So what do we actually mean by mobility.  Lets put some scope around this by placing it into a professional concept (google it and see). 

In this case we generally refer to solutions that provide universal access to information and applications that enable a professional to be ‘productive’ whenever and were ever they are.  Now this causes me some life choice pains as being contactable and productive 24/7 directly conflicts with personal priorities (i.e. quality time with my family). How can we draw a balance ?  Turn the BlackBerry OFF (won’t happen) !

No really, this presents considerable issues for every professional that I meet who use our Mobility Suite (or any other solution – but why would you?).  We can build the coolest applications that ensure one is connected and productive 24/7 but we cannot control how they are used and the work/life balance choices made by the individual.  Moreover as corporations provide these devices to their employees (often as an employment sweetener) there is an implication that said employee will be contactable 24/7, this in itself is unacceptable.

So what can we do?

Employers need to take responsibility. Mobile devices are an essential tool in business today, period.  Employers need to trust their employees, people (the right people anyway) will generally do the right thing and go above and beyond when needed (without being prompted).

We need to induce a mechanism that allows us to identify when people can be contacted.  Thus if the employee wants to be available rather than spending time with his/hers family – well this is a life choice they can make (without pressure).  OK I can hear everyone groaning…  Email kinda of solves this, but if you have your BlackBerry switched on and receive an email then it is difficult not to take a sneaky look at it regardless of whether you are at home, out to dinner or whatever.  But if we have a way to notify people and/or other systems that we are unavailable then we potentially solve this.  I know I know just turn the  BlackBerry OFF ! No need for more software solutions it is as easy as a software/hardware switch (not gonna happen).

Which brings me onto Presence…

So far we have not talked about the other-side of the coin.  What if we/I need to get in touch with someone URGENTLY – you know it can’t wait until Monday morning, I need to interrupt their Sunday lunch.  Well I can email them – but I don’t really know if they are reading their email.  I could phone them, but do I want to interrupt them during Sunday lunch as it can probably wait 1/2 hour or so (well we are not big on Sunday lunch ).  What I really need is a way to know if they are available and what medium I could use to contact them.  The answer – Presence information.

OK I admit the Sunday Lunch thing is a bit convoluted but, just think, you finish a morning meeting and what to know if another customer is available for a lunch time bite and chat about your latest and greatest Mobility Product (I am sure they would be if your paying!).  A look a my list of contacts along with their current presence information allows me to quickly identify whom to target.

Anyway,  this was not quite what I intended to start the Mobility Blog on, it just kind of happened – probably because I was multi tasking (IM with a colleague at the same time), yes us MEN can multi task (or co-operative task), OK I had to stop writing the blog to answer the IM messages).

I look forward to sharing some further thoughts about this topic with you guys over the following months.