Probably it is the portable computer, more than any other piece of equipment, that transforms an executive car into a mobile office. Laptops are particularly suitable for in car use; most have a cigar-lighter connection to link into the car's electrical system, as well as their own rechargeable batteries. The choice of equipment is wide, from an Amstrad costing a few hundred pounds to the powerful IBM PC-AT at over $1500. a printer is extra. most portable printers use thermal paper, but the Toshiba Express Writer 301 accepts plain paper and gives near letter quality print.
Such a combination enables business executives to handle routine correspondence while being driven to a business appointment. Come to that, they could do so on a train or a plane using the rechargeable batteries.
But the real breakthrough comes when the laptop is linked via the Securicor Communications SC1D cellular interface into the office computer, giving the user all the benefits of information technology that are normally available only to the office based executive. Some companies are already using this capability. for example, wheel clampers in London enter details of each car clamped into their portable computer and download all the data periodically with just one phone call.
A major electronic company’s service engineers can make one extra service call a day, thanks to access to the company computer in a mobile data system. With engineers charged at $100 an hour, it is easy to justify the cost. Sales people can type all the day's orders into the computer as they go along and send them down the line to head office at the end of the day. What could take a 15 minute conversation might use only a minute as computer data. Such a link also gives the executive on the move access to the last financial or technical information held on the company computer, bringing a new level of self-sufficiency to the mobile office.
All the equipment described is very compact. in theory it could be carried about by a couple of people so that a mobile office could be set up anywhere, on a beach or in the middle of a field. It is the limitations on portable battery power that tie the office to the vehicle (and the more powerful car battery) if the equipment is to be used for any length of time.
Such a combination enables business executives to handle routine correspondence while being driven to a business appointment. Come to that, they could do so on a train or a plane using the rechargeable batteries.
But the real breakthrough comes when the laptop is linked via the Securicor Communications SC1D cellular interface into the office computer, giving the user all the benefits of information technology that are normally available only to the office based executive. Some companies are already using this capability. for example, wheel clampers in London enter details of each car clamped into their portable computer and download all the data periodically with just one phone call.
A major electronic company’s service engineers can make one extra service call a day, thanks to access to the company computer in a mobile data system. With engineers charged at $100 an hour, it is easy to justify the cost. Sales people can type all the day's orders into the computer as they go along and send them down the line to head office at the end of the day. What could take a 15 minute conversation might use only a minute as computer data. Such a link also gives the executive on the move access to the last financial or technical information held on the company computer, bringing a new level of self-sufficiency to the mobile office.
All the equipment described is very compact. in theory it could be carried about by a couple of people so that a mobile office could be set up anywhere, on a beach or in the middle of a field. It is the limitations on portable battery power that tie the office to the vehicle (and the more powerful car battery) if the equipment is to be used for any length of time.
