BUSINESS APPLICATIONS. Mobile office and intranet (internal
company Internet) applications are essential for business and
corporate users. Business users are usually the highest spending
and highest usage market segments.
The initial demand for wireless services will likely be generated
by the business and vertical (specific industry applications
that solve a business problem) sectors, because business
customers have the greatest need for the high-speed services.
These services need to be time-critical (existing business users
are frustrated by the slow speed of cellular data). It is also easier
to justify a financial benefit for business users compared to
residential (entertainment) users.
Business users have the greatest need for applications such
as file transfer or email with attachments using mobile (location
independent) delivery. These applications could be significantly
improved by the increase in data speed as offered by 3G
wireless systems. Mobile data applications are already being
used in specific types of companies, such as utilities, to operate
and maintain critical facilities. Companies that use mobile
data for these applications are committed heavy users.