The IT consumerization phenomenon cannot be ignored any longer. Employees are taking their own smartphone and tablets into the workplace, and they aim to work and have access to corporate systems using their devices. Although this is a relatively new phenomenon, CIOs need to plan a strategy to address this. On the providers’ side, players have begun to develop solutions focusing on helping IT directors in that role.
IBM (NYSE: IBM) has taken a step in this direction. Big Blue has unveiled seven new social networking and collaboration mobile apps specifically designed to address enterprise-class requirements. IBM aims to go further in taking social networking, real-time collaboration and online meeting capabilities from behind the company firewall and placing it into the hands of tablet users.
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A recent IBM study revealed that 73% of business leaders surveyed currently allow mobile devices or tablets to connect to their corporate networks. The software — offered for a variety of tablets — allows employees to collaborate and share data, images and conduct meetings on the fly more securely as part of their everyday work experience.
The industry expects that millions of tablet and smartphone devices will be unwrapped this holiday season. So companies must build a strategy to allow employees to access business applications and enterprise content in a more secure way.
IBM said the new software is part of a suite of capabilities focused on addressing 21st-century workforce trends. Companies need more mobile services that help protect against data loss and other risks caused by device theft, unauthorized access, malware, spyware and inappropriate applications.
The IBM’s solutions vary to meet the demands of a fast-growing mobile workforce and the software developers that support them, include solutions for a social networking for iPad, attending online meetings, instant messaging, access business documents, reduce calling costs, access to mail and calendars, tools to better build mobile apps, and tools to improve the Web experience for the user.
Company is also expanding the mobile device support with IBM Cognos Mobile on the iPad. The software enables mobile workers to take their business analytics on the road whether offline or online, allowing for uninterrupted productivity. It is current available to try out in Apple’s iTunes store.
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