When it comes to the mobile market, a great deal of focus goes to the consumer space where devices like the iPhone and Android smartphones are commonly used. But devices like these appeal to corporate customers, too. And a growing number of enterprise users are finding value in them. Realizing that, the iPhone and the iPad, or more generally, Apple, has changed the way the enterprise thinks about mobility and the mobile market. Gone are the days when Research In Motion and the BlackBerry mean everything. Today, the corporate world is ready and willing to take on different ideas. And it’s Apple that that market can point to for all the changes it has undergone. Read on to find out some things that Apple has revealed about the corporate world.
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1. Touch Screens Are Just Fine
After the iPhone was first made available, some wondered how the enterprise would respond to the device featuring a touch screen, rather than the typical physical keyboard. Considering iPhone (and iPad) adoption is on the rise in the corporate world, it seems that it didn’t matter at all. In fact, some companies seem to prefer it.
2. Bigger Tablets Are Better
With iPad adoption starting to ramp up in the corporate world, it’s clear that companies are intrigued by the possibility of deploying a tablet with a large, 9.7-inch display. And considering the Dell Streak comes with just a 5-inch screen, it would seem that those same companies aren’t all that keen on smaller displays, if sales are to be the guide. Screen size matters in the enterprise. And the iPad has proven it.
3. The BlackBerry Isn’t All That
RIM’s BlackBerry has been the top smartphone choice for companies for quite some time. But as mentioned, the iPhone is starting to make inroads into the corporate world. And that success seems to indicate that RIM and its BlackBerry just aren’t as important as they once were.
4. Microsoft Isn’t Either
If RIM and the BlackBerry aren’t as important to enterprise customers as they once were, the same might be said about Microsoft and its own operating systems. The company’s Windows 7 has been tossed aside in netbooks in favor of the iPad running iOS. In the mobile market, its Windows Phone 7 platform pales in comparison to the vast majority of competitors, including the iPhone and iOS. Simply put, Microsoft has lost its way in the enterprise when it comes to mobility.
5. Windows Phone 7 Might Be In Trouble
As mentioned, Windows Phone 7 has been largely ignored by corporate customers that have chosen alternatives. But will that continue going forward? It certainly seems that way. Windows Phone 7 is trying to be awfully iOS-like. And in the process, it has proven to corporate customers that it’s better to go with real thing from Apple.
6. Consumers Have A Greater Role In Tech Decisions
The consumerization of IT has been bandied about quite a bit over the past year. And there are some that believe that as time goes on, users will be given a choice as to what device they want to use in the enterprise. A key reason for that has been Apple and its iPhone. The enterprise was slow to warm to the iPhone. But the average worker wasn’t. And that willingness to bring devices into the mix that IT staff were against has caused an interesting shift towards consumerization that everyone should keep a close eye on.
7. Apple Is Actually Relevant
One of the more surprising results of Apple becoming a bigger influence in the enterprise is that, well, Apple became a bigger influence in the enterprise. As one might recall, Apple had little to no presence in the corporate world. And it’s clear now that thanks to the iPad and the iPhone, Apple is more of a player in the enterprise than ever before.
8. Enterprise Services Aren’t As Important
One of the key selling points of RIM’s products has always been BlackBerry Enterprise Server, the devices’ security features, and other important enterprise-focused services. The iPhone and the iPad lack many of those services and don’t come with support for BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Even so, the devices are still gaining support in the enterprise. And that proves quite well that maybe all those services aren’t as important as some believe.
9. Google Has A Shot
If Apple has been able to overcome top contenders and change how the corporate world views the mobile space, there’s no reason to suggest that Google can’t do the same. After all, the company is offering a mobile operating system that mimics iOS. And Android-based devices, including the Motorola Droid Pro and the upcoming Cisco Cius seem to be ideally suited for corporate customers. Like Apple, Google is making serious inroads into the enterprise.
10. The Future Isn’t Assured For Any Company
If nothing else, Apple’s rise in the enterprise has shown that no company, regardless of its current position in the marketplace, can ever be cast aside. With a solid product that enterprise customers can see value in, just about any company can find a way into the corporate world. Apple has shown that. Google is starting to show that. And soon enough, other firms might show it, as well.
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