IBM Delivers Mobility Solutions for the Enterprise

Though not particularly known for its mobile expertise, IBM, through smart acquisitions and organic innovation, is empowering enterprise mobility.

Riegel pointed to three things that stand out about the IBM mobile-development technology. The first is that it enables developers to write an app once and deploy it on any mobile platform. Secondly, IBM provides app-store management capabilities that enable developers to deploy their apps on all app stores. And third is that the mobile development tools integrate with other IBM Rational application-development software.

IBM also helps organizations that need support deploying, implementing and managing their mobile applications with IBM Mobile Application Platform Management (MAPM), a managed-services approach to implementing IBM Worklight.

IBM also helps users secure and manage the mobile enterprise. Recently, IBM unveiled new security and management capabilities designed to reduce the biggest inhibitors that organizations face when implementing mobile initiatives. IBM Security Access Manager (ISAM) for Cloud and Mobile allows organizations to build in superior access control that varies with the situation where the device is being used, including geolocation, network, time of day and more.

Meanwhile, new updates to IBM Endpoint Manager for Mobile Devices will help users more easily embrace the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend, which is no longer a "nice to have," but a "must" for businesses. IBM has simplified processes to secure devices and empower employees with the tools and portals to manage their own devices so that IT departments can focus on the back-end security and compliance needs. To support clients throughout their BYOD journey, IBM also offers new mobile services to manage Apple, Android, Windows and BlackBerry devices.

The expanding use of mobile devices is also placing a heavy burden on private WiFi networks. IBM has improved the visibility and service of WiFi networks to prevent outages and identify trouble spots before a loss of productivity or revenue by incorporating IBM Netcool/OMNIbus into its EndPoint Manager solution.

Also, the rapid adoption of mobile computing is also creating a demand to extend current business capabilities to mobile devices that capitalize on new opportunities, including social business.  For instance, IBM recently launched IBM Connections 4 and multichannel Web experience solutions to enable a mobile workforce to get live updates from people in your network, blog, even access and edit files from your mobile device. New remote-data-wipe capabilities help protect company data in case devices are lost, stolen or employees leave the company with their personal device.

IBM has been steadily investing in the mobile space for more than a decade, both organically and through acquisitions, offering  a complete portfolio of software and services that delivers enterprise-ready mobility for clients—from IT systems all the way through to mobile devices. This builds on IBM's deep understanding of its clients and their evolving IT needs over the last several decades, Riegel said.

Asked why customers should come to IBM for help with their enterprise mobile strategies, Riegel said IBM is unique in its ability to meet enterprise needs because of its history of delivering a variety of hardware, software and services and making it all work together for enterprise customers around the world. He also said he believes IBM's ability to deliver big data analytics technology, cloud services and software development tools and expertise is unmatched in the industry.

"Our user analytics and Tealeaf technology provide capabilities that nobody else can do," Riegel said. "We truly help you shape the user experience."