Go ahead, bring those holiday gadgets to work

Darrell Etherington’s predication is coming true, “Bring Your Own Device Will Usher in Bring Your Own Apps, Too.” On Wednesday, IBM [s IBM] announced several new social networking and collaboration mobile apps –all specifically designed to support enterprise needs around consumer mobile devices. The new software is available from most popular app stores. IBM’s goal is to bring social networking, real-time collaboration, and online meeting capabilities from behind the company firewall and into the hands of tablet users.

This is a response to demands to better manage the growing number of personally-owned gadgets being used for enterprise work.

In the press release, IBM describes how employees at the global medical device manufacturer ConMed Linvatec [s CNMD] used the IBM Lotus Notes Traveler app on iPad devices at a recent medical tradeshow: “The app allowed ConMed employees to demonstrate its medical devices, collect sales leads, and send product information to prospective customers right on the spot….” Dale Westrate, messaging systems architect for ConMed Linvatec’s Largo division is quoted in the release: “As a result of using IBM collaboration software on iPad devices, we generated more leads, and acted on them sooner, than ever before.”

IBM is offering a variety of new tablet capabilities (availability across platforms varies):

• Social networking for iPad
• Attend online meetings
• Instant messaging
• Access business documents
• Reduce calling costs
• Easier access to mail and calendar

They are also helping developers create mobile applications faster and improving the experience for the user:

• Tools to build mobile apps faster and better: IBM is introducing its Mobile Technology Preview on the developerWorks website.
• Tools to improve the Web experience for the user: The new software, IBM WebSphere Portal Mobile Experience, helps companies easily control the content, look and feel, and page navigation on mobile devices.

It’s exciting to see the software giant helping smooth the way for how people behave at work. Rather than putting information technology departments in conflict with their users, who are just trying to get their jobs done in times of tight resources, IBM’s approach enables natural behaviors to proceed with an enterprise-appropriate (e.g., greater security) infrastructure.