CompTIA Launches Mobile Training, Technology Initiatives

The mobility training program will be the newest addition to CompTIA's training curriculum for the IT channel.

CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry, announced it is developing IT channel training programs and resources focused on enterprise mobility management. The association extended an invitation to all sectors of the mobile universe, including carriers, device and infrastructure manufacturers, mobile application developers, solution providers and others, to join a content advisory board. This group will help direct the goals and objectives for CompTIA's mobile technology channel training initiatives.

Topics the group will consider include the bundling and marketing of offerings such as mobile device management, telecom expense management, mobile security, mobile help desk, mobile application development and management. The mobility training program will be the newest addition to CompTIA's training curriculum for the IT channel. The current training portfolio includes live workshops, training guides and other resources to help IT solution providers expand their business in areas such as IT security, cloud computing, unified communications, health care IT and legal IT services.

"With tablets, smart phones and related devices high on the shopping lists of many organizations, the shift from -immobile' networks to conducting business on the go clearly is gathering momentum," said Kelly Ricker, vice president of events and education with CompTIA. "The move to mobility allows organizations to become more nimble and more productive, but it also creates new challenges."

Along with the mobility training curriculum, CompTIA has also initiated a study on mobility, telecommuting and remote workforce trends. The study is designed to assess the benefits of using mobile and remote work solutions, identify challenges associated with supporting and managing a mobile workforce, and highlight potential business opportunities for IT solution providers. The mobility study is scheduled for publication in the next few months, the organization noted.

"We're committed to working with the mobile technology community to develop education and training regimens to address these issues," Ricker said. "Our new channel training program will focus on how to leverage the need to accommodate mobile technologies within the enterprise. The advisory group will be asked to consider the business acumen required for crafting an effective mobile offering."

The training initiative comes as continued uncertainty about the economy is impacting staffing levels at IT companies, according to the organization's latest IT Industry Business Confidence Index. In the quarterly survey, 54 percent of IT firms say they are understaffed by 5 percent or more. Another 22 percent of firms are fully staffed, but would like to hire more workers to expand their business.