Spb Software House Puts Enterprises Back in Control with Spb Kiosk 2.0

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/press/pressreleases/2003/jul07.html' target='_blank'>http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/pre...2003/jul07.html</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/kioskengine/images/kioskexplorer_device_sm.jpg" />"Spb Software House announces the release of Spb Kiosk 2.0, a critical application for putting enterprises in complete control of their Pocket PC assets. When Pocket PCs are deployed in an enterprise scenario, there will be specific applications installed on those devices designed to enhance and extend the productivity of the people using them. The question is, are your employees using the Pocket PCs in the manner in which you want them to? <br /><br />...Spb Kiosk has the singular goal of locking the target Pocket PC into the mode of being a single-use device. The three different versions of Spb Kiosk address the needs of enterprise deployments in different ways. Spb Kiosk Explorer locks the device into Pocket Internet Explorer, which makes it perfect for Web-based applications, HTML-based demonstrations, and more. Kiosk Explorer also allows you to specify which buttons and menus are shown in the command bar. Spb Kiosk Terminal locks the device into the Terminal Services client, making it an ideal way to access server-based applications over a wireless data network. Kiosk Terminal includes an auto-login feature, making the process seamless for users. Spb Kiosk Engine, the most flexible of the three versions, allows the enterprise to specify custom applications as the focal point for the device."<br /><br />If you're an enterprise user, this software might be exactly what you're looking for! It allows you to lock down Pocket PCs into a mode where only a specific application can be used. The linked press release has further information, and the <a href="http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/kioskengine/index.html">product page</a> has examples and screenshots. You can download the trial versions below:<br /><br />• <a href="http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=9998&associateid=204">Spb Kiosk Engine</a><br />• <a href="http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=9994&associateid=204">Spb Kiosk Explorer</a><br />• <a href="http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=10001&associateid=204">Spb Kiosk Terminal</a><br /><br />If you're interested in purchasing this application, we've arranged a 5% off discount coupon for Pocket PC Thoughts readers to use during the checkout process at PocketGear: 357F8W26.

[Mithrankittycat]

"Pressing a secret hardware key sequence allows you to enter into Admin mode. In Admin mode a device can be used without restrictions"

Yeah, hard reset =^_-=

[marlof]

Yeah, hard reset =^_-=

I think in the scenarios this software is meant for, that would be no solution at all. Of course after a hard reset people can use the complete device, but they can no longer do the dedicated task. The admin option gives you the ability to further make changes to the device without the need of a hard reset.

[vassiliphilippov]

Some enterprise Pocket PC devices have a "persistent start up folder” feature. It is a save storage folder like on many Pocket PC devices but applications from this folder are automatically started after hard-reset like from “Start Up” folder. It allows doing kiosk systems that will work even after hard-reset.

[juni]

Restrictiveness... seems a waste to give employers a nice device and then only let them use a certain app.

[Steven Cedrone]

Restrictiveness... seems a waste to give employers a nice device and then only let them use a certain app.

The employers are not restricted, it's the employees that are restricted. How many people here work for an employer that has their PC's completely locked down? This makes perfect sense from a support point of view. You know what apps are on the system, most systems are exactly the same, and the employess can't add software on a "whim"...

Steve

[dh]

Restrictiveness... seems a waste to give employers a nice device and then only let them use a certain app.

The employers are not restricted, it's the employees that are restricted. How many people here work for an employer that has their PC's completely locked down? This makes perfect sense from a support point of view. You know what apps are on the system, most systems are exactly the same, and the employess can't add software on a "whim"...

Steve

For the employer this makes a lot of sense. For example one of the drug companies recently deployed 6,000 PPCs to it's sales force, each running sales automation software. That's the only app that the company needs because all the features it's salepeople use are included in it.

Imagine the headache of supporting these 6,000 devices if everyone is customising them as they want to, loading different software and generally screwing things up. Save a lot of money on training as well, the salepeople have to learn just the one application and they are ready to go.

Spb might well want to investigate working with some of the companies making sales automation, warehouse management and other applications to see if they could incorporate this product into their software. Might be some OEM business to be found. Of course it might be that many have written their own programs to do the same job. Worth checking out though.

[juni]

I thought PPC2002 already had a secret admin setting which disabled installing new programs etc....

[ChrisW]

I've been having problems with another of this company's products (Palbum). Numerous messages to every address I could find on their web site have not yielded a single response :evil: . Does anyone have a real way to contact them?

EDIT: Vassili just sent me a private message, so hopefully I can get my issues resolved. Boy, PPCT is the hub of PPC activity!

[Bill Gunn]

For example one of the drug companies recently deployed 6,000 PPCs to it's sales force, each running sales automation software. That's the only app that the company needs because all the features it's salepeople use are included in it.



Plus, it ensures that any radical "free thinkers" in the organization won't invent new and better ways of doing business. They'll be safely constrained to whatever processes where thought up by a committe whose thinking is never clouded by interaction with the customers. :D

Of course there will always be some non-conformist SOB who will use his own Pocket PC to improve his performance and become salesman of the year. Random strip searches may be needed to stop that sort of behavior.

[Pony99CA]

I thought PPC2002 already had a secret admin setting which disabled installing new programs etc....
It does, and there's a registry hack (http://www.phm.lu/PocketPC/RegTweaks/Tweak.asp?ref=59) to enable it. If you do, you'll see a new Policy settings applet on the System page.

With the Policy applet, you can restrict adding new applications. It claims to restrict the following:

Downloading programs via Pocket Internet Explorer, Inbox, File Explorer, ActiveSync or beaming (I don't know if that includes Bluetooth).
Renaming programs to enable them to start on the device.

If you want finer control over what is allowed, check the settings in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Shell key. I haven't tried playing with those, but they look interesting. :-)

Steve