 | |
 How To Manage Mobile Devices | |
| (click for larger image and for full slideshow) |
In recognition of the increasing number of Apple and Android-based consumer mobile devices in the enterprise, Motorola has included support for both Motorola and non-Motorola handsets in its updated Mobile Services Platform software.
The Mobile Services Platform 3 Control Edition software, which lets IT managers schedule automatic updates for different operating systems, firmware, and apps, can be used on Microsoft Windows Mobile, Apple iPhone, and Android devices. Research in Motion's BlackBerry devices are not presently supported by the software, although it will be made compatible at some point, Motorola said.
With integrated GPS systems, the software will also provide data on where devices are and how they are being used. If a device goes outside of its approved areas, the GPS will send out an alert. The battery life of managed devices can also be monitored on the new version of the software so users can be proactively alerted by IT managers when their battery is low. The software will also work on peripherals including wireless printers, credit and debit card readers, and biometric fingerprint readers.
Other features of the updated software include ensuring the devices are ready to use with out-of-the-box staging and monitoring to provide the ability to quickly identify, troubleshoot, and resolve problems. IT expenditures can be reduced by minimizing management time, increasing productivity and eliminating the need to physically handle devices, according to Motorola.
With the growth of consumer-oriented devices in the enterprise, the handset maker realized it needed to better assist IT departments in managing them easily and seamlessly, said Sheldon Safir, director of global product marketing at Motorola. He said the software eliminates the need for calls back and forth to workers in the field or having to manually upgrade devices, since thousands of them can be upgraded remotely at the same time.
Target verticals for the product, which costs $45 per device, include healthcare, retail, manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation logistics, Safir said.
