According to Rococo chief executive officer Sean O'Sullivan, the project has been a success and the health board is now looking to add new functions to the PDAs. It is hoped that the pilot could lead to a wider-scale deployment.
Another project that the firm has pitched is a plan that could see the Department of Communications fund the initial deployment of wireless local area networks (WLANs) at Trinity College. Students could use these 802.11 and Bluetooth networks to access e-mail, check course information and access the university's Web site, through PDAs.
"We think the scheme could ease pressure in the university's computer labs, since many students primarily use the labs for checking e-mail," O'Sullivan said. Under the joint plan between the software company and Trinity, about 50 students would receive PDAs and WLANs would be established in various university locations. Rococo has not yet received the go-ahead for the scheme, but O'Sullivan said he is hopeful.
Rococo was founded three years ago, mostly by former Iona employees. The firm has received about EUR4 million in venture capital since it was established and it now has 18 workers. "Our primary focus is enterprise mobility solutions," O'Sullivan said, discussing the growth of the company. "But to be frank, we have moved into the public sector almost by accident over the last couple of years."
Indeed, analysts say that many corporations will remain tight-fisted in 2003 when it comes to spending cash on IT services, leaving only the government to draw cash from. An IDC report from November 2002 said that e-government alone will drive IT spending growth in Europe next year, with investment in such initiatives set to grow by 13 percent to USD2.8 billion. This high level of growth in an otherwise depressed market presents IT services companies with a golden opportunity, said IDC.
And Rococo has a few other plans to cash in on the government's desire to make its workforce more efficient while on the go. O'Sullivan said that Rococo has built a system that will let Irish government agents download data to PDAs to make checking government-issued licences (such as TV licences) more efficient. The Rococo boss could not reveal the specific department involved in the plan, nor would he say what sort of licence inspectors would use the PDAs, although an announcement is set to be made in the coming months.
A final scheme that the company is completing is one that will see over 100 government workers, who are frequently out of the country but would not be in a position to use laptops regularly, receive PDAs to allow them to access e-mail while abroad. Once again, however, O'Sullivan would not be drawn on the particular agency involved in the plan.
Next month, Rococo will host a half-day seminar, along with First Tuesday, Microsoft and HP, on how to avoid common pitfalls when implementing mobility solutions. The event takes place on 5 February at the Westbury Hotel, off Grafton Street in Dublin. More information can be found on the
Quelle: electrnic news
