PortNexus is a new idea for easily and efficiently distributing Pocket PC software and configurations. Using a PortNexus terminal, a Pocket PC can be loaded up with a complete configuration including a custom menu system and pre-selected software. Not only is the software loaded on the Pocket PC, it's also registered with the software publisher, all through the PortNexus system. This system has promise in two areas: as a turnkey solution for retailers who sell Pocket PCs, and as a scalable system for deploying Pocket PCs in large enterprises.
Real Estate Ventures
A freshly minted real estate agent needs the tools of the trade. These include an organizer, a note keeper, a spreadsheet program, loan amortization software, home rating software, Acrobat Reader, a prospect manager, and much more. What does she do? She goes to her local electronics retailer and purchases a Pocket PC along with the PortNexus real estate package.
The store sales rep takes the new Pocket PC and synchronizes it with the store's PortNexus DealerPort terminal. Standard software registration information is obtained from the purchaser and is entered into the DealerPort. The sales rep clicks one button and all of the requested software is magically registered with the software vendor and is installed on the Pocket PC, with no other human intervention.
Ten minutes after entering the store, our real estate agent exits with all the software tools that she needs along with a brand new fully configured Pocket PC: she's ready to make her first sale. Meanwhile her registration information is safe and sound; should she purchase another Pocket PC, or experience a hard reset, she loses nothing but a little time and perhaps some stored data. Her configuration and all of her registered software are easily restored onto her Pocket PC at the store where she bought it.
The concept of the PortNexus DealerPort is simple yet elegant. This system is designed to be used at retail outlets such as Circuit City, Best Buy, or at cell phone stores that sell Pocket PCs, Smartphones and accessories. The DealerPort Terminal handles the entire software registration and setup of a customized set of applications, such as the complete software suite designed specifically for our real estate agent. This can include programs that she personally selects as well as a standard basic set of applications.
Along with the easy setup, PortNexus also offers a simplified Pocket PC interface using a set of custom icon-based menus designed specifically for each set of applications installed on the Pocket PC. (See Figs. 1 and 2 for the real estate example.)
Figs. 1 and 2: Portions of the real estate menu interface
Enter the Navy
Recently my company deployed a number of Pocket PCs to a United States Navy base in Florida for a beta test of new software. We deployed Pocket PCs with the standard Windows Mobile interface rather than the custom PortNexus-based interface because this was a controlled test for basic usability. After a few days the team leader at the selected Sea Hawk helicopter squad, AE1 Watters, told me that he was having problems keeping the mechanics from playing with the Pocket PCs. “Can you take Solitaire off the PDA?” he asked. “I need them to do their jobs, not play games.”
Because we can custom configure the DealerPort terminal, I assured him that indeed we can keep the mechanics from playing Solitaire and a whole lot more. PortNexus has designed controls into the DealerPort terminal that will actually restrict what the end user is capable of doing. This includes defaulting to the PortNexus interface for all functions on the Pocket PC as well as access of all custom installed software. This means that the Start button can be hidden and that programs may not be run from any place outside of the default interface. To the Navy this means no more Solitaire, just what team leader AE1 Watters wanted.
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