Apple fires enterprise salvo

Apple’s pledge to outfit its popular iPhone with cornerstone enterprise capabilities in Release 2.0, coming in June, could redefine corporate handset strategies, challenge Google’s forthcoming open Android operating system and impact open-access carrier initiatives.

Last week, Apple announced its roadmap for taking its seductive, touch-based iPhone to enterprise heights with the security, manageability and synchronization capabilities that businesses require to sanction employee use of the device in good conscience. Among its smartest moves – in addition to building a very attractive developer program available at virtually no cost to inventive minds everywhere – was to build in support for the key computing and networking infrastructures already used in the majority of enterprises today. Top among them: direct connectivity to Microsoft Exchange servers and push contact, e-mail and calendaring applications via Microsoft’s ActiveSync protocol, and support for Cisco IPSec VPNs.

“Dude, don’t do something new!” was what one global enterprise that worked with Apple to define Release 2.0 capabilities told me that it had advised the company. “Connect to what we already have, and you’ll be certified to work here, Day One.”

Apple apparently listened, also building in enterprise-class Wi-Fi capabilities with WPA2/802.1x security, as well as support for public-key infrastructure (PKI) certificates, automated device configuration and the ability to remotely wipe a lost or stolen device.

Apple has created a model that returns us to the elusive question of “what does it mean to be open?” On the one hand, from an applications perspective, the company has created an entire, nearly free distribution channel for anyone who wishes to write applications, business-class or otherwise, for the iPhone via its forthcoming App Store. No doubt the model – coupled with a $100 million “iFund” backed by venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers to fund iPhone app innovators, will drive an iPhone application-writing frenzy.

“This is the best deal going for getting apps to a mobile device,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs during a media event last week at Apple offices.

Altruists, though, would likely frown on the fact that the App Store will be the sole distribution source of iPhone apps and that Apple is retaining its exclusive relationship with AT&T for network support. Read: for now, if you’re a Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile shop, your users simply can’t use the iPhone.

Also, some apps will not be sanctioned; among them, VoIP over cellular and subscriber identity modules (SIM) and related software that would allow a subscriber to use the phone on other GSM-based networks worldwide. In other words, for networking, you have to use AT&T and roam on AT&T partner networks when out of the country.

The Android open operating system and carriers that have committed to forthcoming open-access WiMAX and cellular services would eschew such a model as having too many closed doors. The Catch-22, though, is that complete freedom could create network anarchy, in which operators would lose control over the impact of new applications on the shared radio-access network and have trouble guaranteeing service levels.

Some companies, such as Alcatel-Lucent with an announcement this week of a resource-monitoring tool, are beginning to offer help on that score.