Thursday, February 7th, 2013
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
The 2013 iPass/MobileIron Mobile Enterprise Report tells a story of the rise of BYOD, and with it increased frustration and loss of control by IT, and concern over rising mobile data costs. Results from our survey show that while Mobile IT brings with it a huge potential to improve workforce productivity, it also introduces significant new challenges for enterprise IT.
Our Infographic captures some of those changes and challenges:
Download the report >>
Register for the webinar >>
Rising mobile data costs with smartphones and tablets >>
Thursday, January 31st, 2013
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
This article How ‘bring your own cloud’ could kill BYOD on ZDNet.com argues that Bring Your Own Cloud will stop any hope of a BYOD policy.
I think the problem is that for many end users, mobile = cloud. They are not bringing in their own devices; they are bringing their best form of employee productivity. Users have brought in the devices that they use at home, and now, they are brining in the services that they use at home. A very clear policy, with additional IT security, as mentioned in several comments, can restrict that flow, or increase the awareness by end users.
As we’ve mentioned before, iPass can help users also have a Bring Your Own Network, or BYON. Having access to a secure network on your mobile device, can mitigate some of the security concerns by having anti-virus or other security process run before connection. BYON can be one tool in managing BYOC in a BYOD environment.
BYON protects BYOD from security risks of BYOC >>
Thursday, January 24th, 2013
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
Are you traveling through SFO tomorrow? Meet up with Chris!
Chris, iPass VP of Product Management & User Experience, will be at the Starbucks before security at Terminal 2 at the San Francisco Airport. Come by and ask any iPass questions, provide feedback, get started on downloading the iPass client for your mobile device and get a free 24-hour Wi-Fi pass. You can also ask her about her Wi-Fi diet and any tips for saving on 3G/4G costs.
iPass employees will soon visit some hotspots around the world, giving away passes and answering questions. We will be sure to let you know when the next one is.
And, here’s a little information about the newest SFO terminal, which reflects the region’s character:
Terminal 2: Foodie Culture Hits SFO Airport
A First Look at SFO’s New Terminal 2
Introducing: Wi-Fi Hotspot Live! This Friday, SFO >>
Monday, January 21st, 2013
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
Without wireless Internet access, how much do you feel that your productivity is decreased?
We are now asking for input to our
Q1 2013 Mobile Workforce Survey.
This quarter’s survey covers the following topics and more:
- Satisfaction with your carrier
- Any surprises with mobile phone charges
- Wi-Fi vs. 3G/4G usage
- What and how many mobile devices do you use?
- What would you LIKE to purchase?
- BYOD issues – do you use a personal or company-provided smartphone and/or tablet for work?
Since we have been doing this for quite a few years, the trend data is a fascinating look into the changing habits of mobile workers and the increasing reliance on Wi-Fi access – what are the costs for access, apps that you use for work and preferred locations.
Take the survey >>
And for your time in doing the survey, you will be entered into a drawing for an Apple iPad! Take a few minutes right now.
Fill out the Mobile Workforce Survey >>
Monday, January 14th, 2013
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
Windows 8 fails to reignite PC market: Gartner, continues the discussion of the PC quickly being replaced by the tablet.
Holiday shoppers stayed away from Windows 8 and tablet systems seemed to be taking off during Q4. According to Gartner, this PC slip indicates that the sector was suffering from a shift in consumer habits as much as a weak global economy. “Tablets have dramatically changed the device landscape for PCs, not so much by ‘cannibalizing’ PC sales, but by causing PC users to shift consumption to tablets rather than replacing older PCs,” said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner.
Some analysts are saying that battery life and lack of needing to re-boot is mentioned as a reason to carry a tablet, in Report from the street: Tablets are kicking laptops to the curb
Is IT following this trend of slowing their replacement of laptops, but quickening the acquisition of tablets?
IT can look at device usage and not replace laptops as quickly for groups not needing creative or processing power. There’s a shift in modernizing the computing fleet.
Even the article The iPad Will Not Replace the Laptop in 2013 says that we aren’t looking at direct replacement. It’s “more than just accessing data on a tablet. Some enterprise software can be occasionally accessed over the iPad’s mobile Safari browser, but the tablet isn’t good for regular use and deep dives.” The PC is still needed.
Whether it’s delays in PC replacements, economy or laptop replacement for some job functions, PC sales are slipping. And as we’ve seen in the consumer world, users are more comfortable using a different device depending on the function. As tablets continue to evolve (and many are still waiting to see what happens with Microsoft tablets) with users and IT waiting for the developments, tablets could continue to eat into the PC share of office.
Is IT following a consumer trend of letting the laptop age? >>
Rising mobile data costs with smartphones and tablets >>
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