Research in Motion May 2 acquired Ubitexx to add mobile device management for Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones and tablets via one console.
ORLANDO, Fla. -
Research In Motion May 2 said it acquired Ubitexx, a software maker that will
enable RIM to help its enterprise customers securely manage Apple iOS and
Google Android smartphones and tablets.
Financial
terms of the buyout, announced at the Blackberry World developer's conference
here, were not disclosed.
RIM will
augment its Blackberry Enterprise Server, which acts as a gatekeeper for
corporate data exchanged via Blackberry handsets, to protect Apple's iPhone and
iPad, as well as Android-based Samsung Galaxy S smartphones and the Motorola
Xoom and LG G-slate tablets.
From a single
console, IT administrators will be able to provision software updates and
manage policies, inventory, security and services for iOS and Android devices,
in addition to Blackberry gadgets.
Administrators
will also be able to activate devices and push software updates over the air,
lock and wipe devices, reset passwords and manage certain mobile applications
from the console.
RIM warned
that certain management features, such as push technology and IT policies, are
expected to remain exclusive to BlackBerry devices because they are built
directly into a device's operating system.
Andrew
Bocking, vice president of handheld software product management for RIM, said the
Ubitexx buy is central to RIM's plans for a multi-platform BlackBerry
Enterprise Solution intended for enterprises and government organizations.
With the buy,
RIM is joining Sybase, Good Technology, Zenprise and Mobile Iron and a number
of other mobile device management software makers who
acknowledged the so-called consumerization of IT.
That is the
idea that corporate knowledge workers insist on using their iPhones, iPads and
Android devices as their primary business device.
IT administrators
need to strike a balance between helping their employees use their devices of
choice while protecting any proprietary, corporate data that resides on
them. This challenge is what RIM intends to address with its
multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution.
The
multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution with iOS and Android device
coverage will be available later this year. Those interested can register for a
product review of it
here.
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