BOCA RATON, FL – Siemens Communications, Inc., and @Road, Inc., a global provider of mobile resource management (MRM) and intelligent field service automation solutions, have announced that @Road has selected the Siemens MC75 wireless module for use in the @Road iWM 3150, a mobile Wi-Fi hub that can connect field service professionals to critical data in real time – even as they work on site.

The next-generation @Road Internet Wireless Manager (iWM) 3150 combines integrated global positioning satellite (GPS) and Wi-Fi mobile hotspot capabilities with the Siemens wireless module MC75 solution, the first quad-band GSM/GPRS (global system for mobile communications and general packet radio services) module with integrated EDGE technology. EDGE technology has a wireless data transfer rate that is up to three times higher than GPRS, making it one of the fastest data transfer options within the scope of GSM technology available today.

With greater data transfer speeds, the EDGE-based @Road iWM 3150 can help provide field service technicians and other mobile workers with on-demand wireless connectivity between a Wi-Fi enabled device, such as a PDA or laptop, and back-office enterprise applications. For instance, remote tasks such as opening and updating work orders, accessing e-mail, viewing customer records, updating inventory, placing orders, or reviewing upcoming assignments can be accomplished quickly with connections that include security features in the field and at the point of customer contact.

The @Road iWM 3150 MRM solution can also enable enterprises to gain greater visibility into the status and locations of mobile resources, workers and work processes. In turn, this can allow enterprises to more efficiently and effectively respond to customer needs through an optimized service delivery process that can greatly improve mobile worker productivity, customer satisfaction and revenue.

General availability of the @Road iWM 3150, a component of the @Road Mobile HotSpot and extension of the @Road signature GeoManagerSM MRM solution, is expected this fall. @Road, however, is already deploying @Road iWM 3150 devices as part of a limited customer roll-out.