Surge of iOS platform in Enterprises

iOS and Android are two main mobile platforms. Together these platforms has 96% of smartphone and tablet market share*. But when we look at enterprise mobility share by platform, iOS is ahead of Android. iOS takes almost 72% of market share compare to 26% of Android. Why do we see such a big gap? Why enterprises are leaned towards iOS as platforms for enterprise applications. Let’s analyze -

Device management is an important function for enterprises and enterprises seek less obtrusive ways to maintain security while ensuring acceptable user experience. Focus has shifted from device security to app-level security, data security. 

1. Security: Security is one of the primary requirement for enterprises. Enterprise want to secure their data all the time while at rest or transmitting. Android and iOS popularity has already pushed out Blackberry and now enterprises have to weigh between iOS and Android.

iOS has tons of enterprise-focused security features like AES 256 bit encryption, FIPS 140-2 (iOS 8), Application code signing, Runtime process security, Data protection in Apps etc. On the other hand, until Android for Work, Android was missing on most of these features.

2. Fragmentation: The biggest problem with Android platform is in its fragmentation. There are hundreds of versions of Android available in the market. Google releases Android software and then it’s up to OEMs and carriers to push it to the end users. And each OEM custom made Android with their own enhancements, releasing Android updates takes time. On the other hand, Apple releases it’s iOS updates directly to end users and it ensures that every user has latest and greatest to supported devices available from day one.

3. VPN/SSL: iOS supports PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec VPN clients as well as integrated Cisco IPSec VPN. On the other hand, Android ( 4 and above) too provide support to PPTP, L2TP and IPSec. However, Android does not provide detailed management API support to provision VPN settings. 

4. Enterprise App Support: With Apple-IBM partnership, Apple will start offering enterprise application off the shelf and it is a huge jump over Android platform.

These are some of the observation, why I think iOS keep growing into enterprises space, but Android is catching up fast. Google recently announced “Android for Work” and with “Android for Work”, Google is trying to catch up. 

References:

*http://www.ibtimes.com/android-ios-take-96-percent-smartphone-market-2014-while-others-lose-share-1827052

*http://www.androidheadlines.com/2015/05/android-hits-26-enterprise-share-but-still-behind-ios.html

What is Enterprise Mobility? Really...

Last night I was with one of my techie friend discussing many topics, doing chit chat and “Enterprise Mobility” topic came up. I was shocked to hear about his views on What is the meaning of Enterprise Mobility. What I heard, Enterprise Mobility is all about Blackberries, devices, smartphones, checking emails, contacts and calendar on the phone. I had to take a step back and describe to him what is the meaning of “Enterprise Mobility” in new World. 

So what’s is really Enterprise Mobility?

Enterprise Mobility is a concept which enables employees to work from anywhere, anytime and from any device. Enterprise Mobility provides access to enterprise data to its employees anywhere, anytime on any device. This device could be any digital connected ‘instrument’, like laptop, smartphone, smart watches and even smart TVs. In IoT world, it could be any electronic which has power to process data and connected to internet. 

This concept looks very simple but very complex to implement. Enterprises have to ensure data is secured all the time irrespective where it travels and stored, privacy and compliances are met. 

One more term is tightly associated with Enterprise Mobility “BYOD”, Bring your own Device. There was a time when this term was relevant but now with new gadgets are coming into the market, it should be called as BYOE - Bring your own Electronic.

Bottomline, secure data anytime, anywhere, ensure privacy and meet compliances. Enterprise Mobility is not about devices or electronics. It is all about enabling employees to work and access corporate data from anywhere, anytime without worrying about data security, electronic gadget and privacy.  

Feel free to leave your comment/suggestion.

Will Windows 10 win?

Microsoft is trying hard to be relevant in the fast changing dynamics of consumer-driven technology world. Once enterprises and IT used to drive about what employees can use and can’t use by enforcing policies on Corporate given infrastructure. Time has changes since iPhone release in 2007 and now employees are driving IT organizations by bringing their preferred devices into company’s network. In this complex world of technologies, IT is struggling to catch up and so Microsoft with its traditional approach towards software. Microsoft realized it and trying to catch up in the new world with Windows 10 and cloud services.

Windows 10 will be most important release for Microsoft, it will decide the future of Microsoft and it’s relevance as preferred platform. Let’s see how this week's of announcements during Build 2015 might help Microsoft to fill this gap -

1. Universal Applications - Microsoft’s vision of Universal application is coming true with Windows 10 - applications which can be build once and run on all form factor of devices from phone, tablet, desktop PC to Xbox and may be on HoloLens in future. This feature will bring some of developer on board who can write applications once and runs on multiple devices. 

2. Continuum for Phones - allows smartphone running Windows 10 to transform into desktop PC when connected to larger screens. 

3. iOS And Android applications on Windows 10 - To bring iOS and Android developers on board, Microsoft has decided to take a new route by releasing two new SDKs in order to refactor existing iOS and Android code and port them to Windows. Supporting both iOS and Android developers allows Microsoft to get attentions of every mobile developer.

4. Website inside Windows universal App - Microsoft has also announced a way for websites and windows application to run inside Windows Universal application. This will enable these applications to use OS services like notifications and in-app purchases.  Upside of this feature would be, owners of websites want to move to mobile platforms, they can easily create web apps and publish through Microsoft app stores with Notifications and in-app features.

Using these SDKs and new ways, Microsoft is trying to fill the gap in its application ecosystem, which is one of the main contributors of earlier windows failures in the new world. Will these new SDKs and ways, will excite developers? Will the performance of Universal application be fluid? Will consume and developers alike accept Windows 10?

Leave your comments and thoughts...