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 Rich
Tehrani Planet PDA Review
Released: Dec 4th, 2001
Rich Tehrani, President & Group Editor of TMCNET - the event
organizers for Planet PDA Expo- Dec 4-6th, 2001 in Las Vegas.
Rich has been using Venue Maitre'D even before the show and with
the participation of Symbol - we have wireless enabled the expo
halls here in the Venetian Resort Hotels, Las Vegas.
2001: Take Advantage Of Venue Maitre'D!
Launching Planet
PDA magazine has certainly been one of the most rewarding
experiences of my career. That's only in part because we get to
be on the leading edge of computing, learning about the latest
handheld computing applications that are allowing businesses to
become more efficient and more productive.
Many of the corporate applications you see on
Palm and Pocket PC based computers tend to be boring -- they are
little more than handheld connections to desktop applications.
Certainly the movement to handheld computing is a huge market,
and there are few desktop or server based apps that can afford
to ignore their potential mobile customers.
Within this space, what really excites me are the apps written
exclusively for handheld computers, taking advantage of their
unique mobility. Recently, I discovered such an application, one
designed to work almost exclusively with Pocket PC and laptop
computers with WiFi access. Venue
Maitre'D is a company that designs applications that do what
the name implies, becoming the maître d' of a venue. More
specifically, the software allows people to interact with their
surroundings as if they are experts of the environment they've
traveled to.
The company tells me that the application is
designed for cruise ships and other locations like trade shows...
even urban areas such as the Baltimore Inner Harbor area. The
software is designed to connect groups of people together allowing
them to interact more effectively.
One of the simplest applications afforded by
this software is the ability to connect to a concierge service
and search for a restaurant by type; or search for local attractions
or anything else that you could ask the host in a fine restaurant
or the concierge in the world's finest hotels.
The real power of this system comes into play when you use the
software's ability to connect with other people on the wireless
network using a program called Venue Match. At a trade show, you
might be interested in finding all salespeople who are involved
in the wireless industry. By doing a quick search you can find
exactly the types of people you want. You can even select which
languages you prefer to have the search resultants speak.
There is much more to this software than I've briefly mentioned
here, and I invite those of you interested in learning more about
this company to come to Planet PDA this week, where Venue Maitre'D
is exhibiting. We have worked with them and Symbol
Technologies to WiFi-enable the exhibit hall and even much of
the conference area so you can test this service out for yourself.
Now is a great time to come to Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, as
prices for travel and hotels have perhaps never been less expensive.
Just be sure to bring your WiFi card so you can try the service
for yourself!
Hope to see you at the show.
Sincerely,
Rich Tehrani
TMC President/Conference Co-Chairman
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