iPhone Finding Success in the Enterprise - Page 2

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Forrester also said that the iPhone's position in the enterprise may only be getting stronger, as well. The report said the device's upcoming operating system, iPhone 3.0, will address many of the security, calendar and functionality concerns that IT formerly had with the iPhone.

Key among these enhancements are added on-demand to require VPN login where needed; ActiveSync calendar synchronization issues fixed, and added CalDAV support; encrypted device configuration profiles that are prevented from being deleted; and encrypted backup to the desktop through iTunes on PCs and Macs.

IT unprepared for the iPhone?

While the iPhone's growth in the enterprise may bode well for Apple, the implications may be more problematic for corporate IT staff, tasked with enterprise mobile management.

Another recent report concluded that most IT departments are not prepared to handle the rapid adoption of smartphones running on multiple platforms in the workplace.

A study by Osterman Research, conducted on behalf of mobile management company Zenprise, found that of the IT staffers surveyed, only two in five expressed confidence that all elements of their mobile messaging platform are fully protected against downtime.

It might not be surprising that the findings work in Zenprise's favor. But they also back up Forrester's conclusions, revealing a 100 percent increase in workplace support for iPhones from 2008 to 2009, as well as a 40 percent increase in Symbian-based mobile devices.

The Osterman report also found growing demand for greater iPhone presence in the enterprise.

"Even with 71 percent of organizations reporting strong user interest for BlackBerry devices, more than half (54 percent) of those surveyed reported demand for iPhones," the report said.

The advent of the Palm Pre and the crop of Android smartphones due out this summer will add to the growing complexity of the enterprise mobile landscape, Ahmed Datoo, vice president of marketing at Zenprise, told InternetNews.com.