IBM Helps Organizations Address Growing Mobile Computing Opportunity

ARMONK, N.Y., Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled a suite of new software and services that enables global organizations to build a comprehensive mobile computing strategy – from securing and managing devices, to creating mobile applications and analyzing data. These new offerings are part of a move by IBM to capitalize on the growing market opportunity for mobile that is expected to drive $130B in revenue for the IT industry by 2015, according to a recent study.[i]

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As organizations increasingly view mobile computing as the next platform to conduct business, the market is evolving beyond just the device. Business leaders including the chief information officers (CIOs) and increasingly chief marketing officers (CMOs) of global organizations such as airlines, retailers, governments and healthcare providers are among the businesses turning to IBM to ensure mobile services and solutions are readily available to constituents and in full compliance with IT strategies. They need solutions that can be applied across any mobile environment and device -- whether a laptop, smartphone or tablet -- and can provide an underlying IT infrastructure that is always available, secure, effectively manages data, and integrates both front and back-end systems.

According to latest reports, more than 10 billion mobile devices are expected to be in the hands of consumers, doctors, sales leaders and the like by 2020.[ii] Already, 90 percent of mobile users keep their device within arm's reach at all times, and complete many kinds of transactions across these smart devices.[iii]

"Mobile is fundamentally changing the way we think, work, and act.  But the speed at which this shift is occurring is forcing organizations to react, instead of proactively plan for this transformation," said Phil Buckellew, Vice President, IBM Mobile Enterprise. "We are evolving that approach. Just as IBM helped organizations capitalize on the Internet more than 20 years ago, we are also doing the same for mobile computing. We will continue to partner with clients and help them get ahead of this trend by enabling them to become mobile enterprises." 

IBM Solutions Helps Clients Become Mobile Enterprises       

Rohde & Schwarz, a global manufacturing company specializing in high-end test and measurement equipment, is transforming its organization into a mobile enterprise by doing away with cumbersome hardcopy product catalogs. By arming the 2,000 members of its global sales team with mobile devices and applications, representatives can now access the critical information needed to retrieve client information in real-time, easily access inventory information and rapidly close sales.

Using IBM Worklight's unique standards-based development approach and open integration capabilities, Rohde & Schwarz is able to overcome mobile application challenges that many organizations face – including mobilizing enterprise data across multiple platforms without compromising user experience or functionality, whether its sales team is using  smartphones, tablets or laptops to access the information.

"By introducing mobile into our sales processes, our representatives can now access our in-house product database on the road and showcase brand new products to our clients in a meeting," said Manfred Metz, Corporate Mobility Manager, Rohde & Schwarz. "IBM enables us to not only efficiently develop these applications, but also easily integrate with a range of backend systems used across our entire enterprise. Now we are able to deliver exceptional apps in weeks instead of months."

New Mobile Software and Services Fuel Growth

While the opportunities presented by mobile are significant, there are a number of challenges facing clients when adopting mobile computing. This includes the management and security of devices and their underlying infrastructures, ensuring a quality mobile application experience for users across operating systems, new devices entering the market almost monthly, integrating data with the cloud, and analyzing insights captured in real-time.

From consulting services to software solutions and industry expertise, organic R&D to key acquisitions, IBM offers clients a variety of offerings to quickly adopt mobile technologies throughout the organization. As global organizations struggle to keep pace with the opportunities that mobile computing can provide, IBM's new suite of capabilities will enable them to overcome these obstacles. For example:

• Mobile Planning and Strategy Services: Working with IBM consultants, clients can identify gaps and properly plan for the right mobile strategy.  
• Mobile Analytics: Through analytics capabilities, chief marketing officers (CMOs), e-commerce and app developers can gain real-time access and deep intelligence into customers' online and app experience across mobile devices.
• Endpoint Security and Management: With new software and managed mobility services, clients can embrace the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend by simplifying the processes to secure devices and empower employees to manage their own devices. These capabilities extend to the management and support of Apple (including iOS 6), Android, Microsoft Windows operating system (including Windows 8) and Blackberry devices. 
• Mobile App Development: Using the IBM Mobile Foundation will help clients better support native app development and make it easier to build apps that function in the absence of a network connection. New Lifecycle Management software will help clients quickly develop high quality apps across multiple platforms. New managed service capabilities will also provide organizations with support for deploying, implementing and managing their mobile apps and app stores.   
• Social Collaboration for Mobile: With new social business enhancements, an organization's mobile workforce can use their mobile devices to blog, get live updates from their social networks, access and edit files. New remote data wipe capabilities also help protect company data in case a device is lost or stolen.

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. 

To learn more about IBM Mobile Enterprise capabilities, visit  http://www.ibm.com/mobile-enterprise/us/en/.

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[i] McKinsey & Company analysis.
[ii] http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/10/personal-technology
[iii] "China Mobile 50k survey"; Morgan Stanley Research.

IBM Contacts

Tara Sucato Tsapepas
IBM Media Relations
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SOURCE IBM