Going Wireless

By: Jaclyn Easton

Narrated by: Jaclyn Easton

Going Wireless delivers the unexpected by showing how wireless is transforming every type of enterprise from micro-businesses to multi-national conglomerates. Award-winning technology journalist Jaclyn Easton begins with an in-depth look at owning your customers and clients through mobile commerce -- whether your company focuses on consumers or business-to-business.

From there you will learn about the advantages of wirelessly fortifying your mobile workforce of itinerant executives, sales personnel, and field service technicians as well as how wireless is dramatically redefining customer service, marketing, and advertising.

Going Wireless also delves deep inside the corporation. First you'll find out why most companies are "handsizing" in addition to deploying wireless technology to rejuvenate warehouses, supply chains, procurement procedures, data collection, competitive intelligence, and much more.

The best part is that these scenarios are supported by over 40 brand-name success stories, including:
• How Sears saves millions by wirelessly enabling 100 percent of their appliance repair technicians;
• How the Gap proved that by sewing wireless technology in their clothing they could reduce labor distribution costs by 50 percent;
• How McKessanHBOC -- a Fortune 40 corporation -- used mobile technology to entirely eliminate all their manifest imaging costs.

While most people associate wireless with cell phones and Palm handhelds, you'll also learn that wireless has been around for over 100 years and has spawned mobile options you've never heard of and is being used in ways you've never imagined.

This makes Going Wireless the perfect book for executives and managers who need a comprehensive overview of the wireless options that can make their companies more competitive, more productive, and more profitable.Executive Producer: Sherry Huber
Producer: Bob Walter
Original jacket design by Kapo Ng
©2002 Jaclyn Easton
(P)2002 Random House, Inc.

Her reading style

Just remember that when this author wants to emphasize something (which is all the time) she ends her sentences... like... this...

After a few hours it drives... me... crazy...

Just okay...probably a good reference book

While the author does a good job at addressing a wide range of wireless technologies, at times it sounds like an infomercial.

A very lengthy presentation on wireless!!

A lot of work has obviously gone into the researching of this book. Despite the fact that it was published in April 2002, it provides a reasonably up to date account of where the industry /technology currently stands (Nov 2004). It probably will need to be updated fairly soon however. Jaclyn Easton seems to know her subject well, so it is a shame that she makes no serious attempt to offer her view of what the future holds over the medium to longer term. As I listened, I did find myself thinking ahead to what the world of wireless will be like over the next five years or so, but a little conjecture / business vision on her part would have given the book more life. Also some fairly heavy editing would have made it easier to listen to. Lengthy, in-depth descriptions of the functionality of various applications serve to make the book much bigger than it really needs to be, so it didnt hold my interest at all well in parts. My biggest complaint though, was with regards the way that it was read. I seriously question the wisdom of having the author read the book rather than a professional narrator. It is good to hear what an author sounds like, but having her read the introduction and a conclusion would suffice. It sounds as if she is used to writing and reading business presentations. Her reading style would be excellent for making 30 second audio commercials, but doesnt really lend itself well to the reading of a nine and a half hour book. Its as if she is trying to pack every sentence with overwhelming dynamism and excitement. Without any relief from this, the words end up blurring into a nondescript, corporate jargon filled power-spiel. Imagine reading a book where everything is written BOLD UPPER CASE TEXT, OR MAYBE GIANT FLASHING NEON LIGHTS and you'll get the idea. You wouldnt be able to read for too long before your eyes and brain got sore. Nevertheless, if you need to find out about wireless and a few associated technologies, this is a good place to start.

Fair read, lots of hype

This was an okay read, though filled with as much hype as actual technical data. The author plows through case-study after case-study of wireless success-stories for how businesses saved/made/created money by going wireless, while glossing over some obvious issues (such as security, lack of common standards, etc) which have kept the wireless boom from actually happening. Echoing the comments of a previous reviewer, much of time the author seems like a cheerleader, rather than an actual presenter of facts. I would have preferred a more even-handed approach to the subject.

Systematically explores the potential of wireless

There is, as others noted, a fair bit of "hype" in this book, a breathless exhilaration about the many possible applications of wireless in the near future. But that's just the point and what I really liked about this book. If you want a balanced, measured assessment of wireless, look elsewhere. If you want an extended brainstorming session which will turn up many non-obvious implications of these new technologies, then this is well worth your time.

As others have also noted, this is not the place to turn for a detailed explanation of the technology. The author provides enough detail for the reader to understand the basic function of the new devices.

The author reads well and the text is engaging.

strangely unsatisfying

sounds good, doesn't it? yet it doesn't seem to hit the spot. there was little detail about how these things worked and it seemed inconceivable that she could get so excited about even the most prosaic, humdrum aspect of wireless technology. good as an overview - maybe as a first port of call that will put you on the right track when deciding what avenue to explore but don't expect to get a full picture.

Interesting subject, not so interesting book

After a few chapters, it was basically more of the same. I feel that it was lacking a full perspective of the subject matter.

disappointing

The first audible book that really disappointed me.
The content is so basic ... nothing really new ... and so overhyped.
Also, the book is read in an awfull way with an awfull accent and pronounciation.