Foreword
The sweep of mobile devices into our lives has transformed business IT in only a few short years. If you are holding this book in your hands, then you have no doubt encountered this massive change firsthand, and you are looking for answers. Looking out over the next few years, mobile devices will continue to transform the way that we do business.
New form factors such as tablets and “dockable” smartphones will allow users to replace laptops and desktops, DVRs, radios, DVD players, and many other “fixed” devices — untethering us completely. Ubiquitous network access through Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G/LTE, and beyond will allow us to do work anywhere, and at any time. Advances in peripherals and device-to-device interaction will integrate these devices into our lives much more seamlessly, no longer requiring us to remove them from our pockets.
All of this freedom, however, brings forth a huge challenge for corporate IT. It wasn’t that long ago when our IT departments required that users access corporate data and applications from a specific, corporate-issued device (typically a RIM BlackBerry).
Starting with the release of the Apple iPhone, however, users began to demand choice, ushering in a new era of consumerization that will forever change enterprise IT. Today’s users typically purchase their own mobile device of choice, and they find a way to connect it to the corporate network. Your challenge is to provide the flexibility that your users need, without sacrificing security, ...
