Wireless technologies are techniques whose operations do not need physical connection with wires or optical fibers. They include Wide Area Network (WAN) which provides connections to the internet and Local Area Networks (LAN) which link up devices such as computers, printers, and keyboards to each other. Mobile technology, on the other hand, provides connections between users via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets (Ohmori, Yamao, & Nakajima, 2000). The technology allows people to make telephone calls, send messages, and check emails and browse the internet among other uses.

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Mobile and wireless technologies are widely used by businesses to improve efficiency. They are tailored to enhance business capabilities. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology helps drivers navigate any location, any time and under any weather conditions. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is used for accurate identification of stock (Zedtwitz, 2013). It speeds up storage and retrieval and therefore saves businesses a lot of time. Lastly, the internet has provided various options, which allow people to connect with each other. It provides for instant connections and communication, regardless of physical barriers such as distance. Hence, operations of businesses can go on undisrupted.

Wireless Technologies and Mobile Technologies at Delta
Delta Airlines has put in place some wireless technologies to support its services. These technologies include Wi-Fi, in many of its local flights. The airline also has innovative mobile apps that can be used on some devices such as iPhone, Blackberry, Android, and Windows. Further, it has a media services via its Twitter handle (Basole, 2005). The service allows the carrier to avail relevant information to respond to customers concerns.

Looking through the technologies implemented at Delta, it is clear that, the company seeks to provide excellent customer service. It has shifted a lot of control into the hands of customers. This means that customers can solve some of their challenges. For instance, Fly Delta application is instrumental in luggage management (Basole, 2005). The company receives fewer inquiries. Therefore it can concentrate on improvement of service to its customers. These technologies also allow the airlines to collect information relating to its customers. Brady, Saren, & Tzokas (2012) notes this is significant and such information can be used by the company in scheduling flights, targeting their marketing efforts and having a mix of services to maximize returns.

Wireless and Mobile Technologies at Virgin America Airline
Virgin is also considered to be one of the best airlines in the United States. The carrier has a number of services to improve its customer experience. They include; Wi-Fi plus, in every seat to enable customers stream television, movies, music and even play games on the touch screens. Besides, the touch screen can also be used to order food and drink. The screens are installed with Google Map which allows customers to check their location at any time (Kaplan, 2012). Lastly, Virgin has a presence in a range of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter which can be used to inform customers of any urgent messages.

Virgin Airlines has shaped an image of an entertainment airline. The adoption of wireless technologies has ensured that the company maintains a connection with its customers through the various social media pages and its excellent website. Almost any information can be accessed from those two platforms, and the team of customer service is always on hand to assist.

Company Using Technology More Strategically
Virgin and Delta are using wireless and mobile technologies strategically. The airlines have used technology to address a number of problems such as risk minimization, adaptations to fluctuations in demand, product innovation and ability to meet customer needs. Delta appears to be ahead of Virgin on some fronts. Tribe (2015) notes Delta has been slow to evolve because it uses various models of aircrafts and finds it difficult to roll out all its innovative services. Technology adoption has been more comfortable for Virgin since it uses only one aircraft model. For instance, the airline has Wi-Fi, social media, Google Maps, and streaming services in all its aircrafts (Tribe, 2015). Its services are thus perceived to be better in comparison to Delta. From a strategic perspective, Virgin is apparently ahead of Delta, even though Delta is more innovative.

Operational and Enterprise Systems
Delta employs Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to support its wireless mobile technologies. According to Brueckner, Lee, Picard, & Singer (2015), Delta Airlines has been able to grow from a small mail carrier to a global airline. The airline currently serves over 180 million people per year. Further all indications point to the fact that, the airline will continue to employ its ERP system going into the future. The carrier is poised to continue looking for ways of innovating within the ERP system.

On the other hand, Virgin America Airlines runs its in-flight wireless and mobile technology system on a Sabre system. Sabre provides Virgin with an integrated infrastructure system that is robust with various functionalities. For instance, the system has enabled the airline link up its service to centers, to enable customers’ access seamless service across all its networks. Besides, the cooperation between Virgin and ViaSat will guarantee the firm the fastest Wi-Fi of up to 8 to 10 times the present speeds (Virgin America, 2011). Already, Virgin has the crown of being the only service provider with Wi-Fi in all its aircrafts (Tribe, 2015).

    References
  • Brady, M., Saren, M., & Tzokas, N. (2012). Integrating information technology into marketing practice–the IT reality of contemporary marketing practice. Journal of Marketing Management, 18(5-6), 555-577.
  • Brueckner, J. K., Lee, D. N., Picard, P. M., & Singer, E. (2015). Product unbundling in the travel industry: The economics of airline bag fees. Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, 24(3), 457-484.
  • Basole, R. C. (2005). Transforming enterprises through mobile applications: A multi-phase framework. AMCIS 2005 Proceedings, 322.
  • Kaplan, A. M. (2012). If you love something, let it go mobile: Mobile marketing and mobile social media 4×4. Business horizons, 55(2), 129-139.
  • Tribe, J. (2015). The economics of recreation, leisure and tourism. New York: Routledge.
  • Ohmori, S., Yamao, Y., & Nakajima, N. (2000). The future generations of mobile communications based on broadband access technologies. IEEE communications magazine, 38(12), 134-142.
  • Virgin America. (2011). Virgin Amerixca Partners with ViaSat to Offer Faster, Higher Quality Wi-Fi in the Sky: Travellers at 35,000 feet can now Stream Video Content from the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/about-our-airline/press/2015/virgin-america-partners-with-viasat-to-offer-faster-higher-quality-wifi-in-the-sky
  • Zedtwitz, M. v. (2013). Management of Technology: Growth Through Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship : Selected Papers from the Tenth International Conference on Management of Technology. Pergamon.