MMO2 has quickly built up a small mobile device portfolio to entice IT managers to part with their money. The BT spin-off can presently offer three devices; RIM’s Blackberry, Handspring’s Treo and its own O2 XDA. This provides great choice to the enterprise, although Treo cannot presently support GPRS but software should enable them to be upgraded during summer 2002. Many enterprises have realised the flexibility that mobilisation can enable, providing improved workflow and a more elastic workplace.

Implementing mobile devices across an enterprise is a complex process and some people in the industry may advise companies to postpone deployment. This is mainly due to Microsoft and Handspring lacking a centrally managed solution for the mobile devices O2 XDA and Treo respectively. However, both Microsoft and Handspring are working on solutions that should be available later this year. Despite such problems, IT managers that are seeking to deploy mobile solutions this year or early 2003 have to start assessing their needs now, so they will be ready to roll out mobile devices. It is a long process and they must take into consideration what parts of their business will benefit most from mobilisation, how to tackle mobile security, how to manage mobile devices and what new procedures need to be developed to support them.

A problem that companies like MM02 will need to address is the issue of mobile device management, enterprises may choose to adopt all three devices and this may create manageability issues. The management of mobile devices needs to be uniform, regardless of the number and the type of devices in use. MM02 and other operators also need to introduce managed solutions for enterprises, not all enterprises have the skill sets to add-on the management of mobile devices. Some enterprises will seek to outsource part of or their entire mobile network, either through their operator or a third party.

In order to move the mobile device market forward, mobile operators will need to become more partnership savvy in order to meet enterprise user requirements. Mobile operators will need to agree to work with partners to not only supply outsourced solutions but also with content providers and application developers. They will also need to divvy up revenue streams between partners, this is the only long-term route that can be taken to ensure value is continually delivered to the end-user. Despite MMO2 being able to deliver a variety of mobile devices to the enterprise community, it will need to do more to win them over and maintain their long-term interest in this sector of the market but it’s a good start.

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