Once we get into the office, we put our phone to one side and log in to a desktop computer. We do this because our desktop offers a big screen and keyboard for starters. Then of course, the work computer has all our business contacts and applications.
What would it take to have your mobile phone replace your desktop at work?
Companies like Google are always one step ahead and have been working on this idea for a long time. BYOD, or “Bring Your Own Device”, is the culmination of this. In order to achieve it, a number of technology barriers needed to be overcome:
- Performance: your mobile needs to be powerful enough to run your business applications
- Security: your mobile must be able to separate your work and personal functions
- Applications: business applications must be readily available on mobile
So let’s break this down, and talk about each point:
Performance
Mobile devices are now running multi core processors – the performance rivals your desktop. And why would anyone want full HD on their phone? Now you can start to see why – this is the resolution most of us expect on our desktops. Some mobile manufacturers have developed MHL – Mobile High-Definition Link, which converts your phone’s charging connector into a HDMI plug, so you can connect directly to a big screen and keyboard at the same time.
Security
Obviously security is fundamental to making the switch. Software developers have worked hard to get this right. If you are short-sighted, you will ask – why would I want to have multiple login accounts on my phone? Hopefully now you can see why. Android has the ability to create multiple user profiles on your device.
But security and the separation between work and private data goes a lot further than that. Blackberry has been a thought leader and early adopter with Balance. Macquarie Telecom, one of our technology partners, takes this to the enterprise with Mobility Manager.
Applications
In the applications space, Google has been the game changer, with companies like Microsoft racing to keep up. Google Docs allows you to access secure information anywhere. Not only is it powerful, directly competing with Microsoft Office, it provides a zero entry cost, with a more extensive pay-for-use option for corporates.
Your business applications now run online, through your browser. The Digital Embassy has embraced Responsive Design to ensure that content displays well on any device – content “responds” to small or large screens. No more having to zoom in and out! Where there is a need to better integrate with your phone’s camera and other features, a Mobile App does the trick.
So, just when you thought mobile technology had started to settle down, get ready for the next jump. BYOD is here, and it is just a matter of time before we are saying “I remember when we used to come to work and log on to our desktop. What a silly idea!”
