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Apple’s iPhone certainly got everyone’s attention. It seems like everyone has had something to say about it-positive and negative.

But while there’s consensus that its user interface is quite exciting and the combination of a cell phone and iPod makes it an ideal recreational device, the iPhone is miles off the mark for the business market.

For business mobile device functionality, the RIM Blackberry Curve matches or beats the iPhone across the board-screen size, size, weight and style-and the Blackberry also trumps iPhone with a keyboard and thumbwheel. Not surprisingly, iPhone has more MP3 storage-hence its added weight-but for business purposes today, the iPhone is barely on the radar.

In addition to Blackberry, others including Motorola, HP, Palm, Nokia, Samsung, and Ericsson have been shipping products into the enterprise for years, many of which run Windows Mobile OS. Significantly, these devices run on all the mobile networks, not just AT&T’s and not just in North America. Apple’s decision to launch on only one network doesn’t do much for enterprises that have global network contracts.

Moreover, almost every large enterprise has closely coupled its mobile devices to Microsoft Exchange or IBM Lotus Domino for email, contacts and calendar functions. The users have the benefit of well-tested mobile clients from RIM, Microsoft (Office Communicator Mobile) and IBM (Lotus SameTime Mobile). The latest of these also deliver secure enterprise Presence, Instant Messaging and voice call control with click-to-call from email, contacts and directories.

In addition, there is a huge inventory of UC-type applications already customized for these devices from RIM, Microsoft and IBM, as well as from almost all the PBX providers. For example, the new Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator already runs on some RIM Blackberry models. Customized apps also are already available from application and portal providers such as BEA Systems (Aqualogic), SAP (MySAP), Oracle (Siebel Mobile) and others.

Enterprise mobility applications are being delivered by large, established developer communities who have access to mature Software Development Kits (SDK) and Application Development Environments (ADE). By contrast, early reviews of the iPhone application development environment have been mixed, and the negatives are important-the lack of Flash and Java support and the inability of developers to add icons to the iPhone user interface.

Given all these factors, just how is the iPhone a blessing in disguise for Unified Communications? Here are three answers:

First, the iPhone phenomenon will force enterprise management-IT and executive-to pay more attention to mobile device policy. This will be similar to what happened in the early 1990s, when it became clear that enterprise-wide PC “platform” standards were needed to provide consistent support for business applications and to manage device cost, TCO and security. Standardization is essential for UC to deliver consistent application performance on the mobile devices.

Second, the iPhone really ups the ante for suppliers to provide easy-to-use and attractive interfaces for the mobile user. Today’s products provide access to a wide-range of interfaces that combine text, touch, graphics and speech inputs and text, graphic, and audio outputs. Most offer integration between applications and modes. Apple has laid down a challenge with the iPhone to simplify and ease the application interface.

Third, the combination of iPhone’s attractive design and its multifunction capabilities gives us a glimpse into a future where users rely on a single, connected, mobile device for all of their communication needs. This reinforces a central theme of UC: Seamless mobility.

So, whether you’re a fan of the iPhone, or are disappointed, or are not yet sure, Apple has brought some powerful new concepts and capabilities into the market. For now, the iPhone doesn’t appear to be ready for prime time in the enterprise, but this is only the beginning. Apple’s competitors may not see the iPhone as much of a blessing, but the iPhone is likely to stimulate developments that will be very good for the rest of us.

What do you think? Drop me a line at marty@parkerbiz.com or post your comments here in the VoiceCon Unified Communications eWeekly forum

Marty Parker
Communication Perspectives and UCStrategies.com

Posted in Applications, Market Trends, Marty Parker, User Devices |

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