IBM plans today to announce a line-up of new development, management, and security tools to help enterprises master mobile computing.
Mobile is a fast-growing technology, with more than 10 billion mobile devices likely to be in the hands of consumers and workers by 2020, according to a statement from IBM (which sponsors Internet Evolution). Some 90 percent of mobile users keep the devices within arm's reach at all times and use them for many kinds of transactions.
"In many ways, mobile will be the new way to reach employees and consumers," Phil Buckellew, vice president, Enterprise Mobile, IBM Software Group, said in a phone interview. "It's a fantastic opportunity to reduce the wait time that exists in business processes because these devices are always in consumers' hands. Organizations have the opportunity to improve the way they do business with their clients, take latency away from their business processes, and ultimately improve business results."
IBM is introducing services to help businesses create a mobile strategy and build infrastructure that incorporates the goals of CMOs, CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs.
IBM is also introducing analytics tools for mobile devices to provide CMOs, e-commerce, and customer service professionals with access to realtime insights into the online customer buying experience both on the Web and on mobile devices. These analytics are designed to help customers improve customer support, site usability, tailor marketing campaigns, and increase online conversion rates.
IBM added new native app development and offline data synchronization support for its Mobile Foundation, which encompasses development, cloud integration, and device management.
The newly updated IBM Endpoint Manager for Mobile Devices is designed to help companies with BYOD, by making it easier to secure devices and give employees tools and portals to manage their own tools, so IT departments can focus on back-end security and compliance. IBM also introduced new mobile services to manage Apple, Android, Windows, and BlackBerry devices, along with new WiFi management tools to improve network availability, incorporating Netcool/OMNIbus into the IBM EndPoint Manager.
"Mobile device management is the same pane of glass that IT organizations are now using to manage the desktop environment," Buckellew said.
New security tools allow networks to make context-based decisions on whether and how to allow users to access. "For example, if you've got an ER doctor that's on-shift, in the emergency room, and connected to the hospital network, you don't want them to have to jump through a lot of hoops to access patient records. If that same doctor is accessing from a coffee shop across town five hours later, you might want them to use multi-factor authentication, or make sure they're not accessing more than one patient record at a time," he added.
Said IBM in an emailed statement:
Rohde & Schwarz, a global manufacturing company specializing in high-end test and measurement equipment, is transforming its organization into a mobile enterprise by doing away with cumbersome hard copy product catalogs. By arming its 2,000 global sales representatives with mobile devices and applications, the sales team can now access critical information needed to retrieve client information in real-time, access inventory information and rapidly close sales.
Rohde & Schwartz is using IBM's Worklight to develop apps for multiple platforms. Representatives can access the in-house product database on the road and while meeting with clients. Worklight allows the company to develop applications efficiently and also easily integrate with backend systems, reducing development times to weeks from months, IBM says.
Mobile is transforming the demands on businesses, and businesses are using mobile to transform themselves. IBM is looking to help with that process.
For a closer look at how mobile is changing the face of business, check out our Internet Evolution/IBM infographic: Business on the Move.
I agree with this, when it comes to mobile devices, focus should be on securing the corporate app and data rather than the device itself to avoid any productivity problems.
IBM is introducing services to help businesses create a mobile strategy and build infrastructure that incorporates the goals of CMOs, CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs.
@Mitch, thanks for the post. This is great move my IBM. As you pointed out in your article Mobile is a fast-growing technology and customers will need tools which can make the mobile usage more secure. I am sure these tools/apps created by IBM will definitely help the end users to address those issues.
I agree with Alison, IBM has the ability to flex its own muscle to provide insight into security and mobile data that others cannot. Organizations that are already using IBM to solve big problems are probably the best fit for these services. All too often I think that companies are going to just let the mobile trend build without do much thinking about the impact. That's more of a read and react philosophy that some in IT cannot stand - which is where IBM comes in.
Its a good sgn for mobile tools and services and for the users as well. It will offer many services and the competition will increase. The best thing of getting many big names involved in technology is that the competition will rise and the features will be upgraded with a lower cost.
Fantastic move by IBM to tackle BYOD, something weighing heavily on the minds of IT professionals across the spectrum of industries and organizations of all sizes who want a simple yet powerful way to manage this challenge. This integrated approach sounds like a terrific approach, one that gives employees freedom of choice while simultaneously providing IT professionals with the controls they need to keep organizations -- and their information, applications, and networks -- secure.
New security tools allow networks to make context-based decisions ...
Interesting & heartening to see where security is not always the ultimate trump card, where there is give and take, where there is flexibility tethered to context. I think it's call common sense, yes granted not a common techy buzzword.
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