Schwartz Communications
781-684-0770 melard@schwartz-pr.com
Melard Technologies
For PointServe:
Becky Boyd
MediaFirst.net
770-642-2080
becky [at] mediafirst [dot net
Melard Technologies and Pointserve partner to DEPLOY Wireless sidearmS to customers in broadband, cable and utility markets
Armonk, N.Y. and Austin, Texas¾February 11, 2002¾Melard Technologies, Inc., leading provider of ruggedized hardware, application software, and related computer peripherals for use by the mobile workforce, and PointServe, the leader in enterprise software that powers dramatically better customer service through service supply chain optimization, today announced that PointServe will resell Melard’s SIDEARM All-Terrain Handheld PCÔ to their customers in the broadband, cable and utility industries. PointServe will offer all of their SIDEARM customers the ServiceLogic™ Rapid Deployment Program (RDP), the industry’s best-in-class system for wireless, automated workforce management. RDP is unique in the industry because it delivers a complete solution in 45 days, not a product demo or simplified pilot version.
“The SIDEARM All-Terrain Handheld PC is great for our customers because it is reliable, rugged and intuitive to use,” said Ron Beck, chief operating officer at PointServe. “Our Rapid Deployment Program includes only best-of-breed products, such as Melard’s SIDEARM which is a top choice because of wireless connectivity, tech-friendly keyboard, speed, power, expandability, toughness and optional features.”
“Working with PointServe is a great way to quickly deploy SIDEARMs to users in a variety of markets,” said Russell Schmidt, senior vice president, sales and marketing at Melard. “With the Rapid Deployment Program we can get 30 technicians completely up and running within 45 days. Once the SIDEARMs are in use, we work with PointServe to quickly demonstrate success, as RDP provides more reliable, responsive service to our customers, as well as timely, accurate and complete management reports concerning field service operations.”
The SIDEARM is equipped with integrated wireless communications and an advanced power management system that provides service technicians with up to 12 hours of continuous use. It is built to withstand heavy wind and rain, and it can easily handle the worst spills, dirt, inclement weather and accidental drops due to its environmentally sealed case, shock mounting and integrated bumpers. For service technicians on the road, these features are crucial as computers are often tossed into the truck or dropped while on the job.
SIDEARM features a high-powered integrated radio (with dipole antenna), easy-to-use keyboard and touchscreen, powerful StrongARM™ processor, optional scanner, and USB and serial ports. The very low failure rate of the SIDEARM lowers the cost of ownership by significantly reduced downtime.
Through SIDEARM, service technicians have wireless access to service orders, which provide them with the location and description of each job. When technicians have questions, they get real-time answers from the home office. Upon completion, job status and the completion codes for each work order are transmitted back to headquarters, via SIDEARM’s wireless connectivity. A number of SIDEARM’s optional features are currently used by cable service technicians, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), transflective-enabled screens that offer better visibility in widely varying lighting conditions and a 1-D bar code scanner.
About PointServe
PointServe is the leader in service supply chain management for the enterprise, powering dramatically better customer service through cross-organizational optimization. Clients deploy PointServe solutions to empower their organization. ServiceLogic™ is a Web-based, wireless application for mobile workforce management. ServiceXchange™ is an Internet-based solution for scheduling, routing, and field service. Optimization solutions from PointServe provide a crucial competitive edge for leaders in telecommunications, utilities, and technology, such as Southern Union Gas and Time-Warner Cable. PointServe is on the Web at http://www.PointServe.com.
About Melard Technologies, Inc.
Melard Technologies, Inc.
designs, develops and deploys rugged hardware platforms, application software
and related computer peripherals to deliver a complete, real-time wireless data
solution to remote field workers and mobile professionals.
Melard has successfully deployed thousands of mobile wireless data systems to the Field Service, Telecommunications, Cable and Utility industries. The Company’s robust integration of wireless communications capabilities delivers a measurable gain in network coverage that enables the optimized productivity, responsiveness and performance of mobile professionals and gives organizations the competitive edge they need to succeed.
Melard Technologies, Inc. is based in Armonk, New York. Additional information is available on the Company’s Web site at www.melard.com.
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All trademarks are property of Melard Technologies, Inc. All other company and product names are property of their respective owners.