Question

Enterprise iPhone?

iPhone, CIO, Midmarket businesses, Mobile security, Mobile

Gartner recently flipped its position on the iPhone in the enterprise. Their opinion changed from: don't use it. To: use it at your own risk, but don't expect much support from Apple.

Let's be honest: The iPhone may be one of the coolest gadgets to come along in a while, but does it have a place in the enterprise? Are you a CIO thinking about allowing employees to adopt it? What are the security concerns you face? And do they really outweigh how cool that slick little gadget is?

I'm an avid wireless user and love the iphone for many reasons, but I'll stick with my BlackBerry. Here's why:

- Our corporate plan uses Verizon wireless. And my home neighborhood does not get any AT&T reception. Two strikes right there.
- I would rather have our IT dept support fewer devices and support them well then try to accommodate every new device. For example, recently I was about to head to the airport and realized I had forgotten my charger -- and they happened to have a spare. How likely would that have been if I had a nonstandard or less popular device?
- Despite the increasing use of consumer-like features and devices in the workplace, unless you have a big Gen Y constituency to support or a CEO who insists on the latest technology, my bet for the CIOs I talk to is that they won't be rushing to embrace iphones. Standardization rules except where it gives you a competitive advantage, and mobile devices are basically commodities regarding the business value they offer. So unless it's some kind of a "perk" move or the iphone more easily supports mobile apps that employees will actually use, there is no great incentive to support them.

But to the others out there... prove me wrong!