Archive for the ‘Mobile Worker’ Category
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
With the BYOD trend and employees carrying almost 3 mobile devices, some IT organizations are trying to get ahead of unsecure, employee work arounds.
As I reported last week, according to our Mobile Workforce Report, 24% of mobile workers use a workaround (a bypass) to access corporate data.
In the article, Enterprise IT now competing with apps stores, mobile devices, from Networkworld.com, Lucas Mearian reports that…”Those trends are pushing IT shops to change, and change quickly, how they manage the growing number of devices and third-party apps their co-workers are using in the workplace, according to IT experts who spoke at the Consumerization of IT in the Enterprise (CITE).”
One IT operations manager commented that if a company focuses on securing the data rather than the device, then the company can be more flexible with its options.
Another executive said..”that if enterprises don’t begin developing their own internal app stores for employees to use, workers will find work-arounds that lack security and IT support. And if companies don’t deploy internal social networking sites…, collaboration tools… or secure web browsers.., users will find their own.”
Read the article >>
IT trying to get ahead of the BYOD trend >>
Wednesday, October 10th, 2012
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
Forrester’s latest report on mobile adoption in the enterprise found that 66% of employees now use two or more devices every day.
Meanwhile, 55% of organizations stated that supporting a larger number of smartphones was a high or critical priority over the next 12 months, while 52% said the same of supporting tablets like Apple’s iPad. Device and app security is the highest concern.
For BYOD policies, 70% of tablet users got to pick their own and 67% of smartphone users. 15% of companies issued the tablets or smartphones directly. 13% of tablets and 15% of smartphones were from a pre-approved list. In our upcoming MObile Workforce Report, we are finding that 30% of employees are getting a work phone from work, 47% have purchased their own for work, but yet another 18% have a work-provided phone and a personal phone.
Get the Forrester report >>
Read more on TechCrunch >>
Participate in the next Mobile Workforce Survey >>
Get the latest Mobile Workforce Report >>
Look at individual-liable Wi-Fi access plans – a “Bring Your Own Network” approach. Try it for 24-hours >>
66% of employees bring two or more devices to work every day [Forrester] >>
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012
Han Dong, Sr. Product Marketing Manager
We had quite a break from our Top 5 list for showing the value of deploying Open Mobile and using Wi-Fi for smartphones. For our fifth and final reason, we wanted to offer reason not only for the end user, but for IT especially.
5. Premium “command and control” services + Integration with Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions
iPass is not just a Wi-Fi network service. We also offer a broad range of services designed to assist IT managers to control the deployment, provisioning, access, and cost of Wi-Fi for mobile workers. The Open Mobile portal provides the dashboard for Administrators to rapidly create and customize Open Mobile profiles that define the user access and experience for multiple departments and/or groups within the organization. These profile(s) help IT manage the wireless access and costs incurred by specific categories of mobile users – from global executives to regional sales and field support personnel.
Additionally, iPass has relationships with leading MDM vendors such as MobileIron, to develop integrated solutions of connectivity, provisioning, and secure device management to assist larger organizations who are deploying smartphones and tablets across the enterprise.
Thanks for staying tuned with us and our 5 main reasons for deploying Open Mobile!
Try our 24-hour free trial here
Deploying Open Mobile and Wi-Fi for smartphones (last of 5-part series) >>
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
Last week, in the article Is teleworking driving us crazy?, Matthew Wall discussed the benefits that mobile workers felt in working remotely during the Olympics.
However, he says, “And as the boundaries between work and family life become increasingly blurred in the “always-on” era of digital communications, what psychological pressure does this put on us and our relationships with partners and families?”
He also brought in the downsides and possible balance points:
“In a major study into the wellbeing of mobile workers conducted for iPass, a network provider, Dr Carolyn Axtell, senior lecturer at Sheffield University’s Institute of Work Psychology and Management, found more than a quarter of respondents said they worked 15 to 20 hours extra a week, largely because technology enabled them to do so, a trend “likely to have significant repercussions for work-life balance and employee well-being”…
And Dr Axtell’s work suggests productivity actually levels off among those working the longest hours, and even drops over time, as tiredness and stress eventually impair performance.
She says: “There is a fine balance between reaping the benefits of greater flexibility and control over when and where a person works versus working longer hours that may encroach detrimentally on personal life.
“However, when the balance is struck well – mobile workers can achieve a better work-life balance, feel a greater sense of control and well-being, and be more efficient and productive.”
Photo courtesy of cc 3.0 jnyemb
Teleworking after the Olympics >>
Friday, September 21st, 2012
Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor
We are collecting responses to our Q4 Mobile Workforce Survey and would love to hear from you!
This report has been great in showing trends in mobile devices (preferences, apps and usage), Wi-Fi usage, business travel issues and more.
- How much often do you connect to Wi-Fi?
- What smartphone do you have and will you get next?
- Has your national government embraced mobile technology enough in your viewpoint to serve the changing needs of your community?
You can also choose to receive the survey once it’s published to see how you compare to your peers.
Take the Survey! >>
Download our Q3 Report on “Mobile Darwinism” >>
Mobile Workforce Survey – which smartphone do YOU prefer? >>
