and can be downloaded from Google or Apple play store online. This app is available for iOS and android.
2. The second application is for the windows phone and it costs $ 1.99. It is usable by only windows phones.
3. Parallel access application is also free and is available in Apple play stores only and can be used in Apple phones.
4. Splash top is the application that can be used in BlackBerry, Android, Windows and iOS phones and cost 5 $.
5. Parallel access is another free application that is usable by apple phones only.
6. Pocket cloud is a free application that also usable in Apple phones only.

Discussion of applications currently available

All of these smartphone applications are available and needs to be downloaded on-line. There are many applications available and they vary from mobile to mobile. There is a difference in the operating system of each phone. Every operating system has a different shopping store to download these applications. Such as, Apple store, Google play store and Blackberry store etc.

Comparison of different Smartphone Applications

There are different smartphone applications for remote desktop access to PC that will aid the engineers working on site. The Microsoft Remote Desktop app is free and can be downloaded from Google or Apple play store online. The mobile phones supporting this are android and I-phones. The second application is for the windows phone and it costs $ 1.99-$3.0. It is usable by mobile supporting windows OS. Parallel access application is also free and is available in Apple play store only and can be used in I-Phones. Splash top is the application that can be used in BlackBerry, Android, Windows and iOS phones and cost 5 $-8 $.Parallel access and pocket cloud are another free application that are usable by I-phones only.

Discussion on the Benefits and limitations of these options

The limitation of the option is that there is a reduced functionality in the mobile as compared to accessing the desktop PC. It is less convenient to view files in the smartphone but still a lot of time of the engineers can be saved because they don’t have to go back to the office from site. If the site is far away, they can download this remote desktop application to access the content remotely with the help of smartphones.

Accessing Web via smart phone

Issues when accessing web through mobile

The only problem arising is the cost because 3G and 4G connection are costly. Other problem is that the mobile websites are not totally featured. Some functions are missing and they are reduced in order to make it compatible with the mobile phones.

Managing these issues

The main function of the mobile website that distinguish it from a website standard is the fact that mobile website is designed especially for touch screen interfaces or handheld displays. As similar to the website, the mobile website also shows the data, images, content and videos. But the problem is that they are not as fast or convenient as the website. There are also specific features of the mobile as well like call and click to dial the number or shopping based on location. 

Cost of web accessible service running

The mobile website is synonymous to a website such as HTML but the pages are linked together and accessed with the help of mobile. These include Wi-Fi, 4G or 3Gnetworks. However, the only problem arising is that the cost because 3G and 4G connection are costly.

Dedicated Hand held devices

The dedicated handheld devices which have these features are smartphone, windows phone, tablets. The software that support the mobile website can be blackberry, Apple, Android phones.

Recommendation

There is no fix criteria of selecting which is the best system i.e. either mobile website or application. It just depends on the needs of the organization and the goals. If the organization is into developing an interactive gaming then application is the best option to select. But if the company wants to give a mobile friendly wide possible content experience then the mobile website is the better option. So, it depends on the need of the organization.

Report B: Non-technical summary of the technologies to be considered

As the engineers are mostly on the site and cannot always access the computer so the right application for them is the remote desktop application. With the help of their tablet, smartphone or laptop they can access files remotely. This acts as a direct office machine portal which will allow the engineers to work remotely and report through their tablets or smartphones. There won’t be any need for them to come back to the office from site.

In order to establish the organization or business presence with mobile phones one of the most likely consideration that comes in mind is the application of mobile that is an app that they can download. The other is the mobile website. The apps and mobile website are very similar to each other but when determining which the best for the organization. There are various factors that need to be considered. One is the available budget, target audience, the features require and the intended purpose. Both the mobile websites and applications can be accessed and are handheld devices such as Blackberry, Android, I-phone and tablets.

On the other hand if we talk about application, these are installed and downloaded on the devices like mobiles and smartphones rather than being browser rendered. This is the difference between mobile app and mobile websites. These applications can be downloaded from the portal such as Blackberry, Android market, Google play store etc. and in order to download the app, the application needs to be found out. The application varies from operating system and the software of the mobiles. The data can be pulled out from the application with the use of Wi-Fi or data package of the mobile. The data package or Wi-Fi is similar to the Internet. Without Wi-Fi or data package, the application cannot be downloaded.

 Part B: Technical Specification Report outlining functionality needed in office

To: the Board of Directors

From: Senior IT Manager

Date: 31^st March, 2015

Subject: Technical Specification Report outlining functionality needed in office

As the back office requires 300 jobs to be carried out off site so with the addition of 200 calls every day fielded will help in printing and emailing invoices etc. The back office functions to be identified are dispatching of invoices and documents which are the main elements. So, in order to do that easily, the printer, envelope stuffer, email service, inkjet printers, franker and the ink costs etc. help to solve this issue. The prices of printers vary. The cost of laser jet printer varies from $ 200 to $ 300. Whereas, if the organization needs to reduce the cost, they can take the option of ink jet whose prices are half than that of laser jet. The prices range from $70 to 150$. The printer is essential for the back office operations so the organization has two alternatives available. Talking about the franker and envelop stuffer that is optional if the organization want it can add it but it’s not that essential to have.

If the company is buying an inkjet then it needs to refill but the cost depends on the black and colored printer. If the printer is colored the cost is more. So, the better alternative is to select the printer which is black and white as the ink refilling costs are low. The IT kit enables the back office functions to be implemented smoothly but the organization needs to select the best options that minimize cost.

The laser printer is expensive but it saves a lot of money because the refilling costs are minimized and the laser cartridge and its life are more. The color definition of the ink jet printer is much better but it’s very expensive. If the organization is selecting a laser printer then the most important thing to consider is the model. The cheaper the printer, the smaller the cartridge and lower the page yield. So, the organization can select the option of buying two printers. One is the inkjet and the other LaserJet. But the alternative and suggestion from my side is that the organization must go for a laser printer. It is a onetime investment and its saves money in the long run. One another way organization can save money is to buy cartridge that are refilled and they are 50% cheaper than the original price. The remanufactured and proper laser cartridges have excellent value. But sometimes they result in uneven printing and leakage. Anyways, the best option to do a lot of back filing work and to print invoices 300 jobs daily, the laser printer is the best option. Also if the organization implements the IT kit they need to take into account the email servicing option as it will make the work easier and efficient.

As an IT expert and manager, I would recommend the BODs to purchase additional laser printers, Email support services and the ink cartridges. Also, the paper needs to purchase in bulk and must be quality assured with that of laser printer. The IT Kit should be designed in such a way that is efficient and also reduces the cost in the long run. So, the organization can add the laser printer, envelope stuffer, email service, inkjet printers, franker and the ink costs in the IT Kit services. This must be selected in such a way that saves cost in the long run and is efficient for the operations.