Mobile Enterprise Application Platforms

Today will be a very interesting day for those companies that quite rightly have supported the iOS platform in their Enterprise...

September 19 is the day that Apple will release iOS 6 to the iPhone and iPad user base. Apple have a great upgrade process, that over the last few versions have allowed updates to be downloaded and applied OTA (over the air), easily by the device user. So the upgrade is only a click away and for some users it is far too tempting!

Ask yourself, "Are we ready?".

For companies that either embrace consumerization via BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) or support CYOD (Chose Your Own Device) which is akin to Corporate Controlled Consumeriszation, today could be a day where some apps may not work quite the way they should. This is NOT very common, but if gone unchecked, could stop your mobile strategy in its tracks, costing time, money and lost opportunities.

If your company has an in-house development team, developing the apps identified by your MIC (Mobile Innovation Council), or equivalent ideas group and building on the internal business knowledge of your company, then rest assured they have done their job. They have already checked out iOS6 Betas and the GA/GM product, through their participation in the Apple Developer Program. As part of this they would have checked and certified their in-house apps against the version that will be available today. They may have had to re-build some and have an iOS6 version ready for distribution via your Corporate App Store or MDM system.

The worry beyond that, is that you may have 3rd party apps in use by your Mobile Information Workers that have not been certified. Though the developers of these apps are already in the process of checking themselves, they may be a little behind the speed of your users fingers.

What should already be in place, as part of any BYOD or CYOD program, should be a Mobile Governance Policy, defined by your CMoO (Chief Mobility Office) or equivalent position. In this Policy document, along with clarification on usage and responsibility etc, will be a clear statement that all your users should have seen and signed up to, with importance, today of all days. The specific statement should identify that they "refrain from upgrading any OS until your IT teams have checked and certified all apps against the new version". An email in the last week from your IT Team, reminding them of this policy is usually all it takes. Then when all checks are complete, the clearance to proceed email will ensure that your Enterprise will...

Have a happy iOS Upgrade Day!

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