Now, Qualcomm is a promising telecom company with a lock on a technology (called code division multiple access) that is becoming the standard for digital cell phones.
Chief Justice John Roberts asked the city's lawyer how long he needs to switch off his trigger lock (which requires entering a three-digit code) when a criminal is climbing through the window.
To open a door fitted with the latest U.S. government-certified lock from high-end Swiss lock manufacturer Kaba, an employee must both enter a code up to eight digits long, then swipe a unique identity card coded to comply with a new standard that requires an extra layer of security, one designed to track individual staffers and make covert intrusion harder than ever.
Customization often appears to lock in existing systems, but the question for CIOs is whether the custom code supports a unique capability that provides a competitive advantage or whether it is merely nice to have.