Mobile Computing Trends and Hitachi Products
Shuhei Hori Overview: We are seeing the beginning of a major shift in expectations regarding the core competencies of companies and the core skills and collaboration capabilities of individuals. These changed expectations have been triggered by a host of recent developments: slow economic growth, the easing of regulatory restraints beginning with the so-called big-bang opening of financial markets, cut-throat competition between companies, the collapse of the traditional ranking by seniority system, and the transition to more discretionary labor practices. Today more creative and innovative energy is being demanded of individuals, not so much as isolated individuals, for the continued presence of robust companies is essential. But what we see being demonstrated today is that, while continuing to value teamwork, the importance of utilizing individuals of the fullest degree is clearly on the rise. Meanwhile, in contrast to the unrelenting business environment, individuals are seeking greater harmony and comfort and richness in their personal and social lives. A good deal of public attention is focused on the recent emergence of mobile computing, made possible by the continued evolution of mobile terminals and mobile network infrastructure. Mobile computing enables a new style of activity, unfettered by time and space, that can be applied to business and non-business endeavors alike. Hitachi, Ltd. has developed a full array of mobile products for implementing mobile computing systems including notebook PCs, handheld PCs, PC cards, mobile middleware, and a host of other products. By providing viable mobile computing solutions, Hitachi is contributing to the formation of a people-oriented advanced information society.
INTRODUCTION
THE importance of data literacy and the necessity for manipulating data in ways that overcome temporal and spatial limitations continue to increase for pursuing corporate and non-business endeavors alike. But mobile computing is clearly emerging as an indispensable network infrastructure for pursuing business and non-business activities in the emerging information society.
What makes mobile computing of such compelling interest is the remarkable improvement in the mobile environment that can be attributed to a number of key technological developments: the widespread penetration of mobile terminals and enterprise LANs, the rapid deployment and expansion of wireless communications infrastructure, and the dramatic improvement in transmission speeds. This article will outline recent technological trends in mobile computing, identify key application areas, highlight future prospects, and detail some of Hitachi’s initiatives relating to mobile computing.
TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS IN MOBILE COMPUTING
Up until fairly recently numerous obstacles stood in the way of widespread deployment of mobile computing. Most notably these include the bulky size, weight, poor functionality and performance, and high price of mobile terminals themselves; as well as the low speed, high rates, and relatively poor reliability of the mobile communications facilities. However, recent technological gains have remarkably improved the performance of mobile computers while decreasing their size and power consumption, and a diverse array of mobile terminals has now become available. More widespread use of mobile computing has also been fueled by faster bit rates and lower charges for mobile communications, far more reliable mobile middleware, and the evolution of new architectures targeting full practical deployment of wide-ranging mobile computing systems for business as well as non-business applications.
Hardware Technology: Mobile Terminals and Peripherals
A recent issue of Radio Wave News projected a domestic market for mobile terminals on the order of 4 million units by the year 2000, but the last year or two has witnessed the emergence of successive new markets for a wide range of mobile terminals exploiting recent gains in miniaturization, weight reduction, and performance to extend functionality and performance. Within this relatively short time frame, we have seen the emergence of a diverse array of new products that give users a full range of options including: slim-profile notebook, subnotebook, and mini notebook PCs running Windows 95* focusing on full functionality with keyboard input; handheld PCs running Windows CE that has the look and feel of Windows with an emphasis on mobility; personal digital assistants (PDAs) with a proprietary operating system that employ stylus pen-based input, again with an emphasis on mobility; PDAs with built-in cellular phone and
Personal Handyphone System (PHS) hookups; and mobile smart phones and terminals featuring simple communications applications. Within this diverse array of products, there is a solution here for virtually any prospective mobile user.
Present trends toward smaller, lighter weight, and higher performance devices will continue as well as the on-going convergence of cell phones and mobile terminals. But at the same time, efforts will continue to focus on pushing down the power consumption of mobile terminals and extending the lifetime of nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion, and lithium polymer batteries in response to the on-going demand for longer operating times and freedom of use.
Meanwhile a diverse range of peripheral devices is also being scaled down in size and power consumption for mobile applications. Products are already available for digital cameras and image scanner as input devices and printers for output devices, and it is projected that the market for peripheral devices will, along with Fig. 1—Mobile Computing System.
Opens the way to virtual offices and virtual cyber communities in mobile space by overcoming temporal and spatial limitations. Users can communicate whenever and wherever and with whomever they want over a diverse range of networks.
A life-enhancing information society permitting us to organize our business and personal lives in global network space
Enterprise information system Public information provisioning system Low-earth-orbiting satellites (700-1000km) Internet/intranets Balloons
(moored to stratosphere platform)
Cyber community Home Telecommuting SOHO Satellite office Mobile
PDA : personal digital assistant PDC : personal digital cellular PHS : personal handyphone system SOHO: small office home office
Notebook PCs
Handheld PCs PDA Pagers Visual radio
Company Society Office/other destinations Virtual office Smart phones PDC PHS
mobile computing, experience dynamic growth. Communications Technologies: Mobile Communications
Impressive progress has been achieved at increasing the throughput while at the same driving down the cost of digital mobile phones and PHS service. According to a recent survey by Japan’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, some 36.54 million cellular phones and 6.26 million PHS subscriptions had been sold by the end September 1998 for a total of 42.8 million, and the rate of increase is accelerating2). By the year 2000, we expect to see about 60 million portable phones in use, which is approximately the same as the number of fixed landline phones that are in use.
The current throughput rates for transmitting data in the mobile environment are 29.2 kb/s over the PHS based on the PHS Internet Access Forum Standard (PIAFS) and 9.6 kb/s (or 28.8 kb/s for packet-switched service) over a mobile phone. These throughputs are projected to increase dramatically in the years ahead to the 64kb/s-to-128kb/s range for PHS by the year 2000, to the 384kb/s-to-2Mb/s range when the next-generation mobile phone system IMT 2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications) is deployed in the year 2001, and to the 10Mb/s-to-30Mb/ s range when the MMAC (Multimedia Mobile Access Communication) system is implemented in the year 2002.
Turning to satellite communications, new services are expected to become available as early as 1999 that use low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites launched into orbits around 1,000 km above the earth that are capable of serving the entire world and will support data communications rates of 2,400 b/ps. Another approach that has recently come under consideration is to tether high-altitude balloons to platforms launched into the stratosphere about 20 km above the earth’s surface, and use those as communications and broadcasting relay bases3).
Here we would note that, although the mobile environment is now being implemented and extended, the present-day proportion of non-voice traffic carried by the personal digital cellular phone and the personal handyphone system is still very small and constitutes only a fraction of the total traffic carried. The next-generation mobile telephone system to be deployed in 2000 will support the transmission of video, but looking further ahead, mobile communications will develop in ways that are far beyond what we can imagine today.
Software Technology: Mobile Middleware
Most existing applications were developed for LAN environments, but now mobile middleware is attracting a great deal of interest. Middleware is capable of supporting the reliable transmission of data even over mobile phone and PHS links that are inherently less stable than LAN connections. This type of software is also called mobile agent software.
Functions performed by mobile middleware in wireless mobile networks include:
(1) automatic retransmission of data when a connection is lost in mid transmission,
(2) encryption and authentication for security, (3) data compression to increase throughput and reduce circuit costs,
(4) batch transmission and asynchronous transmission to minimize circuit connection time, and
(5) handling messages associated with requests that are sent and results received when server-side processing is sent to multiple applications.
Middleware supporting these capabilities has already reached the stage of practical deployment. APPLICATION AREAS FOR MOBILE
COMPUTING
The introduction of mobile computing systems that are unencumbered by limitations of time and space promises to bring a host of beneficial effects. For example, they will make it possible in business and non-business contexts alike to input data or obtain information right on the spot, to utilize travel time much more efficiently, and promote further digitization of information. Use of mobile computing by companies will also speed up decision making, enable companies to respond to customer requests more promptly, and reinforce customer service support. Today, as the mobile computing infrastructure continues to be upgraded and extended, this is spurring the introduction of systems targeting different sectors and types of businesses that exploit the power of mobile computing. Looking ahead to the year 2000 when the infrastructure is further developed to support faster throughputs, we can anticipate a wide range of applications that exploit full-motion video and other multimedia capabilities. Fig. 2 shows a sampling of the application areas that are likely to expand as the mobile infrastructure continues to evolve.
Mobile computing applications can be divided into general functions such an e-mail and browsing that are used by business and non-business users alike, and specialized functions tailored for a specific type of
business or task. Let us consider some of these capabilities in more detail. A diverse array of e-mail programs are extensively available either as a standard browser add-on or as freeware or shareware available over the net. Browsers are de facto products, and are therefore provided as a proprietary application on PDAs and similar devices or are selected in accordance with the capabilities and performance of a mobile terminal.
Now turning to specialized functions tailored for
specific businesses or tasks, considerable attention has recently come to focus on Sales Force Automation (SFA), that essentially provides users with immediate access to sales department data4). A wide variety of software packages are now being developed— company-wide business support systems, sales department strategic information systems, data management tools for individual business people just to name a few—and products are beginning to appear on the market which assume the use of a mobile
TABLE 1. Application Examples
A diverse range of uses for mobile computing in each type of business.
Fig. 2—Mobility-oriented Communications Infrastructure and Application Examples. Application areas expand with deployment of new infrastructure.
Information distribution (one-way) Information interchange (interactive)
3 kbit/s 30 kbit/s 300 kbit/s 3~30 Mbit/s
• Local organizations: community information
• Individuals: full multimedia
• Schools: campus system • Museums: exhibit guide • Art museums: exhibit guide • Libraries: collection guide • Sports facilities: event data
• Maintenance personnel: video maintenance data
• Police reports: accident site info • Insurance: vehicle accident photos • General construction businesses: on-site info • Facilities maintenance: facilities photos • Restaurants: guide, reservations • Insurance: customer data
• Maintenance personnel: text maintenance data
• Business: business support info • Used car sales: auctions
• Individual: visual info
• Retirement homes: notification info • Evacuation grounds: on-site photos • First aid: first-aid support • Delivery: maps
• Race track: odds, betting tickets • Businessmen: e-mail
• Medical businesses: medical product data
• Theme park: event guide • Tourist sites: maps, navigation • Towns: shopping guides • Terminals: travel info, events • Farming: farm, weather info
For communications Still images Speech, text Transmission speed Decrease Increase Video Improve competitiveness Improve business efficiency
Improve customer lead followup
Improve business administration efficiency Improve on-site inspection efficiency
Improve competitiveness Improve business efficiency
Strengthen business negotiation position Bolster followup capabilities
Improve product management accuracy Improve ordering, inventory, work efficiency
Improve sales lead followup Improve business efficiency
Improve inspection efficiency
Improve management administration efficiency
Improve work efficiency Improve customer service
Improve operating efficiency
Business Applications Objectives
Financial
Insurance
Medical supplies
Retail store
Household goods, grocery
Construction
Shipping
Restaurants
Liaison with branches; interview, customer planning Financial calculations, interview record
Prospective client, subscriber management Premium calculation; insurance planning
Accident calculation, business activity management
Record orders
Check stock, prices; check supply performance
Check medical supplies; customer, sales data management E-mail, electronic settlement; business activity, expense reporting
Place orders; check inventory; manage consolidation and delivery Record store sales, external orders
Customer data management
Check client data; record orders
Check inventory; followup inventory leads
Product reliability data; business activity management
Work completion inspections, finish-work management Manage production; equipment, site work
Consolidation, delivery records Destination, delivery notification
terminal. Table 1 highlights the range of applications that are possible by harnessing the power of mobile computing.
HITACHI’S INITIATIVES
Hitachi, Ltd. has developed an extensive range of products for the mobile marketplace including highly regarded notebook PCs, handheld PCs, and other mobile terminals; various kinds of PC cards for different networks; network products including network access servers; and a variety of middleware packages to provide a more congenial mobile computing environment. Hitachi also provides an array of solutions and services for planning and building mobile systems (including planning, developing, and testing) as well as operating mobile systems (deploying and maintaining). Table 2 presents a summary overview of Hitachi’s main mobile computing products.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
The mobile computing sector will experience vigorous growth in the years ahead as data communications technologies and application technologies continue to evolve. More specifically, we anticipate a growing polarization between performance multifunction terminals and high-performance function-specific terminals. We also foresee a growing trend toward the convergence of mobile phones (cellular and PHS-based) with mobile terminals, substantial improvement in usability, further reductions in size and bulk, and a wide range of other enhancements in response to user feedback. Ultimately, we anticipate that people will be able to store all their personal data on a single IC card that they can carry around and that they can quickly and easily load into any mobile computer. And taking this trend toward miniaturization even further, we envision a wearable type terminal—that is, one that can be worn
like an accessory—in the intermediate-term future. This ability to carry around unlimited personal information in a totally non-obtrusive and easy-to-access device will have far-reaching implications, for it will allow people to utilize information in a way that genuinely heralds the advent of the advanced information age. It would permit people to maintain virtual offices, homes, and communities wherever they happen to be; and allow them to access information and communicate whenever, wherever, and with whomever they desire.
Meanwhile, faster data speeds will support a growing number of multimedia capabilities, a proliferation of applications, and a vast increase in the availability of mobile contents services. Indeed, some data services optimized for mobile terminals are already being tested and evaluated on various web sites, and are rapidly advancing toward practical availability. One promising new service that is currently in the trial stage is a location-dependent service5) based on the location data that is stored in the PHS network. Potential applications are endless. In the business sphere, for example, such a service could be used to manage maintenance personnel, to manage delivery vehicles, or to support various welfare-related services. In the non-business realm, the service might enable people to obtain area maps and other related information for virtually any kind of public place (e.g., libraries, museums, hospitals, universities, government offices, theme parks, department stores, theaters, sports facilities, movie theaters, horse and other race-course facilities, train stations, bus stops, train and flight time schedules, specific buildings, offices, and so on). Along with the transformation of business style, the trend toward virtual offices based on mobile computing will continue to evolve. And if the entire workforce becomes mobile, this would unleash individual creativity, promote faster decision making, and energize and speed up corporate activities. And as the TABLE 2. Mobile Computing Product Overview.
A wide range of products are available for implementing mobile computing systems.
• Mobile terminals capable of business processing in a mobile environment · VisionBook Traveler (148 × 210 mm PC) · VisionBook Pro (all-in-one notebook PC) · PERSONA (handheld PC)
• PIAFS-based systems (office cordless phone system) • Network equipment
Network access server • Peripheral devices (PC cards)
• Middleware addressing unique problems of the mobile environment
• Compression and encryption software • Database access software
• Groupware supporting communication in browser environment (mail, scheduling)
• Application-tailored usage
Business-oriented applications such as those highlighted in Table 1
transformation of individual life styles continues to unfold, we will see a growing trend toward virtual homes and virtual communities. The shape of things to come is already becoming apparent, but I anticipate the emergence of an all-mobile life style involving people of all ages from young to old in the not-too-distant future. By giving people access to information whenever and wherever they are through mobility, this will hasten the advent of the emerging cyber society. Future prospects of the various components or aspects of mobile computing are highlighted in Table 3. CONCLUSIONS
In this article we have surveyed recent technological trends in mobile computing, identified key application areas, highlighted future prospects, and detailed some of Hitachi’s initiatives pertaining to mobile computing. Along with further technological advances and the deployment of more robust infrastructure facilities, mobile computing will continue to evolve as more applications and effective environments for using mobile computers emerge. As people employ mobile computing to pursue more interesting and productive personal lives and to vitalize and speed up business activities, this will generate valuable feedback enabling us to build pr oducts that meet the needs and expectations of mobile users better than ever before. Hitachi is committed to provide a full range of products including hardware, middleware, and services that give users a deeper sense of satisfaction, and to stepped-up efforts to achieve genuine mobile computing solutions.
REFERENCES
(1) Radio Wave News, 2nd Comprehensive Computer Special Issue, “Mobile Computer,” p. 31, January 9, 1998.
(2) Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications w eb site, “Subscribers to mobile communications services: current status,” posted at the web site from the end of August 1998 to present, http://www.mpt.go.jp/pressrelease/japanese/new/ 981007d602.html.
(3) Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications web site, “Full-scale rollout of the Skynet project,”http://www.mpt.go.jp/ pressrelease/japanese/new/980907d601.html.
(4) Japan Management Association web site, “Next-generation business strategies based on survey of actual SFA conditions in the U.S. and actual mobile-SFA conditions among Japanese companies,” http://mcc.jma.org.jp/.
(5) Mobile info-search trials, Internet service provisioning based on PHS positional data, http://www.kokono.net/.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shuhei Hori
Joined Hitachi, Ltd. in 1974 and now works at the System Products Planning Department of the Information Business Planning Department in Planning Headquarters. He is currently engaged in business planning for medium-to-long-range system products. Mr. Hori can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
TABLE 3. Near-term Outlook for Aspects of Mobile Computing.
* Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
Area
Outlook
Mobile terminals Peripheral devices Mobile
communications Middleware Applications Contents Total system • Polarization toward 2 types: high performance multifunction and high performance function specific • Convergence with mobile communication • Wearable • External memory devices • Software implementation of PC card function • High-speed generation mobile phones • Wide-area satellite communications • Full deployment of mobile agents • Multimedia applications including video • Place-dependent services • Services for consideration at web sites • Incorporate successful implementations • Expansion of application areas • Trend toward all mobile environment
