Workers Use Cell Phones to Submit Data

Jeff Bonar holds his Blackberry, for which he has designed software to fit the needs of any company, in Doral, Fla., Wednesday, May 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky - AP)

Several companies provide real-time business communication and processing services using a variety of mobile devices that look like minicomputers.

Jacksonville-based ICS Inc. provides RF-Smart, a real-time wireless data collection application used in manufacturing distribution and logistics, such as tracking warehouse inventory, said marketing director Pete Palazzolo.

ICS uses hand-held devices, offered by a handful of companies such as Symbol Technologies, that often include mini-keyboards, bar code scanners and radios. They are generally larger and bulkier than cell phones, but also lend themselves to more complicated tasks with larger visual screens, easier-to-use keyboards and a more rugged build.

Motorola Inc., which bought Symbol in January, currently offers a system that can collect and transmit data through specialized mobile computers and allow workers to talk walkie-talkie style or over a cellular network.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis says JumpStart's technology is saving the school about $300 per month for 95 maintenance workers, said Russ Woodard, maintenance project manager at the school.

"The thing that really sold our school is that is virtually eliminates mistakes on time cards," Woodard said. "To be able to have everything, all in one unit, is so handy."

Such interest makes the market a candidate for growth. According to estimates by the Yankee Group, a technology research company, about $5.9 billion will be spent on work-related software for mobile devices in 2009, a 47.5 percent increase from $4 billion in 2006.

Jim Kelleher, a senior analyst with Argus Research Corp., said any young company such as JumpStart would want to identify a niche to be successful.

"You need to find a narrow niche, identify a need, build a need and sit back to either get squashed by the big guys or get bought by the big guys," he said.

Bonar said JumpStart's core technology down the road will be protected because it has three patents pending. And JumpStart, in the future, may not be a standalone company.

"We fully expect to get acquired at some point by a big company that wants what we have," Bonar said.