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With bring your own device initiatives gaining traction among businesses of all sizes and tablet computers flooding the marketplace, social IT management specialist Spiceworks is looking to capitalize on increased workplace mobility demands with the announcement of the Spiceworks Mobile HD for the Apple iPad and Google Android-based tablet devices. The application is designed to help Spiceworks users connect with co-workers, run their help desk and manage IT networks from tablet devices. The mobile app, designed to use tablets’ larger screens, is available for free via the company’s Website.
Among the features available for the tablet-based version of the application is Help Desk, which allows IT specialists to open, access, edit and manage Spiceworks help desk tickets from their iPad, iPhone or any Android smart phone or tablet, and People View, which allows IT professionals to monitor, provision and care for networked technology devices, systems and cloud services based on the people who use them within the organization. It also provides access to contact and profile information for each employee.
“I currently manage the IT networks for two separate schools,” Antony Rowell, IT manager for Tor View School, said in a prepared statement. “I am constantly away from my desk and on the go, helping troubleshoot problems and fixing network issues. The Spiceworks iPad app allows me to manage my environment and help desk in real time. I can use Spiceworks wherever and whenever I need it which helps me do my job more efficiently.”
Other features for the tablet application include Inventory & Monitoring, which enables users to view the status of their servers, software applications and cloud services, and access to a community of IT pros, which gives users a way to view posts, answer questions, ask for help and comment on topics from the Spiceworks community. “IT professionals spend much of the day away from their desks fixing and deploying network equipment or helping employees troubleshoot problems,” Francis Sullivan, co-founder and CTO of Spiceworks, said in a prepared statement. “Helping our users manage IT products and services while mobile is incredibly important. Our new mobile app for tablets helps by allowing users to tap into the power of Spiceworks whenever and wherever they need it.”
Earlier this year, Spiceworks issued a report indicating BYOD and tablet adoption was rising among small and midsize businesses (SMBs). The report found 75 percent of small businesses currently help manage and support personal devices employees bring to work, with the most popular BYOD devices being the Apple iPhone and Google Android-based smartphones, as well as Apple’s iPad tablet. An earlier report found 50 percent of SMBs have deployed or plan to deploy tablet devices, such as iPads, within the next six months.