Robert Gregor Jr., manager of telecommunications at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said the health care facility installed a mobile system to give remote workers the same telephone functions they have at their desks.

But after the system was in place, the medical center found that it also helped in retaining employees in areas such as tech support and records transcription, Gregor said. For example, tech support workers were happier because they could be on standby at home instead of having to remain at an office location.

Officials at Cox Communications Inc. were pleasantly surprised when a wireless system helped the Atlanta-based cable TV operator retrieve 15 laptops stolen in Virginia last year.

Al Briggs, director of mobile solutions services at Cox, said the wireless technology was installed

primarily to benefit the company's field service workers. However, after the laptops were stolen, he said, 'some very enterprising technicians in our group' suggested that the company use the new system to push software to the missing machines to help locate them.