Windows XP on the move

Windows XP is arriving on the market accompanied by the largest marketing blitz ever mounted by the PC industry, just as corporations are putting Windows 2000 migrations into full swing. This presentation focuses on how enterprises should react to the Windows XP launch.

NEW! NETWORK EQUIPMENT COMPARISON DATA

 THIS WEEK'S INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ANALYST INSIGHTS

HOSTED SECURITY OFTEN ISN'T

Early hosting services consisted primarily of server collocation, making stringent physical security practices critical. As "hosters" (e.g., Exodus, Digital Island) have launched managed application services to expand beyond commoditization of collocation offerings, security functionality typically has lagged. Other service providers (e.g., Genuity, Telenisus) have incorporated both advanced management and security components into newer offerings. During the next year, it will be critical for organizations to consolidate the number of relationships with each class of hoster (e.g., one primary collocation host, one primary managed application host, etc.). This process should involve the selection of only those hosters with adequate security practices. (David Thompson)

WIRELESS LANS: ALL GUNS BLAZING

In a testament to the broad market penetration made by Wi-Fi certified wireless LANs, Microsoft and Intel have both joined the board of directors of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA). While not denouncing plans to support Bluetooth, the addition of both vendors to the alliance further cements the success that the IEEE 802.11b standard will have in becoming pervasive. Microsoft has indicated support for Wi-Fi within upcoming releases of Windows XP (to the exclusion of Bluetooth). Users can expect tighter integration of wireless networking standards as both Microsoft and PC manufacturers seek better integration of wireless into the device. (Chris Kozup)

SERVING UP DATA FROM AND AMONG APP SERVERS

To solve performance issues caused by data brokering among application servers and extracting data for analytic purposes, we expect app server vendors (e.g., IBM, BEA) to incorporate operational caches that automate the consolidation of transaction data by 2002. We also expect third-party data brokers/caches to emerge in 2002 that collect and contextualize (i.e., transform and organize it by type of data - customer, financial, etc.). This will ease the development burden on organizations attempting to coordinate inter- (and later intra-) application logic and/or leverage the data for data warehousing. (Doug Laney and Daniel Sholler)

 GOING INTERNATIONAL WITH WIRELESS DEPLOYMENT

Most large enterprises look to worldwide deployments when formulating solutions to business problems. However, in the wireless world, it is nearly impossible to deploy one universal application that will work everywhere. Rather, enterprises must deploy applications that utilize the resources of the particular geographic locations where they will be deployed (CDPD in some parts of US, GPRS in Europe, etc.). Enterprises must enable flexibility in connecting to disparate wireless infrastructures if they are to successfully deploy applications internationally and overcome regional differences. (Jack Gold)

SPEAKING OF THE FUTURE: THE IVR PLATFORM DECISION

A wider variety of voice services (e.g., speech recognition, translation) has major enterprises contemplating changes or upgrades to internal integrated voice response (IVR) platforms. But major decision options now arise: extend the existing platform, start a new platform, outsource (partial and total), or a combination. Tightly defined tactical needs and excellent relationship management can leverage outsourcing for specific applications, buying time while platform and software technologies for internal, large-scale integration matures. (Earl Perkins)