With the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) craze hitting enterprises, universities, hospitals, and everywhere between, IT administrators may find a checklist a good option to take charge of what’s coming their way. As millions of employees walk into the new year with devices received as holiday gifts, what better time to buckle down and successfully implement a plan for 2012?

An illustrated depiction of poll results from other MORE Webinars will give you the insight needed to respond to the influx of employee-owned tablets and smartphones at your place of business.

The BYOD party has started, folks. Now its up to IT leadership to decide how it will be handled. It would be wise to act on what the latest statistics say about emerging trends in mobility. To get started on the right track, submit your request for a free evaluation of MaaS360 mobile device management (MDM).

This year, the security of confidential information on mobile devices is a top concern for companies across the world. Executives are being urged to finalize mobile security strategies while IT departments are in the drivers seat for implementation. Screw-ups will assuredly have a lasting backlash on the parties that fail to prepare. To add to the stress, data growth is running rampant and the release of lost and stolen information has become more damaging with each new headline. The margin for error is thin indeed.

If your company has made major systematic changes, taken a closer look at its processes, or made changes to how it uses technology, you shouldn’t be surprised. These are all reactionary moves in face of a quickly changing landscape. For many companies, addressing the growing number of mobile workers has been the biggest struggle.

Every day, new devices equipped with new technology and sensitive data are connecting to the corporate network, spelling out potential for disaster for many CIOs. Who could blame them for being paranoid? The security of data is too important to ignore.

Take for example the results of a poll conducted by the Dimensional Research for Check Point Software Technologies. 71% of IT professionals believe an uptick in security events experienced by their company during the past two years can be attributed to increased mobile device use. On that point, 78% said they’ve seen such use of smartphones and tablets double in that time.

At first glance, it seems as if there’s a connection between the security incidents and the increased use of devices, or the iPads, iPhones, and Androids being brought to work by employees. Cloud computing, “hacktivism”, and mobility have brought a lot of change to the world of enterprise IT in recent years; the more reliant companies become on these new technologies and ideas, risk will continue to increase.

What we are unsure of, however, is the mobility environment of each IT professional polled, and what tools they were using at work. Without knowing, how can we attribute the rise in data breaches to smartphones and tablets? A mobile device management (MDM) solution allows proper implementation of a given mobile security strategy while giving the director the means to oversee their device inventory. In other words, it provides peace of mind in place of frustration.

What is your company doing to manage the mobile devices connecting to the corporate network? If devices are being kept at home as a preventative measure, you could be missing out on potential for increased productivity and a practical means for doing work. Share your story with us in the comments below.

The bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend has picked up a lot of steam in recent months and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. Technological advances, a growing number of mobile workers, and gadget affordability have all played a role in the takeoff process. In some ways this trend presents cause for concern; an increasing number of employees are sitting in their company’s drivers seat and calling the shots in ways they shouldn’t be. The device-types supported in a given corporate environment are no longer stemming from the will of the IT director. In many cases the line is being drawn by the employees who are bringing their personal-owned devices to the office.

InfoWorld expert Galan Gruman has made note of common problem areas and provided a few tips for how your organization can derive benefit and forget the troubles:

Gruman insists we can’t be naive. From his vantage point, companies have one thing in mind when making the transition to BYOD: money. Increased productivity and satisfaction born of BYOD programs are an added benefit, and that’s all. “Their goals are naive, so what should be viewed as a positive outcome isn’t. The problem is not that BYOD itself is negative, it’s that many companies do it for the wrong reason and don’t get what they wanted.” To remedy the problem, companies must define clear, concise, attainable goals that cover all aspects of mobility.

Gruman’s second point involves the cost of supporting your mobile workforce. The costs of BYOD can add up when mobile expenses aren’t managed properly. For this reason, Gruman rejects expensing bills in favor of flat rates. Why? No company could ever rid itself of its mobility costs; the company can always expect to receive requests for compensation of some kind. When this happens, Gruman advises not to allow your employees to fill out expense reports. These will add up from processing fees alone. Instead, companies should add a flat rate or a mobility stipend onto their employees’ paychecks each month. That way, they get the money required to pay their wireless bills and the company meets its goal of saving on mobility costs.

How do you BYOD at your company? If you aren’t factoring in any of Gruman’s advice, why not? Take some time now to think why you are managing your devices the way you are, and decide whether its the best option going forward. If you aren’t sure, maybe your workforce is. Perhaps consider sending out a survey to determine what your employees would prefer. After you have your strategy set, make sure you implement it in the most cost effective way you can to attain maximum benefit.

First smartphones, then tablets…now ultrabooks. The mobile computing space has never been as dynamic and exciting as it is now. Over the course of recent years, mobile computing has improved in such a way that it has almost become a lifestyle.

Ultrabooks are nothing new, and by no means an innovation in mobile computing. They have always been around. Thanks to Apple‘s MacBook Air, the trend has gained considerable momentum. PC manufacturers have always wanted to give slim and high performance devices to the consumer, but Apple laid the foundation.

So what are these ultrabooks?

Ultrabooks can be defined in a few simple words: portable, slim stylish, and fast, with responsive computing interfaces. Like the MacBook Air, the ultrabooks are also powered by Intel low core voltage processors for efficient power consumption and long battery life. However, the two factors that distinguish the MacBook Air from ultrabooks are:

1. Displays. Ultrabooks have a resolution of 1366 x 768 whereas the MacBook Air 13 has a resolution of 1440 x 900.
2. The Ultrabook Intel Core Processors are embedded with security and anti-theft protection technology. Mid-2012, Intel has plans to introduce the Ivy Bridge processors for powering ultrabooks. Not only will the Ivy Bridge processors ramp up performance, responsiveness, and visual display of the ultrabook, but it will upgrade the mobile computing security component. Intel plans to embed McAfee in its core processors for increased malware protection.

Different ultrabook vendors have their own unique selling propositions to market their products. For example, Lenovo’s IdeaPad Yoga can be twisted to behave like a tablet; Dell’s XPS13 is 128GB solid-state drive and has a backlit keyboard; and Acer claims to have built the world’s thinnest ultrabook. In spite of different flavors of ultrabooks available to suit one’s needs, some of the factors that may hinder ultrabook adoption are:

1. High prices. Ultrabooks are priced between 800 dollars and 1300 dollars. If the ultrabook manufacturers can keep a benchmark of 600-700 dollars, it will influence the number of consumers adopting ultrabooks.
2. Support for Windows 8 in workplaces: The 2012 ultrabooks are powered by the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system. Has your IT started or is considering supporting Windows 8?
3. If you like a heavy dose of CDs, DVDs and flash drives, ultrabooks aren’t for you. Ultrabooks, by definition, do not have any built-in hard drives; are powered with solid state drives (SSDs) for better speed and responsiveness; and have low power consumption.
4. The ultrabooks have no outlet or port for LAN support but the mini display port allows you to connect to any type of PC display.

Many industry experts have deemed ultrabooks tablet contenders. But I believe the ultrabooks will eat away at desktops and notebooks. Reason being, tablets and ultrabooks serve different purpose for different user groups. For example, tablets are great reading and entertainment devices for travelers, while the ultrabooks are an ideal pick for students or professors who are always on the move and are looking for high performance boxes. However, I believe, ‘device price’ and technology innovation will play a pivotal role in defining the future of each of these devices.

As the ultrabook revolution picks up the pace, I am already watching the market for new additions to pick one for myself. Are you too ready to dump your netbook or desktop for an ultrabook? Or maybe you own one–if so, please share with us your experiences and any ultrabook vendor recommendations.

Part of what made the iPhone 4S so great was timing. It was released right on cue with upgrades to iOS software and shortly before the passing of a legend in Steve Jobs (and unexpectedly so). One of many ways people chose to pay tribute to Jobs was by purchasing his last great device. Others wanted to take full advantage of the iOS 5 software…more specifically, Siri. The timing and its influence on consumers is what lead to a record-breaking 4 million sales 3 days after its release.

So the question is, how will Apple carry this momentum into 2012? What factors will weigh in on our decision to buy their iPhone 5?

It may not be what the phone brings the people that drives them to buy it. This time around it could be more simple; the phone will be brought to the people. Present day, there are only 3 carriers that offer the iPhone to customers. Combined, these networks contract with the majority of our country’s smartphone users, but that’s not to say the iPhone’s reach can’t and won’t expand. What if all 3G and LTE networks across the world could offer their customers an iPhone?

Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley reports the iPhone 5 could arrive as early as Q3 2012, feature a slimmer design, and a “quad-mode chip from Qualcomm that would allow for 3G and LTE functionality across all ‘network flavors’”. If this holds true, Apple would have no problem picking up their success right where they left off when they introduced the 4S. Imagine how many people wanted to buy a 4S but couldn’t because their network didn’t offer it. Hubety added if Apple signs a deal with China Mobile–the world’s largest mobile phone operator–the inclusion of the chip in the iPhone 5 would be all the more likely. We will have to wait and see.

What do you think Apple will do to continue the success they had in Fall ’11? The phone will undoubtedly boast its share of new features, that we can always be sure of. But going back to my point about bringing the phone to the people, adding a few hundred million potential subscribers to the mix couldn’t hurt. It could be what really “does it” for them this time.

by John Harrington, Fiberlink

It’s been about a year since BlackBerry first rolled out the PlayBook, which is a while when considering RIM left its flagship tablet’s users without a native mail client that whole time. PlayBook users will be relieved to hear this is due to change when version 2.0 OS upgrades are released in February (Business Insider reports). Other upgrades to email will include the popular all-in-one inbox feature and rich text editing. Finally, it seems RIM has chosen to step up their tablet game to keep up with the competition.

So what does this mean for you? If you’ve been tethering to your BlackBerry device to access mail on your PlayBook, you’ll soon be able to cut cord and work solo on either device…and those who never had a BlackBerry in the first place will be able to get some real work done on the go.

RIM has taken the opportunity to address other shortcomings in this software update by making improvements to messaging and contact management. Once these features are enabled, the contacts on your PlayBook will be synchronized with corresponding account information on social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. So if one of your LinkedIn connections is attending our next webinar, you will know about just by viewing your calendar. Similarly, if your co-worker sends out an event invite for a Superbowl party to everyone at the office on Facebook, you will be able to see who RSVP’d (and coordinate on what to bring).

How do you feel about this upcoming software release? Will it put the PlayBook in better position to compete with up-and-comers in the tablet market? Or do you feel these moves will be insignificant in the long-run?

So, which tablet did you receive over the holiday season? Was it the Kindle Fire, the Motorola Xoom, or the iPad?

With the iPad dominating the tablet ecosystem early 2011, this is a question you rarely would have heard or thought to ask. But as the year continued, technology progressed, and many more tablets entered the ring. While market sales indicate that Amazon’s Kindle Fire was the most popular device of the 2011 holiday shopping season, the iPad should continue to fare well. The risks of Android fragmentation in the context of device management may scare off enough to work in their favor. The bottom line is, the the tablet market is gaining momentum and is on the rise…with names such as the Asus Transformer Prime, the Samsung Galaxy Y, and BlackBerry’s PlayBook to add to the bunch.

According to IDC France, the tablet market is forecasted to bypass 4.1 million this year, representing a 48% growth in comparison to 2011. I do not however believe that tablets will dominate laptops or desktops, as each of these devices serves its own purpose.

Let me explain…

Like many of you, I own an Android, an iPad, a home machine for my parents and a work machine for my corporate assignments. As mentioned above, each of these devices serve a specific purpose and in my opinion are irreplaceable. I’ll use my iPad to read while I’m traveling for example, or to watch videos on my own time. But no matter how useful it may be, I cannot make the full transition from my computers given the comparably insufficient internal storage it provides. Another thing–the tablet keyboard isn’t user-friendly enough for me to write pages and pages without hurting my hands or wrists. Tablets are good for composing and sending a few emails a day, but I prefer my corporate machine if I need to respond to more than 20.

One of the main reasons tablets are gaining popularity is their ‘touch screens’ and ‘portability’. Many industries, such as education and healthcare, are already using these types of devices for information sharing. Like any other novice technology, tablets do face a good share of challenges, all of which are relevant to consumers and enterprise users:

1. Many smartphone users find it redundant to own a smartphone and a tablet. Tablet vendors and product strategists must deliver high tech, more compact, feature- and application-rich tablets at competitive prices. Some other tablet needs include: easy access to SD cards, better USB support, and better or’real’ keyboards for authors, students, teachers, etc…, who write more than one page per day.

2. Preserving data integrity and preventing mobile malware infestations continue to be key concerns within the mobile ecosystem. Do tablet users securely access business or banking apps? Or enterprise content over public networks? Do they follow the basic security practices for preventing unauthorized access and data breaches?

3. Rise of personally-owned tablets in workplaces, or BYOD (bring-your-own-device): Gartner recently predicted that “By 2016, at least 50 percent of enterprise email users will rely primarily on a browser, tablet or mobile client instead of a desktop client.” As employees and mobile workers bring their portable computers to work, have organizations defined their tablet management strategy? Are they prepared to handle this sudden influx of employee- and corporate-owned smartphones and tablets in their workplaces?

4. 2012 will witness the rise of a more fragmented tablet market. This implies more choices for consumers, which is certainly good news for those looking to address specific needs. However, enterprises must have a robust and scalable infrastructure to accomodate the upcoming releases or needs of the dynamic mobile market.

As an iPad user, I believe the tablets are here to stay. They have their own market but tablet computing needs to evolve.

Don’t you agree that this tablet trend is on? And for all you tablet-owners out there, what kind do you have and what has your experience been like so far?

Yep, it’s that time of year again. As people begin removing lights and ornaments from their trees and taking off those goofy Near Years Eve sunglasses, tech pundits across the web are relaying their forecasts and views of what enterprise technology landscape will look like in 2012…

Unsurprisingly, enterprise mobility has figured prominently on just about every list that has been published. Two of the more recent ones from InformationWeek and PCWorld specifically addressed the role that tablets will play in mobile device management (MDM) programs this year.

According to InformationWeek, the IT professionals’ view of tablets has flip-flopped over the past few years. In 2010, when Apple instituted the dawn of a new era with the iPad, the majority of IT pros said the devices would be a “non-event”. Just two years later this stance has begun eroding.

Now it seems that IT pros are jumping on the tablet bandwagon, as it has become obvious that they can provide access and productivity benefits. These feelings aren’t yet ubiquitous, but its heading in that direction.

“Our bet? They will be, you will support them, and you’ll do so in pretty substantial numbers during the next few years,” the report stated, referring to tablets serving as mobile professionals’ tool of choice and companies lending support to them.

In conjunction with this prediction, the PCWorld report insinuates laptop replacement (with tablets) can actually support an organization’s mobile expense management program.

The move can go a long way in lowering capital expenditures. What’s more, tablets will boost the employees’ satisfaction, as the devices have been built for enjoyment and ease of use. Such factors ensure tablets are utilized to their fullest extent and professionals get all they can out of them.

PCWorld warns however that organizations must address security concerns when implementing tablets. Vendors have already begun to recognize such needs and are developing antivirus and encryption solutions focused exclusively on tablets.

“Consumerization” is the buzzword right now, as more organizations look for ways to support personal-owned devices in the new year. Do you bring your own device to work? Or do you leave your tablet at home?

While the best of us remain pondering about a good new year’s resolution, Small & Medium Business leadership seem to have theirs all figured out. Based on the NPD Group‘s latest report, businesses with 1,000 employees (or less) plan to invest in tablets in a big way over the next twelve months. And this isn’t a trend among few; roughly three quarters (73%) of SMBs are on-board.

Here are the major findings from the survey…

The percentage of SMBs that intend to purchase tablets in 2012:

- 54% of <50 employee companies
- 70% of 50-200 employee companies
- 81% of 201-500 employee companies
- 89% of 501-999 employee companies

The percentage of SMBs that plan to increase or maintain spending:

- 88% of <50 employee companies
- 83% of 50-200 employee companies
- 91% of 201-500 employee companies
- 90% of 501-999 employee companies

The amount that will be spent on tablets in 2012:

- $1,912 per <50 employee company
- $10,122 per 50-200 employee company
- $27,031 per 201-500 employee company
- $38,749 per 501-999 employee company

Aside from these staggering figures pulled from their survey, NPD also found that the ”iPad purchase preference is higher among larger firms than smaller ones, which is an important indicator that Apple is gaining traction far outside its typical consumer space.”

If this sounds like your company, keep your eyes peeled for new iPads this year. These spending projections speak volumes about the consumerization of IT, and the prevalence of mobile device use in the workplace. Are you fit to handle this influx of tablets? Register for our webinar on January 5th and learn the best practices for enabling iPhones and iPads at work.

Earlier this month, I broke down a report from Digitimes that claimed Apple would release the newest member of its tablet family in late March or early April 2012. This news came from Apple’s premier supplier in China, so it seemed real enough to post about. The source went on to say that Apple would cut down on production of the iPad 2 and begin production of the next iPad in January…

This morning, Digitimes churned more from the rumor mill—reporting that not one, but two iPads will be released soon after the new year…and this time with much more specificity on when: at the iWorld conference at the end of January.

What will be different about these two iPads? The report states each will have the traditional 9.7 inch screen (with 1536×2048 resolution) and two LED light bars, with big names such as Sharp, LG, and Samsung (all well-known for their great displays on LCD/Plasma flat-screen television sets) supplying parts to make this possible.

With Samsung’s help, these new tablets will edge the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S in a couple ways—improving on the A5 chip with an A6 chip in both of these tablets plus improving the camera; the high-end tablet will feature a 8-megapixel camera while the other will feature a 5-megapixel camera.

So, today’s report differs from the last report in two ways: Apple will be releasing 2 iPads instead of 1, and they will not make any adjustments to screen size to compete with Amazon’s kindle fire. Each of these new tablets will be out of the price range of the kindle fire, but give reason to drop the price of the iPad 2 enough to steal some fire from Amazon’s smaller tablet.

How accurate do you suspect this report is? If not at all, what do you think is on the horizon for Apple heading into the new year? If you are in the market for a new tablet, are these supposed new features enough to keep you waiting?