Mobile Workforce Management App Finally Hits Android

Verizon Wireless has just released a version of its mobile worker management application, Field Force Manager, that is compatible with Google's Android OS (now nearly a year old). Field Force Manager is a web and handset application that offers location management, driving directions, and job dispatch among other things. To date it has been available on Research In Motion BlackBerry devices and various Motorola, Casio and LG handsets. The buzz around this latest release for Android is that it is some kind of sign, signaling acceptance of Android in the business community as a mode of secure wireless communication.

Verizon claims that the user experience on Android will help drive adoption amongst mobile workers. New features include a redesigned user interface that provides users with a search bar to find forms and messages as well as a barcode scanner. Field Force Manager is utilized across a broad range of industries: transportation and distribution to mobile healthcare and business services.

Field Force Manager on Android smartphones offers the following enhanced features:

• New User Interface – Customers have the ability to use the phone's touch screen for seamless navigation with intuitive icons to save time when navigating through the application.

• Powerful Search – Customers can use the search bar to find forms, locations and messages.

• Easy Touch Screen Access – A simple tap can add a job to the device calendar.

• Built-In Barcode Scanning – With the addition of a free download of the XZING Barcode Scanner application, customers with Field Force Manager Basic can use the phone's built-in camera to scan 1D/2D barcodes and capture information instantaneously.

Two pricing options are available – Limited and Basic – providing different feature levels to qualifying voice plans.  The following packages will be available for Android smartphones:

• Limited – Available for $15 per month, this option offers management of field teams, including details of current and past travel history.

• Basic – In addition to the benefits of the Limited package, this option, available for $20 per month, adds location-validated mobile timecards and basic job dispatch and, when combined with Google maps and navigation, offers driving directions.

The Point of Sale News, an online magazine dedicated to the retail industry.

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