Well, we all know how good the i-phone is from our smug mates, but is it any good for business use? surprise surprise, the answer is a resounding yes; Apple have such a flexible platform with the i-phone that allows rapid development through their apps that it makes a great phone for business.
i-phone for business
The i-phone has secure access, through encrypted data in transmission, hardware encryption for data at rest and encrypted backups on itunes to many business networks through connections to Microsoft exchange and standards based servers so that users can access their e-mail, contacts and calendars at any time. It also has 1000′s of third-party business apps, and an enterprise developer program for in-house apps, iPhone 3GS is also compatible with Cisco, Ipsec, VPN and WPA2 enterprise so that you can access your shared business folders.
The i-phone can quickly configure for your business and can be easily deployed across your business.
How can I connect to the office email etc?
If your office uses Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or 2007, you can wirelessly push email, calendar events, and contacts to iPhone. Because of the enhanced features like searching your inbox and server, creating calendar invitations directly from iPhone, and dialing out from calendar events on iPhone, it’s easy to keep track of your and others whereabouts and activities using Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.
What about standards based servers?
iPhone also supports standards-based servers for e-mail, your calendar, and your contacts integration. Sync with IMAP mail servers and search the mail server from your iPhone. Integrate with common CalDAV-compliant calendar servers like iCal Server, Oracle Beehive, Kerio, and Zimbra. Sync subscribed calendars to your iPhone. And find colleagues fast by searching LDAP servers from either the mail or contacts app on your iPhone.
Keeping your data secure.
You can also keep your data secure on the move, whilst stored on your iPhone, and also as a backup file on your work or home computer.
iPhone 3GS protects your data through encryption of information in transmission, at rest on the device, and when backed up to iTunes. The iPhone can also provide secure methods to prevent unauthorized use of the device through passcode policies and restrictions. If a nasty man (or lady) accidentally falls in love with your i-phone and puts it in their pocket and legs it, you can simply clear all your data and settings by remotely wiping from Exchange.
Network communications stay secure with Cisco IPSec VPN, WPA2 Enterprise Wi-Fi, and SSL/TLS on iPhone. Exchange users can enforce complex passcodes, camera restrictions, and other policies on iPhone to protect your business data. And certificate-based authentication allows the iPhone to connect with your business servers via Exchange as well as VPN On Demand, making network communications seamless and secure.
How easy is it to link up multiple users?
You can use iPhone across an oraganisation easily with configuration profiles. With these you can set up passcode policies and settings with configuration profiles created and distributed via USB or over the air. With configuration profiles, you can remotely configure your company’s VPN, email, and wireless network settings, ensuring that each iPhone is secure and ready for business.
Configuration profiles also make it easy to install device restrictions and certificates on iPhone for authentication to Cisco IPSec VPN servers, 802.1x-based wireless networks, Exchange Servers, and other business services. To install a configuration profile is as easy as tapping a secure web link or receiving an email with the configuration profile attached. Configuration profiles can be signed and encrypted — and once installed, individual users can be restricted from removing these profiles from their iPhones.
