How iPhone5 Can Enhance an Architectural Company - Essay Example

? How iPhone5 can Enhance An Architectural Company Executive summary Today an architectural company has greater scope asconstruction and infrastructure development activities are dramatically increasing. As a result of increased business transactions, an architectural firm needs to manage a bundle of information every day. Since it is not possible for a firm to manage such a huge amount of information manually, companies have to depend on technological innovations. The major aim of this report is to identify the various benefits of the iPhone 5 to an architectural company. The iPhone 5 is the sixth generation iPhone developed by the Apple Inc. (Tech gadgets, n. d.). In order to evaluate how the iPhone 5 can serve an architectural company, data/information management needs persisting in the architectural industry are closely analysed. It is observed that the weakness in information management and communication can negatively affect an architectural company’s market competitiveness. An architectural company cannot deliver effective services to its clients unless there are improved information and communication management systems in operation. In the next session, the paper discusses how these needs of an architectural company can be met using the iPhone. The major findings of this report are summarised below in bullets: The iPhone 5 gives faster connectivity, and this feature enables an architectural company to make its communications faster; As the device has huge storage memory, architectural executives can easily store and maintain large amounts of data very conveniently; Well developed lock options assure high level security of the company’s confidential data; The Face Time feature assists the executives to be in constant contact with project development team even while they are travelling; The Passbook feature of the iPhone greatly benefits an architectural company to carry out its operations more efficiently; Finally, the improved Mail application and the ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature are beneficial for the company to perform its duties more effectively and to improve the firm’s overall productivity. Background information Globalisation and technological revolution that emerged over the last century greatly changed the way the world operates. By the turn of the 20th century, the business world became highly competitive, and subsequently many business firms went out of business due to their insufficient competitive capabilities. In order to manage the high level growth, companies are required to pay particular attention to construction activities and infrastructure development (Ruth, n. d.). It is obvious that infrastructure development is very crucial to attract potential investors and hence to ensure sustainable business growth Government of the Rostov Region, n. d.). Therefore, architectural companies have immense growth opportunities in today’s business world. In addition to the explosive business growth, the increasing need for housing also offers potential opportunities for architectural firms (The Hindu Business Line, 2012). Today, a large number of architectural companies are active in the industry so as to take advantages of the emerging infrastructure development opportunities. However, these companies cannot promote their business growth unless they remain competitive and innovative. In other words, an architectural company has to show its creativity in project design, project development, and information management (Black architects, 2005, p.114). Managing inflow and outflow of information is one of the most difficult challenges for an architectural company to face (Oracle, 2012). In order to effectively confront with market rivals and thereby ensure long term business sustainability, architectural companies must get proper access to information when required. Currently, these firms depend on online information storage systems that are capable of meeting information needs quickly and conveniently. It is clear that architects cannot often develop project designs or address project specifications without visiting projects sites. Under those situations, they may find difficulty in accessing required information as the executives may have limited access to information storage systems outside the office. Architectural experts opine that an architectural company cannot maintain stable market growth unless it can maintain effective communication between project development sites and corporate office (Ambler, n. d.). Currently, architectural firms employ common communication devices such as emails, mobile phones, and video conference facilities. Often, usage of devices like laptops is not convenient in project development sites due to their relatively larger sizes. In order to address this difficulty, architectural firms have begun using tiny communication devices like iPads, iPhones, and tablets (Baig, 2012). These devices support communications needs as well as internet browsing, and hence they provide an architectural company with a range of potential competencies (Baig and LeVitus, 2012, p.na). Although devices like iPhone 4 3D model greatly support the information management needs of architectural companies, companies’ needs are still increasing day by day. Methodology The project is performed to identify how the newly introduced iPhone 5 can benefit an architectural company. In order to clearly understand the benefits of iPhone 5 to an architectural company, current challenges faced by an architectural company are identified. So as to find out this information, architectural industry analysis reports have been examined. In addition, the project explores major potential features offered by the new iPhone 5 and how these improved features can fit the current needs of an architectural company. For this purpose, claims of Apple officials are examined and various industry reports are analysed. This project also compares various features of the new iPhone 5 with those of the previous iPhone models because such an analysis will point out the most appealing features of the iPhone 5 to an architectural firm. Significance of iPhone5 in an architectural company 1. Faster connectivity and increased memory storage Evidently, the iPhone 5 can significantly benefit an architectural company in many ways. The faster connectivity appears to be the most advantageous feature of the iPhone 5 for the company. Since the iPhone 5 has dual band 802.11n, this device can support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks. This product has improved Wi-Fi technology, and according to Apple officials, this product will provide a high speed of 150Mbps over Wi-Fi (Apple press info). The faster connectivity would greatly assist the architectural company to perform its communication as well as information management functions more efficiently (Oppenheimer and Patterson, 2002). Since iPhone is a mobile device, it would aid the architectural company to keep its operations well connected and coordinated. Another attractive feature of iPhone is that it has a huge storage memory. As Roth (2012) points out, the iPhone 5 offers three memory sizes including 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. This extensive memory storage feature is helpful for the company to store and maintain huge amounts of data very conveniently and affordably. As this model has huge memory storage capacity, architects or other company officials do not have to keep external memory storage devices like pen drives or memory cards with them. The iPhone 5 assures users high data security. The device has strong lock options, and it would enable the company executives not to expose their data to external networks or unauthorised users (Bradley, 2012). Therefore, this option enables architectural firms to keep their project designs and other project information safe. In short, the faster connectivity, huge data storage capacity, and high level security features of the iPhone 5 would add to the firm’s competitive abilities. 2. Maps and Navigation features Similarly, the iPhone 5 has better maps and navigation features. These features would assist users to easily locate and reach nearest gas stations or coffee shops (Fox news, 2012). The previous iPhone options only assisted users to step through the desired direction manually. The innovative iPhone 5 options guide users to reach the desired direction turn by turn (Guglielmo, 2012). For an architectural company, these improved maps and navigation features can offer potential competencies because architectural development projects need to be in frequent touch with different key geographical locations. Furthermore, those area locating features would provide the architectural company with potential cost and time benefits. 3. Improved Face Time features In addition, the iPhone 5 provides users with Face Time feature over Wi-Fi or cellular network, and this feature facilitates video conference calls between iOS or Mac OS X users (Telecoms.com, n. d.). It is obvious that an architectural development project is a group work, and therefore effective coordination of ideas is necessary to complete the project successfully. Architects of other executives concerned with a development project cannot always be present in the worksite due to official trips or other reasons. Under such circumstances, the video conference option provided by the iPhone 5 would better assist the company executives to be in constant communication and thereby avoid unnecessary delays associated with the project completion. 4. The Passbook feature The Passbook option featured by the iPhone 5 may be really advantageous to travelling executives (Silbert, 2012). This Passbook can be a repository of loyalty cards, airline boarding passes, and reward cards (Death Glamour, 2012). Since this Passbook can replace a number of cards and printouts, this feature simplifies the management of those data and gives executives more convenience. In addition, this application will automatically be aware of time and location, and hence the company officials can carry out their duties and responsibilities more effectively. Evidently, the Passbook option would provide an architectural company with cost efficiencies and time benefits. 5. Highly developed Mail application For an architectural company, timely communication of information is essential to retain stakeholders’ interests in the firm. The iPhone 5 offers improved Mail application too. This new model offers two key Mail application features including VIP and Flagged. Using this Mail application, one can set VIP contacts, and messages from those contacts will automatically be flagged in the main box as well as accessible in a unique VIP folder (Miles, 2012). This VIP feature would assist an architectural company to make sure that it does not miss any important email from key customers, suppliers, or other business partners. The ‘Flagged’ feature is beneficial to easily find out important mails because items marked as Flagged can be accessible in a separate Flagged smart mailbox (iPhoneHacks, 2011). Hence, this iPhone 5 feature benefits the company to make its communication instantaneous and flawless. 6. Do Not Disturb features The ‘Do Not Disturb’ option provided by the iPhone 5 may be appealing to executives at an architectural company (Johnson, 2012). This feature allows users to block incoming calls and notifications for a specified period of time. The iPhone 5 receives calls and other notifications from designed contacts even if the ‘Do Not Disturb’ option is activated (Apple iPhone 5, n. d.). This feature would aid the company executives to avoid unwanted calls during important meetings and conferences. In other words, this option would assist an architectural company to improve its overall working hours and productivity. Conclusion From the above discussion, it is clear that the iPhone 5 can greatly assist an architectural company to effectively address the information management and communication practices. The ‘innovative Passbook’ and ‘Face Time’ features offered by the iPhone 5 provide an architectural company with better competencies. In addition, the Mail application is a useful tool for the company not to miss important business emails and to find out an important email in future. In addition, the faster connectivity and huge storage memory capacity features of the iPhone 5 are also highly advantageous to an organisation. Finally, the Do Not Disturb feature indirectly assists an architectural company to improve its overall productivity. Table The table below illustrates the important features of iPhone5 and its benefits to an architectural company iPhone 5 features Benefits to the architectural company High speed of 150Mbps over Wi-Fi Faster connectivity 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB storage options Convenient storage of huge amount of data Improved Maps and Navigation options It guide users to reach the desired direction turn by turn Face Time feature Video conference calls, better communication, and improvement of working hours Passbook feature Repository of loyalty cards, airline boarding passes, and reward cards Mail application Fast response to important mails, detection of previous mails Bibliography Apple press info. Apple Introduces iPhone 5. [online] Available at: [Accessed23 Oct 2012]. Ambler, S. W. (n. d.). Agile Architecture: Strategies for Scaling Agile Development. Agile Modeling. [online] Available at: [Accessed23 Oct 2012]. Baig, E. C. 2012. 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