Page 2 - Top 10 Trends in IT for 2009 - IT Management

Mobility

It’s easy to forget that only a few years ago the typical office worker was bolted to a desk and connected to data by wires, cords and cables. Over the last few years, wireless technology—including 3G cellular data networks and widespread Wi-Fi—has opened the door to an anytime, anywhere business model.

The major drawback has been the necessity to grab data as needed and ensure that all data is synchronized on a real-time—or, at least, a near real-time—basis. “Ensuring that data is available when and where it’s needed has been an ongoing challenge,” says Bob Laliberte, an analyst for the Enterprise Strategy Group in Milford, Mass.

However, that situation is changing rapidly. Although BlackBerry devices have made it far easier to tackle e-mail and hop onto the Web, newer units such as the Apple iPhone are completely breaking down the boundaries between traditional computers and pocket computing. Already, firms such as Salesforce.com and Oracle have adapted enterprise apps for the iPhone.

Page 2 - Top 10 Trends in IT for 2009 - IT Management