Tangoe says its mobile device management software will now support smartphones based on Google's Android operating system Version 2.0 or higher, including the Motorola Droid, Google Nexus One and HTC Incredible, which Verizon Wireless began selling April 29. What's interesting is that Tangoe chose to support Android before supporting its rival Apple iPhone smartphone platform. Companies such as BoxTone handled the iPhone first.
Tangoe, which makes software used by more than 400 companies around the
world to manage expenses related to their mobile communication assets, on April
27 said its mobile device management software will now support smartphones
based on Google's Android operating system.
Tangoe's MDM Version 5.0 client software, which IT administrators install on
mobile devices, is now compatible with devices running Android 2.0 and higher.
This includes such high-end Android smartphones as the Motorola Droid, Google
Nexus One and
HTC Incredible, which Verizon Wireless began selling April
29.
The Android "device client collects information regarding device
hardware and installed applications" and sends smartphone voice, SMS (Short
Message Service) and data usage information "to the MDM V5.0 server where
it is monitored and managed in real time, based on the plan assigned to the
specific smartphone user." The idea is to help IT administrators get a
better handle on the expenses their corporate employees are racking up on their
smartphones.
But that's just a smaller theme in a broader story. Tangoe, which already
supports Research In Motion's BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices, began supporting
Android before its rival Apple iPhone smartphone platform.
Most companies support the iPhone, which has sold more than 50 million units
and provides remote wipe, complex password protection and other security and
manageability capabilities enterprises require. Indeed, Tangoe rivals such as
BoxTone began supporting the iPhone in October 2009,
adding Android support one month later.
Julie Palen, Tangoe's senior vice president of mobile device management, who
spoke with eWEEK at
RIM's Wireless Enterprise Symposium April 26, said Android's open
architecture made it easier to support Android before the iPhone.
"The closed architecture makes it challenging for enterprises to manage
the iPhone and for us to manage them the way we want to, whereas we can do
whatever we wanted, so supporting Android was a much faster process,"
Palen said. "With all of the restrictions on the iPhone, I could build the
client but it couldn't send the information I need to effectively manage
it."
She also lamented that Tangoe won't be able to provide the same level of
management detail for iPhones that it is providing for the BlackBerry and Android
Windows Mobile platforms.
Even so, Tangoe plans to ship its MDM client for the iPhone in June, barring
any delays from Apple's strict App Store.
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