Extending Corporate Video Conferencing to Mobile Devices

Brian Riggs - Research Director, Enterprise Software and Communications

Summary Bullets:

• Mobility to be the next big product trend for enterprise video conferencing technology
• There are a number of ways to extend corporate video conferencing solutions to mobile devices

The increasing adoption of video conferencing systems in the enterprise combined with the increasing adoption of video-capable mobile devices is set to both challenge and annoy IT departments. One of the problems is that the software and systems that deliver business-class video conferencing (from Cisco, IBM LifeSize, Magor, Microsoft, Polycom, Vidyo etc.) are completely different from the software that runs on the mobile devices wheedling their way into the enterprise as part of the BYOD phenomenon (from Apple, Google, Fuze, Skype, Tango, etc.). It’s unlikely that the two will learn to coexist peacefully anytime soon. Enterprise IT departments will continue to deploy on-premise or cloud-based video conferencing solutions that meet security and compliance requirements. And end users will separately use separate consumer-friendly video conferencing technology on their mobile devices with or without IT’s formal blessing.

Addressing the Adoption of Tablets and Smartphones in the Enterprise

A. Braunberg

Summary Bullets:

• At a high level, U.S. businesses are taking similar strategic approaches to the introduction of both tablets and smartphones into the enterprise.
• Not surprisingly, the majority of survey respondents want to buy these devices and manage them.

Current Analysis recently completed a survey of enterprises in the U.S. to determine strategic direction for the adoption of tablets and smartphones in enterprise networks. While it is often assumed that enterprises will approach the adoption of tablets and smartphones differently (with tablets treated as simple laptop replacements), our research suggests this is not the case.

When is a Tablet Not a Tablet?

B. Riggs

Summary Bullets:

• Tablet-like mobile end points from Cisco and Avaya are distinct from consumer tablets
• Cisco Cius and Avaya ADVD are distinct from each other

Cisco Cius and Avaya Desktop Video Device (ADVD) – They look like tablets: Mobile computers built into a flat touch screen, and are larger than a smartphone, but smaller than a laptop. They act like tablets with swipe interfaces. They have access to a variety of personal and video apps, and in Cius’ case, an app store. But they’re not tablets. At least IT managers shouldn’t think of them in the same way they think of tablets.

Are Managed Services a Viable Answer to Mobile Device Mania in the Enterprise?

K. Weldon

Summary Bullets:

• Huge rise in mobile device usage in the enterprise is kick-starting use of telecom expense management (TEM), mobile device management (MDM) and mobile security
• Current Analysis research shows that most enterprises still patch together solutions from third-party vendors; trust in managed services will take more time

In a recent Current Analysis survey of approximately 600 businesses in the U.S. and Europe, 82% of respondents noted that employee-owned mobile devices are accessing data residing on corporate networks or servers; however, only 60% of the companies explicitly allow this practice. Further, 73% of these businesses are planning to buy tablets for their employees, adding to the smartphone types and OSs already in the mix. Clearly the environment for managing costs, reining in the usage and application types accessed by employees, and centralizing device management and security is becoming very complex.