Enterprise Mobile Solutions

For those interested in or looking to explore and learn more about enterprise mobile trends and solutions, Mobile World Congress (MWC) is hands down the place you want to be. As the world’s premier mobile industry event, it covers both consumer mobility as well as presents ways for companies to more innovatively access their corporate environments in the palm of their hands.

If you missed this year’s MWC 2013 event, which took place last week in Barcelona, Spain ending on February 28, there’s no need to be bummed just yet. Not only did TMC extensively cover the event as it progressed so you’ll have all of the need-to-know info handy, but you can also now keep in mind next year’s already highly anticipated event.

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 Reports worldwide were breaking down the hottest enterprise mobile trends for us, so let’s take a look at what we thought were the crème de la crème that will shape the space in 2013:

Samsung’s (News - Alert) KNOX Stole the Spotlight

Or at least that’s what many are claiming, seeing how the company was for the most part “front and center” and did a “phenomenal job” with its marketing efforts and strategies, according to various reports. The big news on the enterprise mobility front came with the company’s introduction of KNOX, Samsung’s enterprise solution aligned with the Samsung for Enterprise (SAFE) program, which has been tirelessly working to promote enterprise-ready device use.

This new security platform component will specifically deliver the ability to separate personal and corporate data on any KNOX-supported Samsung Android device, Mobile Expert and TMCnet Senior Editor, Tony Rizzo (News - Alert), reported as the news broke. The company touted KNOX as “the comprehensive mobile solution for work & play.”

Also at MWC, mobile device management and MAM enterprise player MobileIron revealed that it would be expanding its partnership with Samsung to fully support KNOX, Rizzo explained in a separate report.

And only a few days later, companies are already revealing their intent to integrate with KNOX for enterprise-ready Android (News - Alert) deployments – such as global mobile security and enterprise mobile management solutions provider, AirWatch – so you know that’s got to be a good sign for Samsung’s future.

“The chief goal for KNOX is to protect corporate data and applications from data leakage, as well as from viruses and other malware,” Rizzo continued in the former piece. To read more on this new announcement, click here to read Rizzo’s detailed report in full.

UIEvolution Launched its Cloud-based Evolution Platform for the Enterprise

UIEvolution, a company that strives to create rich, cross-platform native experiences across connected devices, divulged to TMCnet this week at MWC in Barcelona to explain why this enterprise platform is a welcome addition in the industry.

“The HTML5-based product offers what UIEvolution says is an efficient and economical solution for delivering cross-platform applications across screens – whether those screens are on a mobile phone, a tablet, a TV or within a vehicle,” TMCnet Executive Editor, Paula Bernier (News - Alert), reported. “That enables simple, cross-platform experiences for end users, and allows for more affordable and efficient application creation, because software developers can write once and run their apps anywhere with UIEvolution.”

Additionally, the company is specifically aiming the automotive, media and hospitality industries – the last being particularly beneficial, according to Director of Communications Cami Zimmer.

“Our customers realize that digital business is moving quickly beyond mobile into connected screens,” explained Chris Ruff, CEO and President of UIEvolution. “They need a solution to manage complex Enterprise applications across multiple screens and platforms that will allow them to innovate, not merely keep up,” and the company’s Evolution Platform is dedicated to doing just that.

Ericsson (News - Alert) and SAP Revealed New Enterprise M2M Solutions

Together, Ericsson and SAP will work together to cultivate the enterprise machine-to-machine (M2M) space by marketing and selling enterprise-grade, cloud-based M2M solutions and services, Rizzo reported last week.

“The key to the new solutions will be the creation of a combined SaaS-based offering that will bring together a set of Ericsson services powered by the Ericsson Device Connection Platform & Service Enablement Platform in combination with a set of SAP enterprise business solutions which can be powered as needed - and not surprisingly - by the SAP HANA in-memory database platform and technology,” Rizzo, a mobility expert, explained. “The joint M2M infrastructure and industry specific solutions will be provided by operators as a service to enterprises - this is where the pedal meets the metal as far as how the solutions and services actually find their way into the enterprise. Ericsson and SAP are already discussing the model with operators.”

He continues, “It is well worth noting that the Ericsson Device Connection Platform and Service Enablement Platform already has an established and growing operator community - recent additions include 3UK, Megafon, Swisscom, TeliaSonera and XL Axiata.”

So what trends does this news signify to us for 2013 in the enterprise mobility space? We can put some of these pieces together to expect to see M2M – while not as exciting a space as gadgets, but equally as important – gain precedence. We should also be keeping a close eye on the escalating competition between Samsung and BlackBerry, which Rizzo also notes. KNOX seems to challenge BlackBerry’s Fusion, Balance and Enterprise Service 10, “…so we can surmise that Samsung is looking to pre-empt any need for enterprises to move to BlackBerry's new platform (and BlackBerry's new devices),” he explains.

What do you expect to see in enterprise mobile solutions and trends this year?