The other problem with alot of freedom is that from an IT side it is very hard to integrate alot of varied communication solutions into the dispath software systems and to receive consistent information and communication from the unit.
John
It's funny you mentioned that. From the IT point of view, it is not hard to integrate different information sources within an organization into one or two software packages, the technology isn't the issue and with a good IT project manager you can do almost anything.
The problem is when you buy the dispatch software, many times it is a package with some 'custom' feature that the company needs or wants. Most of the companies who buy the software don't act like they are the customer by following good project management policies that lead to good relationships and lower cost of ownership of the IT systems.
A lot of times what's overlooked when management (and inexperienced people for that matter who shouldn't be in IT) do product selection, they try to speed the process up or don't enlist experienced people who are neutral to advice them which ends up where they have issue later on. One really big issue about software selection is integration issues and how the vendor responds to the customer's needs to facilitate any like issues in the future.
As you know, Qualcomm does have real time data feeds for their units, it costs but it seems so does everything else.
As far as email is concern, you are right. I would be more concern with 'free' email services than anything else.
Back to your question.
I think it may be a blessing for some to have in cab routing without an investment of more equipment. The GPS units, like the one I am testing and the two I have in the sleeper that I finished testing, all seem to have flaws that may be helped with direct use of mapping data. For example, my pickup yesterday was at a glass plant and every GPS unit, the mapping software and even Google maps drew out the same route. That route put me into a small little road with three trailers and a small computer business at the end. I wish I had a van but even with my small truck, it took me a bit of work to get out.
The new system that Layout is speaking of improves the tracking of the truck but all new qualcomms have that now. Many of the issues they have had has to do with other issue but with that said, FedEx has always had issues with trucks that were not where they actually were, like having a truck sitting in between Hawaii and California.
