New Business Features For iPhone
Apple adds more enterprise friendly features for the iPhone
Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO has annouced that Apple's iPhone has had more business friendly features added to its innovative phone.
The release of the Apple iPhone to the global marketplace seemed like the world was ushering in the next generation of ground breaking technology. However Apple’s iPhone has lagged behind its competitors. One of the reasons was because of the strict restrictions Apple had placed on development of new applications for its versatile mobile phone.
Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO has announced that Apple would release more enterprise friendly features and a roadmap for developers to program applications for the iPhone. This is after months of strict controls that have had iPhone owners’ frustrated. Apple has launched this effort as part of its continuing attempts to gain market share from the largely popular Blackberry made by Research In Motion (RIM) as well as the other competitors in the crowded smart phone market.
This announcement removes one of the iPhone's most substantial barriers to its marketability in the business sector. Apple has licensed the Microsoft Activesync control program, which should make it easier to email and store contact information. These features are a welcome addition to users of this unique mobile device. Originally in order for users to get email on their iPhone they had to jump through a series of technical hoops which deterred a lot of business users from initially purchasing the phone. Other new features include IPSec virtual private network technology by Cisco Systems, a feature called remote wipe which can erase sensitive data if your phone is lost or stolen, and improved wireless security.
Apple has also instated an iPhone developer program in which developers will get access to iPhone for $99.00 per year. Initially the program will only be available to developers in the U.S. and only a limited number of developers will have access at that. For corporation wishing to create in house applications they can apply to have access at a cost of $299.00 per year.
Unfortunately this move is probably too late to turn around the iPhone's fortunes in the fickle mobile phone market place. The strict development limitations for business users will limit growth in the foreign markets as other competitors cement there status as the premier smart phone provider.
The technical short comings will continue to have the iPhone appear more as a novelty rather than the first choice with corporate users. Well established entries into this market such as the Palm Treo and RIM’s Blackberry offer a wealth of readily available applications. Even with the announcement of more enterprise features Apple’s iPhone will continue to fall behind the competition.
