VDC Research: Enterprise & Government Mobility Market Blog

Symbol TC70...Bridging the Gap to 'Modern' Rugged Handheld Devices

While we do not typically write product reviews, the recently released Motorola/Symbol/Zebra TC70 did catch our attention. To suggest that the rugged handheld market has been struggling through an identity crisis over the past several years is perhaps putting it mildly. While other mobile categories such as smartphones and tablets have been growing at a furious pace, the rugged handheld market has contracted, and in some cases fairly significantly. There have been a couple of factors at play contributing to this protracted malaise creating somewhat of a perfect storm:

• Competition from lower cost consumer devices
• Perception of rugged mobile technology as lagging key trends
• Overall investment climate and access to capital
• Rugged handheld OS roadmap confusion

Competition from consumer devices is not going away, although several larger scale deployments have left something to be desired. However, a natural correction to the market has occurred whereby consumer devices have displaced rugged devices because at the time of deployment there was no viable alternative. Now there is. So as a result there has been a natural correction in the market to the effect of approximately 15-25% of the opportunity. That said, the use of consumer devices to support enterprise workflows has mostly been additive to the overall opportunity. In other words more mobile workers are being equipped with mobile devices to automate processes. 

However, the bottom line is that today's rugged handheld product portfolios leave something to be desired. While the use cases for many of these devices are unique, and utility and reliability clearly trump ID and design as key features, justifying rugged investments for many organizations has become increasingly difficult. There are many factors that have contributed to this situation, with perhaps the most glaring being the perception that rugged technology vendors are significantly lagging key technology trends. In a recent survey among enterprise mobility decision makers, four in ten shared in this sentiment.

A key headwind for rugged vendors has come in the form of their OS strategy. Long the domain of Windows Mobile/Windows CE, vendors and end users have been confronted by the reality that these existing platforms were no longer being invested in by Microsoft and that support would be available through 2020. While that may seem like a long time away, making major investments in a dead end platform - especially when considering the security breaches encountered by major end users - is not a winning proposition for end users. Microsoft's efforts to win over rugged handheld OEMs to commit resources to their next generation solution - Windows Embedded Handheld 8/8.1 - has not been fruitful with only two products to show for. 

The obvious alternative has been Android. However, broader enterprise support for Android, especially for mission critical applications, has until recently been tenuous with security and platform life-cycle management being the key issues. That is now changing, especially outside the US but also within. We are seeing this clearly translate in the rugged handheld market as shipments of rugged handheld devices running Android reaching critical mass in 2014 and the number of mobile ISVs supporting Android grows. That is not to say there is not pent up demand for a strong Microsoft solution going forward (many end users are very conservative and would rather maintain the status quo), there is a viable alternative that reflects the next generation of rugged handheld computing.

Which brings us back to the Symbol TC70. Forgetting for a second its many confusing names (it was released in the midst of Zebra closing its acquisition of Motorola Solutions Enterprise BU) it represents to us one of the best interpretations of what the market is looking for. Taking design cues from consumer devices the TC70 has a large, crisp and responsive display that can support a variety of interactions including gloved hands and when wet. Similarly important is its ability to support a conductive stylus for signature capture. Running Android 4.4.2, part of the KitKat generation, the device does not have the locked down feel of earlier rugged Andrdoid translations. However, the Mx extensions address many of the enterprise 'gaps' with Android. 

In comparison to other Android devices in the portfolio (the MC 40 and TC55) this device is the clear workhorse in terms of ruggedness, battery life and overall functionality. Critical is the embedded industrial imager which can decode virtually any 1D/2D symbology in most lighting conditions from up to 3ft. It is heavy, but also sufficiently ergonomic so it can be handled comfortably. The price point, especially among today's price sensitive buyers, will be a challenge. It is important to note that these are devices that are used on average for 4-5 years and not recycled every 18-24 months. However, a sentiment among end users is that with the rapid change of mobile technology, end users want to benefit faster from that innovation by adopting faster replacement cycles. Truth be told, much of the "innovation" happening among mobile devices today is mostly iterative (faster processor, larger display, radio upgrade) rather than being truly trans-formative. 

While the debate over the true value of rugged will not go away, what products like the TC70 will do is provide a meaningful and modern mobile platform that organizations with mission and business critical work-flows can confidently leverage. 

HP Splits: No Longer "Stronger Together"

A move initially suggested by ousted CEO Leo Apotheker and previously shunned by now CEO Meg Whitman came to light when on Monday HP officially announced it was splitting into two companies: HP Enterprise and HP Inc. (Note, Apotheker suggested an outright sale of the PC/Printer business). This is not to suggest that Meg is following Leo's blueprint but rather that this was not her original plan. Clearly over the past three years through targeted - and often deep - RIFs and internal reorganization, the 2014 HP has Meg's fingerprints all over it. Moreover, from a financial perspective the company is in a significantly better position having paid down debt and increased its cash reserves. Wall Street responded favorably to the move with shares up almost 5% on Monday. Part of the sales pitch was that while three years ago HP was too weak financially to absorb such a split today it is and today technology company's need to be more nimble to succeed. 

So does this favor HP's enterprise mobility vision? Although it recently ceded its number one position to Lenovo, HP is still the second largest supplier of PCs with strong enterprise ties. However, the (Windows) PC business spells trouble, even with the recent Windows XP EOL boost. HP's operating profit margin on PCs are only worsening with little reprieve in sight. In addition, HP's overtures into the broader mobile market have been anything but seamless. Gone are the days of the iconic iPaq and HP's failed acquisition of Palm does not need retelling. However, over the past several years, HP has honed its enterprise mobility capabilities, especially through its professional services and software offerings. HP has been expanding its mobile services, anchored by its Enterprise Cloud Services (ECS) - Mobility offering that provides a cloud-based mobile management platform. Sector specific capabilities, such as HP's FedRAMP authorized cloud for US Public Sector clients, further differentiate its portfolio. 

From an enterprise mobility perspective, the hope is that this move permits HP to focus more strategically and act more efficiently. While HP's mobile solutions portfolio is rich - spanning mobile managed services, application development and testing and security solutions - it often seems a step or two behind and more of a reactive participant. HP has a strong and loyal user base, great brand recognition and generates the cash flow necessary to aggressively invest in R&D and/or M&A. Where has and can continue to innovate and deliver value will be around professional services and especially custom (mobile) software development. It is here where we see the opportunity for HP to really make its name in enterprise mobility. 

 

Microsoft Shifts Focus Back to the Enterprise

Satya Natella’s recent company-wide email, while lacking specifics, shed some interesting light on the direction Microsoft will take under his guidance. Steve Ballmer’s “Devices and Services” strategy is being evolved into “Mobile-first and cloud-first” with an emphasis on productivity and collaboration. One clear message from the email was a renewed focus on the enterprise customer, while not completely ignoring the consumer, especially in ackowledging the dual-use personas increasingly prevalent in the way we adopt mobile technology. Again, a meaningful pivot from Ballmer’s recent direction. In reading the email one could not help think that the key messages were formulated with Google in mind more so than Apple.

From an enterprise mobility perspective, this is important. Much like other enterprise-first vendors who attempted to emulate Apple’s influence over consumers, Microsoft fell into a trap that often left them exposed. While it is hard to ignore the consumer’s influence in enterprise technology today – especially in all things mobility – creating consumer cache much the same way Apple does is a losing proposition. Yes, Microsoft needs to directly develop or influence the development of devices than inspire and us consumers can get excited about (and the Surface Pro 3 is such a device). However, Microsoft needs to do so while focusing on the enterprise customer, its primary source of revenue and profitability. Focusing on developing solutions that support containerization or dual-use scenarios addressed by Natella is one way of bridging the gap or blurring the lines between enterprise and consumer use.

Some of the key takeaways from our enterprise mobility perspective include:

Productivity for all. Productivity was mentioned by Natella 20 times in his email. This was clearly not a coincidence. Some of Microsoft’s core assets – from Office to Skype, from Sharepoint to Cortana – are designed with that purpose in mind. From an enterprise mobility perspective, workforce productivity enhancement remains the number one investment driver and priority. Microsoft clearly is in a sweet spot here and making these assets available across multiple (non Windows) platforms (iOS, Android) are necessary and solidify Microsoft’s already strong position in this category. Microsoft can lead and innovate here, just not under the traditional models.

Renewed and Cohesive Commercial/Enterprise Emphasis. It is perhaps unfair to call these efforts renewed as the commercial unit – representing approximately 50% of revenues – has been performing well of late. With a boost from the Windows XP migration (90% of enterprise desktops are now on Windows 7 or 8 according to Microsoft), Server and Office revenues up 6-10% and Sharepoint, Lync and Exchange revenues up double digits and most importantly cloud services revenues up substantially, business performance has been strong. However, what is notable is the under Balmer, there is sufficient anecdotal evidence to suggest that enterprise customers seemed to receive second class service from Microsoft. From our experience (and this is understandably under the narrower enterprise mobility scope) we have had numerous conversations with F250 enterprise accounts over the past three to four months with many expressing frustration with the lack of clarity (especially around platform/OS direction) coming from Redmond. All have substantial investments in Microsoft products and services and remain committed to Microsoft. However, similarly, many expressed that Microsoft has been extraordinarily to recently conduct business. Many should welcome Natella’s with open arms.

Windows takes a back seat. While Windows remains a core OS/platform, especially in the enterprise, today’s reality is a multi-platform one. Microsoft cannot continue to act arrogantly as it did when it was the only game in town. Natella’s announcement of Office on iOS and opening up Azure for Android development (notice the brand shift from Windows Azure to Microsoft Azure) in addition to Microsoft’s change in OS licensing policies for small display devices all point to a more open Microsoft. Windows 8 has not been a success (69% of enterprise respondents to a recent survey indicated that over the next 18-24 months Windows 8 would not represent an investment priority) and, while growing, Windows Phone 8 still represents less than 10% of the smartphone market. While no one expects Microsoft to abandon Windows by any stretch, their flexibility to support alternative platforms will benefit them long term.

A clearer industry or vertical strategy and message. Although not implicit in Nadella’s message, we are seeing greater emphasis around vertical solutions from Microsoft, including frontline mobility solutions. To take this initiative to the next level, Microsoft needs to start realizing the potential vertical solutions through its “mobile-first, cloud-first” approach. As said by Nadella, “there will soon be more than 3 billion people with Internet-connected devices – from a farmer in a remote part of the world with a smartphone, to a professional power user with multiple devices powered by cloud service-based apps…”.  From education specific solutions – such as the collaboration with Intel and Panasonic to deliver a purpose built two in one for the K-12 segment – to mobile endpoint solutions in hazardous oil & gas environments to delivering business critical logistics solutions for last mile parcel delivery, Microsoft’s vertical reach is impressive and offers plenty of room to grow and become a power-player.

Coauthored by Research Associate Natalie Buckner

 

Still a Long Way to go for FirstNet

With broadband networks playing such a critical role in the future of public safety, especially regarding the enablement of mobile solutions, the public safety market is moving towards establishing a nationwide, interoperable, voice, video, and data-run network: the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). Through the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), the goal of this revolutionized public safety communications system is to give first responders access to the modern-day tools necessary to help save lives, solve crimes, and keep our communities safe. Though broadly a nationwide effort, Ed Parkinson (FirstNet director of government affairs) said, “This network – it’s not going to be a one size fits all. It’s really going to be focused on local problems and local solutions”. This represents a sizeable national infrastructure project to undertake, and with many steps yet to come, the implementation of FirstNet remains in the initial development stage.

Through NASCIO’s ongoing research, sustainable business and financial plans for FirstNet are currently under discussion. The 2014 NASCIO report, The States and FirstNet: An Early Look from the State CIOs, was recently released for the purpose of polling the state and territorial CIOs on their states’ efforts in order to evaluate exactly where each state is in the development process. As displayed by NASCIO’s “FirstNet maturity scale”, over 70% of respondents categorized their states as either “developing a governance model” or “organizing its activities with other key stakeholders in the state”, and around 16% have even gone a step further and have “collected baseline data on operations, assets, and user baselines”. Some of these state-driven initiatives are quite far along in this process, showing signs of a regional collaboration. The initial development processes are underway, as is the documentation of each state’s existing Land Mobile Radio System (LMRS) and the focus on other imperative assets. The concentration on these areas as well as the partnering with key vendors including Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola, and Harris Corporation is setting the stage for the ongoing networking, connectivity, and funding necessary to continue this project.

For FirstNet and various other public safety technology modernization initiatives to succeed, participation and innovation from the broader IT community is required. Relying on traditional or legacy public safety solution providers – and their vested interest in maintaining the status quo – is a losing proposition. Promotions such as the White House “create-your-own” public safety apps were created with the intent of drawing in as much collaboration and creativity as possible. Not only does this initiative have the potential to foster an entrepreneurial spirit towards the growth of this network, it also empowers the people to be proactive and fully involved in this effort. We believe that in order to have a successful implementation of a nationwide network, a nationwide effort is necessary, and we will be tracking these initiatives as time progresses.

FirstNet represents a massive opportunity to provide much needed modernization and innovation to public safety communications and to revolutionize how public safety and first responders operate in the United States. That said, today’s LMR-based networks will continue to represent the lifeline for mission critical voice communications among first responders for the foreseeable future, certainly the next ten, if not twenty, years. There is no near term viable alternative that can provide the same level of reliability, redundancy, coverage and immediacy available today.  Moreover, FirstNet, at least initially, will bridge the need for a ubiquitous broadband data network while the need for interoperable, mission critical voice will remain. Only over time will voice be integrated with FirstNet with key technical and functional hurdles of supporting direct mode push to talk (PTT) voice and off-network direct communications for both voice and data needing to be addressed.

Beyond the technical issues, FirstNet faces substantial business model challenges including calculating the feasibility of developing a nationwide network for what amounts to a couple of million users. While FirstNet has $7 billion of federal funding to leverage, this represents but a drop in the bucket when compared to what commercial carriers invest today in building and maintaining their networks. Creative collaboration with national and local commercial carriers, to evaluating options to expand the user community (transportation and utilities, for example) and leasing agreements for excess capacity are all scenarios FirstNet will need to explore moving forward.  VDC will be closely monitoring and analyzing this initiative and these issues in a forthcoming report on the North American market for public safety broadband communications.

Written by Research Associate Natalie Buckner

Good Exchange NYC: Good Technology on the Offensive

Good Technology hosted its inaugural Good Exchange in NYC on June 3, 2014, an event I had the pleasure of attending. Good has a long and often colorful history in the enterprise mobility market. Perhaps best known for its secure email solutions, the company has evolved considerably as it sets itself up for an IPO. Acquisitions have played prominently with Good acquiring BoxTone in early 2014, a pioneer in the mobile service management space, bookended by today’s announced acquisition Fixmo, a leading provider of mobile security and device integrity solutions. Buttressing these acquisitions include a series of new launches including a secure mobile collaboration app and a trusted authentication framework, consisting of APIs that can be used with two-factor, single sign-on biometric and smartcard authentication modes. Early partners supporting this initiative include EyeVerify, Biometrics Associates, Intercede, Mi-Token and Precise Biometrics. Rounding this out includes a Salesforce.com application and a much needed new interface for Good for Enterprise. This is clearly a sign that Christy Wyatt and her executive team are taking the new market dynamics to heart and are on their way to integrating the necessary pieces to deliver a much needed secure and trusted mobile management and development service.

So what does this all mean? Ever since VMware’s monster acquisition of AirWatch, IBM’s acquisition of Fiberlink and Citrix’s greater push into mobile device management, the mobile landscape – including the rules of engagement – has changed dramatically. Not to mention that BlackBerry – its renewed enterprise focus notwithstanding – continues to lose customers as Apple expands its enterprise support capabilities and Google recently announced its acquisition of Divide. Good is attempting to plug the void that BlackBerry is leaving in the market and has most of the assets to do so. However, as evidenced by their recent IPO filing, Good needs to dramatically scale to hit key financial benchmarks. Key considerations for Good in achieving these goals:

• User experience. In Christy’s keynote at the event, she attested that “Good has always built applications with end business users in mind”. While that may be true, the prior execution translated into an extremely challenging user experience. The demos at Good Exchange proved that the company has taken this criticism to heart and has substantially improved the user experience, especially for processes like user activation.
• Samsung relationship could be critical for Good. While Android devices account for the lion’s share of smartphone shipments and now also lead tablet shipments, when it comes to devices supported/managed in the enterprise, iOS remains king. Although Good customers are using their platform to manage many of these iOS devices, for Good to succeed and to scale substantially, Android needs to succeed in the enterprise. “We are huge fans of KNOX!” proclaimed Christy during a brief fireside chat with Dr. InJong Rhee. With Samsung and secure Android solutions, Good has a real opportunity to differentiate itself from its competitors.
• With its acquisition of BoxTone, Good addressed a key gap for the company around end to end mobile service management. Enterprises today are ill equipped both from a resource and also skill-set perspective to effectively manage the influx of mobile devices. Providing service capabilities that simplify support – from the carrier to the end user – and offer self service and user training capabilities are essential and also provides Good an opportunity to differentiate among its EMM peers.

However, at the end of the day, it is all about the apps. Today the majority of Good customers are relatively basic when it comes to their current mobile status. A primarily BYOD-influenced MDM investment is perhaps an apt characterization. However, Good, and the market, wins only when mobility becomes more strategic in how a salesforce engages with customers, how service technicians manage assets, how nurses care for their patients. It is when mobility becomes truly transformational that Good can elevate its status within customer organizations. Put another way, all the security capabilities Good is building out are only useful if there are apps available for them to protect. While Good is enabling its customers and partners through Good Dynamics to develop and deploy secure applications, today Good has only limited mindshare and cache among developers. Good is working on building out its app eco-system as evidenced by its Salesforce.com relationship and is talking about White Labeling its platform to carriers and managed service providers to extend its reach to smaller organizations. This will be a substantial initiative for Good, requiring significant marketing investments and also a more consultative approach to their sales engagement.

2013 Enterprise Mobile Hardware Research Just Released

VDC Research has just published its much anticipated annual worldwide analysis of the market for enterprise mobility hardware, as part of its ongoing coverage of the entire enterprise mobility technology ecosystem. In this report we analyze the use of mobile devices across a variety of device
classes and form factors in commercial and government sectors.  Click here to download the executive brief.

As the longest running continuous research program covering the enterprise mobility market, the research identifies a number of trends that are fundamentally reshaping the enterprise mobility landscape, with valuable insights for vendors and enterprise end-users alike.  Among the insights from this year’s research include:

Big challenges for established rugged vendors – Used predominantly by line of business mobile
workers in harsh environments supporting business and mission critical applications, the rugged mobile market has contracted over the past 18 months. A combination of factors spanning weak budgets in target end use markets such as military and public safety, massive technology shifts favoring consumer devices and an aging rugged product portfolio all contributed to the current
state of this segment.  Going forward we anticipate the continued pressure of downside risk and strong market headwinds. To counter these we see the need for the rugged vendor community to more effectively address their portfolio gaps, refine and revise their go to market strategies and reinvigorate the value proposition of their solutions beyond its rugged specification.

Microsoft is a problem and BlackBerry has a problem – Microsoft’s multiple mobility missteps have
roiled the market, with many customers sidelined until a clear OS strategy and reliable product emerge.   It will take time for this dust storm to settle.   In the meantime, the window for alternative Android and iOS solutions continues to open wider.  BlackBerry retrenching in the enterprise and government market is likely too little too late as customer’s confidence in their staying power evaporates.

What to make of the tablet – This is a tale of two markets including niche legacy x86 solutions
most widely used in line of business segments in insurance, healthcare, field sales, etc. and the more dynamic media pad segment popularized by the iPad. The list of issues with the legacy solutions is long including their high adoption cost, challenging user experience and overall ergonomics. Conversely, the media pad in the enterprise has been largely a BYOD story. For the tablet to have
legs in the enterprise beyond niche segments its ability as a workforce productivity (and content creation) tool needs to be honed as does the availability of tablet (touch) optimized enterprise applications.

Value pendulum swings towards applications and solutions – While the old adage “you get what you
pay for” clearly still has merit, the massive availability of inexpensive mobile hardware is directly challenging the value proposition of existing mobile vendors. Although there will continue to be a premium for true innovation, much of the new product releases focus more on advancing features.
Moving forward, successful mobile hardware vendors in the enterprise will need to be even closer to enabling and delivering applications and solutions or risk losing much of their existing market leverage.

To read the executive brief, click here.

To learn more about the VDC’s comprehensive enterprise mobility market coverage, click here.

Mobility Innovation: Port of Pittsburgh's Maritime Situational Awareness Portal

In June 2012 the Port of Pittsburgh Commission announced its plans to build a local wireless network for the waterways. Named WirelessWaterways, the original project, which was financed with $1.3 million in grant funding from the federal Port Security Grant and Port of Pittsburgh Commission funds, is a standalone model. However, it is being closely monitored as a national model moving forward. The opportunity to exchange data among barges carrying freight, port operators, government agencies and others has the potential to significantly enhance operational efficiencies for these operators and provide public safety organizations the means to improve response and recovery and assist in more cooperative detection among public and commercial entities.

According to recent research conducted by VDC Research, the ability for transportation and logistics organizations - such as barge operators - to enhance real time decision making is one of the primary investment drivers for mobile and wireless solutions. Moreover, public safety organizations are citing situational awareness and communication interoperability as key gaps in their solutions and investment priorities moving forward. With greater need for real time data to support no only ones own operations but also provide greater end to end visibility for customers across the logistics and supply chain are real pressures, however, this segment of the market has typically been behind the curve in technology adoption. While the need was acute, the availability of a solution that provided a reliable and affordable option to send large amounts of data while barges were traveling on the water was missing.

Existing cellular service coverage is typically spotty along the rivers and using these networks to transmit large files such as navigational charts and marine safety manuals is inefficient and expensive. The solution is a wireless hybrid solution that combines WiFi, leased lines from cable companies, microwave and other bandwidths. While the service will at first be free to users, there will be a service fee rolled out to make it self sustainable. The solution will initially cover 40 river miles with the plan to expand to 150 miles.  The primary users of the network will be barge towing companies, riverbed operators, first responders, environmental specialists and academic researchers, sewage authorities in addition to recreational waterway users.

The application opportunities are numerous, ranging from vessel visibility and tracking, navigation safety, barge crew communications, efficient management of river locks, among others. What is unique about the solution is that it will integrate various government and private data sources into one easy to use Google Maps-based interface. This type of situational awareness mash-up represents some of the more forward thinking innovation addressing real world issues while leveraging existing and available commercial technologies. It will be interesting to track the success and adoption of WirelessWaterways as we anticipate the rollout of other similar projects.

VDC's David Krebs to Participate on Tablet Trends Webinar on June 12th

Join VDC's David Krebs, Jon Rasmussen from Mobile Demand and Stacey Morin from Great State Beverages on June 12th at 2pm EST/1 pm CST as they discuss enterprise tablet technology and application opportunity trends. Follow the link below to register for this informative event.

"T" Up Your Business for the Long Drive: Choose the Right Tablet to Win

Register now

for this informative webinar!

Wed, Jun 12, 2PM ET, (1PM CT, 11AM PT)

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/986114246 

 

BlackBerry 2013: What's the next move?

BlackBerry recently announced its FY 2012 Q4 results and the details were mostly impressive. Some of the the key metrics included:

• 6 million smartphones shipped
• 1 million Z10 smartphones shipped
• 45-55% of Z10 adopters were previously using another platform
• BB10 apps reached 100,000
• Return to profitability
• Total BB subscribers down to 76 million (from 79 million)

With the exception of the drop in subscribers - which perhaps was not entirely surprising - the numbers were better than most expected. While one quarter does not a trend make, the momentum is increasingly positive for BlackBerry. However, the emphasis at BlackBerry since Heins took the helm has been more about near term tactics - organizational restructuring, ensuring the successful launch of the Z10, returning to profitability - as opposed to longer term strategy. This is not to say that these moves are not critical to paving the path to longer term success - and without them the company may not even be around today - some critical questions are bubbling to the surface.

• How committed are carriers to BB and the Z10?
• How is the transition in services impacting the overall business?
• What is their enterprise industry strategy moving forward? How are they leveraging the BB10 platform to expand into other services and applications (automotive)?
• What is the traction of enterprise oriented solutions such as Balance and Workspace?

With respect to enterprise opportunities, the competitive landscape has also clearly shifted. We are witnessing a much stronger Android value proposition in the enterprise - especially as Android 4.1 (and later versions) begin to gain critical mass which we expect to occur in late 2013/early 2014. Moreover, Samsung, with its SAFE and KNOX initiatives and the emergence of SE Android solutions, is not shy about going after the tradition BB market.  Moreover, it is what Samsung is doing to enable Android solutions in various vertical markets - from Education to Health care and Retail - that represent the most compelling value add.

The strength of BB - in addition to its best in class wireless email and iconic keyboard - has been its security. This drove the broad adoption of BB devices in both government and highly regulated industries such as financial services and health care. Although still considered a strength for BlackBerry the market has changed considerably over the past couple of years and according to a recent survey conducted by VDC Research among IT decision makers in the US and UK, the impression in the US is that iOS trumps BlackBerry. In the UK, where BB has retained a stronger market share recently, the opposite is true. Other interesting developments is that among decision makers in large enterprise organizations BB is clearly viewed as the superior platform in terms of security and that irrespective of their large market share among consumers, Android still has a lot of growing up to do when it comes to security.

For BlackBerry there is a lot to like and at the same time a lot to be concerned about when evaluating these figures. Clearly security alone is not sufficient for BlackBerry to succeed. It has to appeal to the individual, especially in the context of BYOD influenced enterprise mobility strategy. However, assuming BlackBerry can again develop innovative and exciting mobile devices (a big 'if') the importance of its security IP could again become its trump, especially as a counter to Android's potential in the enterprise. Enterprises are only beginning to provide access to critical enterprise content on BYOD devices. As this evolves - along with BYOD strategies -  the appeal of BB and its outlook should become increasingly positive.

MWC 2013 and Enterprise Mobility

One thing is certain. Two days at MWC is not nearly sufficient. Nevertheless, while MWC 2013 was less about major announcements and more about incremental progression, there was lots to be excited about. Taking an 'enterprise mobility' focus to our agenda - which means the cool robotic Sphero Balls were just out of scope - there was a lot that caught our attention. Three of the more immediate impressions during my MWC include:

1. Samsung not letting up. Building on its ascension to (Android) mobile 'top dog' Samsung was front and center at MWC. Their main booth did a phenomenal job at bringing together their key partners through their various market initiatives. The big enterprise mobility announcement from Samsung at MWC was clearly KNOX. Building on Samsung's SAFE initiative, the company introduced KNOX. KNOX is a Samsung enterprise solution and aligned with the Samsung For Enterprise (SAFE) program, an ongoing effort initiated by the company to promote the readiness of its devices for enterprise use. What is especially interesting about KNOX is that it incorporates Security Enhanced (SE) Android developed by the NSA and integrity management services implemented in both hardware and the Android framework. The KNOX container enables enterprise applications including email, browser, contacts, calendars, file sharing, collaboration, CRM and business intelligence to be accessed  in a secure environment. Fundamentally, KNOX allows existing Android eco-system applications to automatically gain enterprise integration and validated, robust security with zero change to the application source code. However, KNOX is more than just another container solution and Samsung marketing needs to make sure that it emphasizes these benefits. Another interesting - and potentially conflicting development - is the work that Samsung is doing with Red Bend by leveraging their virtualization solution for dual persona capabilities. Red Bend is not a member of Samsung's KNOX program.

2. Rugged features going mainstream. VDC Research has been covering the rugged mobile market for the better part of the last two decades. The impact of 'consumer' technologies in traditional rugged markets and workflows has been increasingly apparent over the past 1-2 years. However, what is increasingly interesting is the emphasis of vendors typically focused on the consumer market on enterprise opportunities, such as the afore-mentioned software-led capabilities by Samsung's KNOX initiative. Now vendors are also beginning to lead with features optimized by the rugged vendor community. For example, Sony - and other vendors such as Fujitsu - have focused considerably around the waterproof capabilities of their mobile devices. In addition, Sony has introduced display technology that enables their devices to be more readable in direct sunlight conditions while users can interface with Huawei's Ascend P2 while wearing gloves. How field-capable these features are remains to be seen. However, the gaps and real differentiation between mobile devices designed for mission and business critical workflows and more general purpose (consumer) devices continues to shrink.

3. Should Apple be here? In contrast to NRF 2013, a retail-specific technology event I attended earlier in January where Apple products were almost omnipresent and Apple certainly did not suffer by not exhibiting, Apple's lack of booth presence at MWC was perhaps more glaring. The gap between Apple and other mobile vendors (most specifically Samsung) has clearly shrunk with much of the mobile innovation moving forward with or without Apple's participation. While the fundamental mobile platform and how we interface with it still has Apple's fingerprints all over it, we are witnessing real innovation in form factor, mobile interfaces and wireless technology. While we doubt Apple will change their approach to tradeshow participation any time soon, in contrast to 2012, their lack of physical presence also left them out of much of the ongoing dialogue.

Other notable mentions include the increasing mobile momentum from Oracle and their ADF Mobile initiative, innovative BYOD solutions such as Movirtu's virtual SIM-based solution, the commercialization of indoor location solutions with increasingly accurate measurements and more actionable contextual awareness to name a few.

The show was not only well attended but also exceptionally well organized. We look forward to sharing more shortly and returning in 2014.