The last major hurdle to enterprise use of iPhones (and RIM’s main source of competitive advantage) is the ability to centrally administer and consistently deploy corporate-friendly usage restrictions. That is to say, my corporate Blackberry can only download certain apps, access certain email servers, etc. – this is a big deal for enterprise customers, and to date, RIM has been the sole player able to offer powerful and granular controls of this nature to corporate IT departments. That control was what made the PlayBook so attractive too as a corporate iPad alternative.
Unfortunately for RIM, though, Apple looks to be about to step into the corporate space and offer the same granular security controls across their family of iOS devices. So – same corporate-friendly controls, available on far superior devices – I’m going to say that RIM needs to consolidate its product strategy and shorten its development cycles *now.* I’ve long been critical of RIM’s complacency and inability to internalize innovation, and news like this is why. They are extremely vulnerable.
If you’re in any doubt that Apple is serious about dominating the enterprise market with its slew of iDevices, eating RIM’s lunch right out from under it, then check this: Apple’s patenting a way to restrict access to parts of the App Store for specialist enterprise users.
via Apple Patent Reveals Restricted Enterprise App Store Plans: RIM, Beware | Fast Company.
{ 0 comments }
