Frank Ohlhorst: the time has come to take your computing on the road.

The importance of becoming untethered from the confines of cables was the topic for Frank Ohlhorst's keynote. Mobile technology has become ubiquitous in today's corporate world, with knowledge workers requiring notebook computers, PDAs, smart cell phones and other mobile devices to perform daily tasks. In fact, 45% of the U.S. workforce takes advantage of some type of wireless gadget. However, a vast number of workers still have not embraced mobile technologies, which creates opportunities for savvy solution providers.

According to Ohlhorst, margins for traditional PCs and peripherals have eroded to such a level that it is becoming impossible to profit from selling those items. Luckily, in today's market, custom mobile solutions still offer decent margins and help to drive associated integration and support services. Wireless technology is one of the first items to come to mind in those looking for the mobile sales equation. WiFi- and other 802.11-based technologies have become commonplace in both businesses and homes. They can truly drive the convenience and portability solution for almost any knowledge worker, with an added benefit derived from the integration work required to deploy those technologies. Providing access to notebook and tablet PCs from the living room to the board room is often a job for the integrator and can be accomplished with readily available wireless technologies, proving to be a profitable add-on.

Ohlhorst says that the growth in the notebook market has spawned new white box opportunities. VARs can now offer custom self-branded notebooks to their customers. Whitebox Notebooks enable VARs to combine primary technologies, such as display sizes, resolutions and storage options into what could be the perfect notebook for a vertical market customer, which brings about a win-win situation. Mobility brings additional challenges, namely in the form of applications. Here, VARs can leverage available technologies to make existing applications mobile enabled.

VARs would be remiss if they did not inform their customers of the security issues surrounding mobile technology. The answer to those issues lies in integrating a range of technologies from WiFi security technologies to VPN access to Antivirus Technologies.

Advances in battery technology, manufacturing processes and hardware integration now offer the busy traveler true functionality with light-weight ultra portable notebook systems. Today's systems offer several hours of battery life, integrated optical drives, bright screens and speedy performance in an under four- pound package. Those systems still come at a premium, but do offer integration options beyond less traveled devices, including WiFi networking, cellular networking, synchronization technologies and mobile applications.

Tablet PCs and the new crop of convertible PCs offer new mobility solutions, especially with the healthcare and insurance markets. While tablets compromise a small segment of the market, savvy solution providers can demonstrate the benefits of handwriting recognition technology for key vertical markets. Mobility only begins with notebook systems, extended mobility can be achieved with the latest smart phones and PDAs. Many of those devices incorporate wireless networking and can provide email and scheduling - those technologies show ROI when integrated in to line of business services, such as scheduling and email applications. What's more, development tools exist to create custom applications for those devices, allowing the units to be tied into applications where only imagination supplies the limits.