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HSBC considers getting 200,000 iPhones

Paul Mah — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:35:21 -0400

HSBC's Australia and New Zealand chief information officer apparently told ZDNet.com.au this week that, "We are actually reviewing iPhones from a HSBC Group perspective...and when I say that, I mean globally." Adopting the iPhone would mean HSBC would have to ditch the currently deployed BlackBerry smartphones, which could result in an order of up to 200,000 iPhones.

While it is true that the iPhone 3G implemented features that makes it more attractive to the enterprise, these pale in comparison with the features already offered on RIM's BlackBerry platform. Moreover, the iPhone only implements a reduced set of Microsoft's push mail and device management features. This simply does not stack up to any Windows Mobile 6.0 devices on the market.

With no advantage other than aesthetics, I suppose, I can't help but think of it as nothing more than an ill-advised decision.

To read up more about this story:
- check out this BusinessWeek article

iPhone in the enterprise: An interview with Microsoft's Exchange group

Mehan Jayasuriya — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:10:17 -0400

It certainly came as a bit of a surprise when Apple announced that it had licensed Activesync from Microsoft and was bringing full Exchange Server support to the iPhone. After all, Apple had marketed the device almost exclusively to consumers since its release and had ignored repeated requests from users for corporate email support. So why now? And does the iPhone really stand a chance against entrenched enterprise players like Microsoft, RIM and Palm?

To find out the answers to these questions, we went, not to the notoriously tight-lipped folks at Apple, but to Microsoft, Apple’s unlikely partner for the iPhone’s enterprise push. In an interview with Adam Glick, Technical Product Manager for Microsoft’s Exchange group, we found out why IT admins should be excited about the iPhone, how this move characterizes Microsoft’s approach to licensing its technology and why Microsoft is helping a competitor gain a foothold in its most cherished market...

Click here to read the full interview

The iPhone is ready for business but are businesses ready for the iPhone?

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:00:00 -0500

Earlier this week, over at FierceMobileEnterprise, I wondered what enterprise announcements Apple had in store for its town hall iPhone event. While I felt like Lotus Notes support was a strong possibility given recent rumors, I characterized the announcement of the iPhone's most wanted business feature--Exchange Server support--"highly unlikely." Oh, how wrong I was. As you'll see in today's issue, there's no Lotus Notes support (yet) but the iPhone now supports Microsoft Exchange and Activesync, not to mention push email, certificates, identities, Cisco IPsec VPN, WPA2/802.1x, remote security administration and even remote wipe.

I don't think that anyone expected Apple to get so serious about enterprise users so quickly. However, the motivation is clear. The company aims to sell 10 million iPhones in 2008 and with consumer momentum slowing, they're going to have to court the biggest smartphone buyers: businesses. Now, this isn't going to be easy--vendors like Microsoft, RIM and Palm have been entrenched in the enterprise sector for years and unseating them will take more than just a touchscreen and some colorful icons.

That's not to say that Apple didn't do its homework. Skimming over the list of enterprise features set to arrive with version 2.0 of the iPhone firmware in June, it's hard to think of anything that Apple left out--it really does seem like the company listened to its business customers. And even though licensing Activesync certainly required that Mr. Jobs swallow his pride just a bit, it seems that he ultimately bowed to the pressure, knowing that Exchange support would make or break the device's enterprise potential.

No, the question isn't whether or not the iPhone is ready for the enterprise--I believe that it will be once the new firmware arrives--the question is whether or not the enterprise is ready for the iPhone. The iPhone is expensive, has the potential to be used for non-work-related tasks (YouTube! iPod!) and worst of all, has the attached stigma of being a consumer device. In an article for ZDnet, Larry Dignan summed up Apple's challenge quite simply: "Apple will need a compelling ROI case if it's going to upend Research in Motion."

He's absolutely right. No matter what features the iPhone brings to the table, CIOs aren't even going to consider the device unless they smell a potential ROI. And the fact of the matter is that, at least currently, the ROI case for the iPhone is a difficult case to make. No matter what sort of discounts Apple and AT&T offer to businesses, they're not going to be able to undercut Microsoft, RIM and the other carriers.

So what's there left to do? Apple's only option is to demonstrate to businesses that there will be some sort of return on the iPhone, even if it's not immediately apparent or monetary in nature. Maybe the device's Salesforce.com app will increase the sales team's productivity. Maybe a native AIM app will allow execs to stay in touch while traveling. Or maybe the device's support for Office file formats will mean that you're never stuck without a critical Powerpoint presentation again. Would you consider deploying iPhones in your organization? Why or why not? And what applications and features do you hope to see in June? Hit us up in the comments and let us know. -Mehan

BlackBerry outage strikes again

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:59:57 -0500

If you're a BlackBerry customer, you might be used to the occasional service outages by now, though that doesn't make them any less annoying. As you may have noticed, BlackBerry service experienced an outage lasting about three hours yesterday, preventing all of RIM's North American customers from checking their email and accessing other data that passes through the company's Canadian network operations center. This marks the second such outage during the past year, raising questions about RIM's ability to maintain a high level of reliability for its service in the face of a quickly growing userbase. The company has yet to provide an explanation for the outage, stating only that "RIM is continuing to investigate the exact cause and we will provide [users] with additional information as soon as we are able to verify the events that prompted the interruption." According to RIM, the last service outage, which took place in April 2007, was caused by a lack of testing.

For more on the latest outage:
- see this PC World article

ALSO NOTED: When it comes to stress, IT employees need help; GM's CIO rethinks outsourcing;

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

> When it comes to stress, IT employees need help. Article

> GM's CIO rethinks outsourcing. Article

> Rumors are probably untrue that Microsoft will buy RIM. Article

> Tata to help build India's Telecom Infrastructure. Article

> Hackers attack embassies worldwide. Article

And finally... Tired of the iPhone? Wait until you see the iCar. Article

RIM to offer cellular and WiFi on BlackBerry

Thu, 24 May 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Research In Motion will start selling a BlackBerry with both cellular and WiFi wireless capabilities, the company's CEO said earlier this week. RIM is behind competitors Motorola and Nokia--both of whom started selling phones with both WiFi and cellular last year. "Wi-Fi was overhyped," said co-CEO Jim Balsillie. "I was not a big believer in it for the first two or three years because it was hyped as something that would subsume everything, that you would get rid of your cell phone. We feel it's complementary to a cell phone."

For more on RIM's WiFi play:
- read the latest news in Infoworld

SPOTLIGHT: New competitor pops up for BlackBerry maker

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 20:01:34 -0400

You have to have some pity for Research In Motion (RIM) as the news about product competition just keeps coming. First it was Nokia and Motorola knocking at its doors, now the BlackBerry maker is facing a new challenger in the marketplace, the Lemonade M-box from Isode. Article

Competition heats up for BlackBerry maker

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:01:37 -0400

Competition has caught up with Research In Motion and its long market leader product, the BlackBerry. One industry firm is even going as far to claim there's a formidable market attack in the wings with Nokia and Motorola both revving up product engines to knock the popular handheld device off the top shelf. While RIM still has a pretty decent hold on user market share--with over 5 million subscribers worldwide--the fact that there's a potential market of 63 million users to be tapped proves there's plenty of opportunity for a new leading player to emerge.

For more on the challenges facing the BlackBerry:
- check out this article at Newsfactor

ALSO NOTED: Corporate blogger feedback goes ignored in Japan; Security expert says Internet is not a huge terrorist target; and

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 20:01:33 -0400

> Corporate blogger feedback goes ignored in Japan. Article

> Security expert says Internet is not a huge terrorist target. Article

> California mulls wireless security bill. Article

> RIM hopes its new 'pearl' will keep it ahead in the wireless pager market. Article

> AT&T changes its views on municipal WiFi networks. Article

> New browser promises search and surfing anonymity. Article

And Finally... A new use for those outdated cell phones. Article

BlackBerry Trojan hits the scene

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Everyone anticipated its arrival--now the first Trojan horse malware has finally hit home on the BlackBerry environment. According to a security researcher, the Research In Motion (RIM) device has some networking vulnerabilities that IT leaders need to start paying attention to. To prove his point, he developed code that when combined with BBProxy code, can move into network systems via the handheld. The vendor, after a demonstration of the malware, has published information on how tech teams can reconfigure BlackBerry Enterprise Servers to prevent such a Trojan attack.

For more on the BlackBerry flaw:
- check out the IDG item at CSO

PLUS: Why RIM is so confident about its future. Article