Developing An IT Strategy For Mobile Devices
The number of mobile devices, such as handheld computers and mobile phones, entering the corporate sector has grown exponentially over the past year, and, according to market research, this number is only going to increase. The entrance of key players such as IBM, Compaq, NEC, Hewlett-Packard, Nokia, Ericsson and Microsoft signals that the handheld has potential for much more than just personal use. Indeed, corporations can realize key objectives by providing mobile devices to their workers – such as streamlining business processes and increasing productivity. The challenge now facing organizations is how to leverage all the benefits of mobile devices into the corporate environment - without losing functionality or control.
The challenges of enterprise connectivity are many and varied; they are defined both by practical usability criteria and the technical limitations of today's infrastructure. In order to utilize handhelds effectively, corporations must develop clear strategies for the use and deployment of mobile devices within their existing infrastructure. The goal of this white paper is to explore the issues surrounding the integration of handhelds within the corporate environment, including:
- Supporting multiple devices with different applications and operating systems
- Synchronizing data with the server
- Integrating into existing systems
- Management and administration of business-critical data
- Using and developing handheld applications