UC
Nemertes recently noted an 85% increase in the number of companies that have crafted an overall mobility strategy. The strategy typically defines devices, applications, and plans to leverage new end-point capabilities. Often these plans include delivering expanded unified communications capabilities to mobile workers, enabling them to leverage an increasing array of applications including voice, video, and conferencing that previously required a traditional PC. And while most of the media hype surrounds Apple’s iPhone, the reality is that for most business users; BlackBerry remains the smartphone platform of choice thanks to the ability for IT managers to tightly control security, enforce policies, and manage application access. Cisco’s introduction last week of “WebEx Meeting Center for BlackBerry” gives users of RIM’s platform a new capability to participate in WebEx-based web conferences through their mobile device. Requiring BlackBerry OS 4.6 or higher, Cisco’s free client enables BB users to host a meeting, join a meeting hosted by someone else, control a presentation, handoff control, and view whatever documents are being shared. Obviously the Cisco WebEx application is best suited for full-screen BlackBerry devices (Cisco notes that it currently supports Bold 9000/9700, Storm 9500/9550, Curve 8900 and Tour 9630), leaving a large percentage of existing BB users out of luck. And there are significant limitations based on your BlackBerry model. For example, Cisco notes that Tour users or anyone on Verizon’s EV-DO network can’t use both voice and data services at the same time, meaning that to participate in a WebEx conference via your BlackBerry you’ll have to find a second phone to call into the audio bridge (or use WiFi for data if your phone supports it). So while the actual subset of users who will be able to take advantage of WebEx Meeting Center for BlackBerry” remains low, the product release does indicate that UC vendors are increasingly getting serious about expanding their mobility offerings. Those responsible for mobility planning for their organization should pay careful attention to their vendor’s plans to expand mobile offerings, and understand the limitations that exist.
