| iv id="body"> | | | | we can extract the information and populate an |
| In the traditional world, a telephone handset was a | | | | XML phone browser. It's fairly straightforward to |
| telephone handset. In the new world of IP, what | | | | build a driver that integrates into the most |
| looks like a telephone handset is in fact a | | | | common contact management databases and in |
| computer. If it's an Alcatel IP handset then it's a | | | | most cases the interface will give you the ability |
| dumb terminal driven by a presentation server | | | | for one click dial out by name. Last but not least |
| and if it's a Cisco IP handset, it's more or less a | | | | is an outbound dialler. Some people in the world |
| PC. The only restriction is the size and type of | | | | want a predictive dial solution, but we think that's |
| the display. In both cases the telephone interface | | | | too niche. A general purpose low-priced dialer that |
| is a web browser and as fashion accessory the IP | | | | allows people to log in and log out, that |
| telephone can sit where you the PC can't. We | | | | reschedules busy calls that gives you one round |
| know all of this because Ghost Software, with its | | | | of call completion codes (Sale made; brochure |
| offshore software development resource, deals | | | | sent and not interested for example) is good |
| with a variety of IP platforms both in terms of | | | | enough for most general businesses. And what |
| Computer Telephony Integration and Voice over | | | | about the "half!?" - well, that's ShortEmail. That's |
| IP. This makes the IP handset ideal for retail, like | | | | the ability to send and receive emails on the IP |
| shops in a shopping mall, in reception areas and | | | | handset. It's so simple it's hardly an application, but |
| banking foyers as well as in a ward in a hospital or | | | | it is ideal for places where you can't house a PC, |
| a school library. What drives applications on these | | | | like a hospital ward where you might want to |
| handsets is XML. So what kind of applications | | | | send a quick email "Bring food quickly!" |
| makes the purchasing of an IP handset | | | | Now, there are vertical market applications. The |
| worthwhile? In the early days of XML, people | | | | size, shape and composition of these is endless. |
| were populating browsers with Yellow Pages, | | | | Off the top of my head, here are three. (1) The |
| stocks and share prices, news and weather | | | | books of a school library. -displayed on an IP |
| updates. Sure, they look great but they didn't | | | | handset. Students can see whether books are in |
| justify the price premium of the hardware. Our | | | | or out and reserve them. (2) Lost case notes in a |
| research shows that what's required are some | | | | hospital. Patients go from ward to ward and often |
| traditional telephony orientated applications or | | | | their case notes get left behind. An application |
| specialist vertical market applications, the latter | | | | which broadcasts to all departments with an |
| having its own set of unique problems. | | | | option to reply if you have them is ideal, and (3) |
| We have, we think, three and a half generic | | | | Hospitality software, where staff can enter a pin |
| applications that are so compelling, that people will | | | | code when they have cleaned a room or you can |
| pay the hardware handset premium to have | | | | order room service from your handset. The |
| them. The first is the ability to send SMS | | | | problem is, however, that if you go to a business |
| messages from a landline either to one, or | | | | and say what do you want? - The answer is |
| broadcasted to many mobile handsets. Whilst this | | | | invariably "we don't know!" The solution is to build |
| application will work with any XML handset, it is | | | | demo applications which have a feature set but |
| particularly suited to the Alcatel IP Touch range, | | | | they are hard-coded (this means they're quicker |
| with its built in Qwerty keyboard, This allows for | | | | to develop) and once you show it, everyone |
| easy integration of SMS into the general portfolio | | | | knows what's wrong with it. And....hey presto, you |
| of business communication. Anyone with an | | | | have a brief. This is the way we have worked |
| external sales force will have an immediate need. | | | | over recent months with some very good results. |
| Next is an application called "XPOP" It's a basic | | | | For any further information about what is written |
| screen pop application that always resided on a | | | | here, you can contact us on or contact Ghost |
| PC, so you can see who is calling by capturing the | | | | Software at any of its local offices. |
| caller's number and querying the database. Now | | | | |