Smartphones

BlackBerry OS5.0,as shown on the BlackBerry Storm2, has an interface that relies on widgets, rather than icons.

Choosing An Operating System

Google Android

Although Google had only a few benefits for the mobile professional when it introduced Android, the past few versions of the OS have included more enterprise features to make the open-source platform a contender for the professional crowd.

Android 2.0 (also known as the Eclair update) is the most current version of the OS, and it includes native support for Microsoft Exchange server, which is a big step toward appealing to the professional crowd. But its Exchange capabilities lack the advanced integration of other mobile platforms designed specifically for businesses. However, Android 2.0 lets users send meeting invitations, view the attending status of meeting invitees, and also sync Exchange contacts to devices.

Android 2.0 also adds a unified email inbox, which lets users view and respond to their messages from multiple email accounts through a single interface. Additionally, the new-Quick Contact widget combines contacts from different accounts into a single address book, and it offers all the various communication options for each contact. Google Maps Navigator (a free application) with spoken turn-by-turn directions for road warriors is also available on Android 2.0.

Android 1.5 and 1.6 devices are also possible options for business smartphones. Android 1.5 (the Cupcake update) provides users with Google's voice search, which turns spoken queries into text requests as well as video. Android 1.6 (which is the Donut update) delivers multilingual text-to-speech (called Pico).

Although Android has some built-in business-worthy features to offer, the usefulness of the device relies heavily on the applications available for your business. Android's open-source architecture also leaves room for many enterprise additions in tne future.

Android does not offer enterprise-grade security, as some other platforms do, which is something to consider when making a decision. But with third-party applications, such as Good Technology's Good For Enterprise app, which delivers security and management features, the security issue is beginning to resolve.

RIM BlackBerry

The Research In Motion BlackBerry platform caters mostly to business users, which has made the OS a popular choice for many organizations across North America.

For example, RIM offers special software packages for enterprise, public sector, midsized business, and small-business customers. RIM also strives to meet specific business needs by including CRM programs, field-service and field-force applications, inventory and ordering services, and enterprise instant messaging and social networking programs.

At the heart of BlackBerry's mobile business capabilities is tine BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0. It offers advanced integration of Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, and Novell GroupWise and provides users access to their corporate calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, instant messages, and business-related applications. The integration is designed for mobile professionals to be able to flag important email messages, access files remotely, forward calendar appointments, download email attachments, and sync private and public contacts. Also, users can easily download, edit, and store documents, such as Mi-crosoft Office and PDF files.

BlackBerry Enterprise 5.0 also provides benefits to the IT staff by letting them send updates OTA and enjoy com-prehensive management to enforce IT policies for groups and individuals.

BlackBerry devices come with either the 4.5 or the 5.0 version of the BlackBerry OS. The BlackBerry OS 5.0 adds threaded SMS (short message service) conversations, and it provides users with BlackBerry Widgets, along with a better browsing experience.

Also, all BlackBerry users and companies have enterprise-grade security to ensure your critical and confidential infor-mation is safe.

BlackBerry devices are known for their long lists of business-related features, but not necessarily for their consumer-friendly aspects. For example, the Web browser lacks the usability of other mobile browsers. But RIM has been adding more consumer-related features, such as BlackBerry App World, where users can download programs for entertainment as well as business and productivity.

Apple iPhone

After a host of OS upgrades, the Apple iPhone now has several new features that make it a challenger in the business smartphone market. Its latest OS version, iPhone 3.0, includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (including email, calendar, and contacts) and lets you dial numbers from the calendar application and generate calendar invitations.

In order to meet tough IT standards, Apple also strengthened iPhone security with hardware encryption and remote wipe capabilities, so you can erase all the data on a lost or stolen iPhone. The security features, however, are still not quite as strong as other smart-phones designed for business because it lacks an official firewall or antivirus application through iTunes. Like the Android platform, however, some tough firewall and antivirus applications are being developed and are currently available from a variety of third-party sources, such as the aforementioned Good For Enterprise application.

Global iPhone users can also use their phones as wireless modems via USB or Bluetooth connection. However, tethering is not yet available in the United States.

When the iPhone OS was upgraded to version 3.0, Apple added important features such as the ability to cut, copy, and paste text and send MMS messages. Additionally, Spotlight Search (which searches across all your phone's content), a landscape keyboard for more spacious typing, and the ability to record voice memos, are also available with iPhone 3.0.

The latest iPhone 3.0 device, the iPhone 3GS, has a video camera. A digital compass accompanies Maps on iPhone, and it is designed to work just like an ordinary magnetic needle compass, which should be pleasing to road warriors navigating through unfamiliar cities.

Many companies choose the iPhone because users can easily create and add their own applications. Companies can design applications for their employees or choose from the thousands of applications already available for business users.

Although the iPhone is sufficient for many enterprises, some IT administrators would still like to be able to manage their fleet of iPhones through a program other than iTunes, and they still need a way to send out OTA application updates.

Nokia Symbian

Although the S60 platforms on Nokia enterprise smart-phones can hold their own with some of the mobile business platforms, there is a noticeable lack of attention and use of these devices in the United States. Inadequate carrier support for Nokia business devices, which only operate on the GSM network, is partly to blame.

Although S60 5th Edition is available, as well as the new Mameo OS, Nokia's line of business devices (the E75, E71, E66, and E63) operate with the S60

3rd Edition. The S60 3rd Edition allows OTA management, as well as support for Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes Traveler (with email, calendar, contacts, and tasks), which will likely please IT personnel. The S60 3rd Edition lets mobile professionals use a variety of business-related applications and access programs from Nokia's Ovi Store.

Nokia's security Is also on par with the best. In addition to data security, remote wipe, and tough authentication, Nokia provides antivirus and firewall protection.

Palm webOS

Palm's webOS has kev enter-prise features, including support for Microsoft Exchange (email, calendar, contacts, and tasks), and OTA updates. It also includes data backup and restore and remote data wipe for lost and stolen devices.

Palm Synergy on webOS phones lets users combine contacts, calendars, and messages from different accounts (including corporate and personal accounts). There's a unified email inbox that supports as many as eight accounts, and layered calendars let you view all calendars (business, personal, family, and other clubs and activities) in a single interface or separately. The calendar is integrated into the platform so you can also obtain direc-tioas through Google Maps if you click an address, or you can call phone numbers listed in events.

Although webOS has several key security features, it lacks the sophistication of other platforms designed specifically for business use.

Windows Mobile

The Windows Mobile platform, which includes versions 5, 6, 6.1, and 6.5, offers mobile professionals an easy transition from their Windows desktop to their business smartphone. With the addition of Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft offers a good mix of business and personal applications.

Windows Mobile phones have Office Mobile, which includes a mobile version of Outlook when you also take advantage of the built-in support of Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. Outlook on Windows Mobile phones has many of the same features of the desktop version, such as message flagging and the ability to send event invitations and keep track of who is attending. You can also access your company's centra] contacts list so you can email colleagues you don't have saved in your address book.

In addition to built-in support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, devices with the Windows Mobile platform also include support for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Office Communications Server, and Office SharePoint Server workspace.

Windows Mobile 6.5 added several new features, including a unified inbox with email, voicemail, and SMS messages as well as conversation tracking with contacts. In addition, it added Windows Marketplace, so business users can browse and download business applications, and My Phone to let you back up and store your mobile data.

With Windows Mobile, IT managers can enjoy top-of-the-line enterprise security for their fleet of smartphones, as well as comprehensive management for IT policies.