Smartphones in the US Enterprise

Monday 12 November 2012, Amsterdam

A new primary research report finds that many US enterprise IT executives are struggling to manage corporate smartphone deployment and policy, particularly as employee-owned personal mobile devices infiltrate many enterprise environments.

The new report, entitled “Smartphones in the US Enterprise: Benefits, Considerations & Challenges in Mobilizing Corporate Work Forces," presents the context and key decision points for organizations at, or even beyond, the crossroads of enterprise mobility planning.

Key topics covered in the report include mobile enterprise appropriateness of top US mobile operating systems, types and advantages of application platforms, assessments of Mobile Enterprise Application Platform (MEAP) market leaders and new entrants, and technology alignments within the Mobile Device Management (MDM) market.

According to the authors, “The MEAP company representatives we spoke with described phenomenal growth opportunity and interest in mobile enterprise applications, while our research uncovered a general lack of awareness about MDM technology among IT managers and developers creating mobile applications. Based on conversations with IT executives regarding their need for mobile enterprise solutions, we expect these technologies will soon become standard within corporate enterprises.”

Interviews with IT mangers reveal vertical markets that are at the forefront of extending enterprise applications to mobile devices, including health care, financial services, education, and consumer product goods. Benefits uncovered include increased return on investment, better work/life balance, improved customer satisfaction, greater operational and cost efficiencies, and increased sales. Corporate representatives express a strong conviction that their mobility strategy will enhance their overall competitiveness.

Security remains a top concern among IT executives who must strike a defendable balance between allowing authorized access to information while still protecting sensitive data. Other “pain points” include the need for synchronization, integration with back-end technology, weariness over “endless” upgrades, and bandwidth costs.