Is business ready for the iPhone, or is it better left as a personal device?

Apple is touting its iPhone as a must-have mobile device for business.

With customized applications, and technologies like Multi-Touch (type, glide, drag, flick), accelerometer (turn it sideways to see an entire Web page), fast wireless connectivity, and A-GPS, the company’s spiel claims enterprise applications can live side-by-side with the unique applications that come with an iPhone.

The first versions of the iPhone gave the device a reputation as being a cool toy.

But C/D/H consultant Chris Monks said Apple’s newer iPhone 2.1 operating system offers more security with e-mail server passwords, pass codes, optional remote-wipe capability, and contact sync capability, “taking the iPhone to the enterprise level.”

iPhone still misses a few things, according to Monks:

• Users cannot invite others to appointments or meetings.
• iPhone can read, but cannot edit Word and Excel files.
• iPhone’s exclusive contract with AT&T relegates you to the AT&T network with standard configuration. There are some creative ways to hack the device and move it to networks such as T-Mobile but these devices are always at risk when phone updates are issued.
  

On the positive side:

• The iPhone interface is intuitive, according to Monks. It doesn’t require a lot of training. Or any.
  Something that can’t be said for BlackBerry.
• The screen is bright and vibrant, e-mail easy to read.
• “There’s an explosion of people wanting it. Employees may buy it themselves and ask to connect to the system,” according to Monks, because it’s an all-around device for both the office and personal use. It’s easy to navigate the Web, and get music and videos, eliminating the need for employees to carry two mobile devices.
• Sales reps and customer service workers can use the iPhone to display visual product information, videos and ads, and in some situations eliminate the need to haul around laptop computers.
• Wireless syncing with company e-mail, calendar events, and contacts over a 128-bit encrypted SSL connection. The Multi-Touch display makes it easy to accept meeting invitations and find contacts.
• The device can be required to use a pass code via an enterprise policy, which makes sensitive data on the device much more secure if lost or stolen.
• Remote wipe is optional, which wipes all personal data from the device if lost or stolen.
• iPhone HTML e-mail looks and acts like computer-based e-mail, and has built-in support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.

• GPS mapping is available to locate your position and nearby places.
• iPhone uses Safari – the most advanced browser on a mobile device.
• The associated iTunes application is on version 8.0.2. Over the years, these updates and upgrades have worked out bugs and made the process of synchronizing music, videos and applications easy.
• Apple claims its App Store had more than 15,000 apps via iTunes – most of them free – six months after the store went online.
• Secure syncing via iTunes can also be used to deploy in-house applications.

Bottom line: iPhone 3G is still a gadgety, fun device. If you need a device just for secure e-mail and minimal web browsing, the traditional BlackBerry and Windows mobile devices are proven platforms. But with enforced security and password policies, even companies with serious security concerns can and should consider the iPhone. Besides, according to Monks, “it’s nice and comfortable and cool, and fits in your pocket.”