Gartner: Keep the iPhone out of the corporate enterprise.

"But Dulaney said several obstacles stand in the way of its fitting into the enterprise:

• Lack of support from major mobile device management suites and mobile security suites
• Lack of support from major business mobile e-mail solution providers
• The operating system platform isn't licensed to alternative hardware suppliers so there are no backup hardware suppliers
• Feature deficiencies, such as no removable battery, could increase the need for support
• At this point, it's only available from one U.S. operator
• It's an unproven device from a vendor that's never built an enterprise-class phone or mobile device
• A high price estimated at $500
• A clear statement from Apple that it's focused on consumer, not enterprise, business"

How the iPhone breaks industry rules.

"Indeed, while AT&T may be giving up a lot of its customary control of the handset's operations, Apple has given it a five-year U.S. exclusive on the iPhone, another unheard-of deal for the industry, where six months is a more common exclusivity period. And while sharing revenue with Apple, it's not subsidizing the retail price of the phone, which is otherwise the practice. "

As the iPhone launch nears, the wireless industry needs a clue.

"But all those uses rely on the persistence and patience of customers willing to wrestle with their phones to get the applications running. And things that work on some phones don't work on others because of technology limitations.

In fact, customers' most common tech-support complaints are that they can't find the data they downloaded, or their phones either don't support the application or aren't configured to do what people want, a WDS Global survey found."

Mobile Clinic: keeping mobile workforce management consistent.

[the entire article is worth reading... the following comments come from Ed Moore, OpenWeb product manager, Openwave Europe]

"When applying policies, what should be considered the most important areas to consider?

• Security - The most obvious is security; do I have a password, when should it be changed, auto-locking?
• Application Management - Installing applications and keeping them updated with current releases. Removing applications if no longer needed and carrying out inventory checks for licence compliance.
• Settings Updates - Updating APNs and proxy settings plus application settings. You need to be careful this does not conflict with updates being sent from your mobile operator!
• Manage Functions - Controlling access to functions on the handset; for example starting Bluetooth or shutting down the camera. This function can be useful in controlling costs as well as keeping staff focused, stopping video clip downloads, for example, can save data usage while also reducing the risk of 'inappropriate' content appearing on company machines.
• Data Management - Backing up software and synchronising contacts...

A word of warning on smartphones: your mobile operator may also be interested in controlling ‘his’ customers and not necessarily in the same way you are! Be aware of the potential for downloads from the operator or changing of settings, too, these may not always be notified to you in advance."

Activating iPhones to be rage-free: iTunes does it for you.

"iPhone users will be able to activate their new handsets using iTunes, potentially bringing an end to the nonsense typically inflicted on cellphone buyers by retail stores."

see: Apple and AT&T Announce iTunes Activation and Sync for iPhone

Mobile Software Management technologies to enable new revenue opportunities.

"The report unveils significant cost savings and revenue streams available to operators and handset manufacturers by using Mobile Software Management (MSM) to overcome many of the commercial challenges in handset software development and service delivery today."

Red Bend ships FOTA with background updates, revertible updates.

"[Red Bend] today announced the general availability of vCurrent® Mobile version 5 beginning June 30... [The solution includes...]

Background Updates: Red Bend's Background Update feature allows access to the complete functionality of the handset while the firmware image is being updated, enabling the user to decide when to reboot the phone and activate the new software version.

Revertible Updates: Multiple revertible update options in vCurrent Mobile version 5 improve the consumer experience by enhancing control of the update process -- from reverting to a prior source version or canceling an update mid way. This capability affords new revenue opportunities for operators by enabling them to offer new features and applications during a trial period, and then removing the software from the phone if the consumer does not subscribe. Revertible Updates also benefit machine-to-machine (M2M) manufacturers. If the M2M module detects a malfunction in the new software version, it can roll back to the previous version without retrieving a reverse update file from the device management server -- improving reliability, particularly if the malfunction is detected to be in the network connectivity software."

State of the IPO Market: Very very good.

"2007 is turning out to be a nice year for technology initial public offerings, especially for companies that are involved with communications gear, services and chips."

iPhone requires iTunes, Apple says.

"Apple will require customers to establish a separate account with its online media service in addition to one with AT&T Wireless Services, which has signed an exclusive U.S. distribution deal for the iPhone.

The move will allow Apple to create its own billing relationship with iPhone customers, rather than collecting payments for any iTunes purchases they make via the mobile operator."

In pictures: a history of cell phones.

"From Motorola's first phone, which weighed in at 2 pounds, to Apple's upcoming iPhone, here's a look at how cell phones have evolved over the years."

Mobile Linux group releases first specs.

"The Linux Phone Standards (LiPS) Forum planned to release its first mobile phone specifications on Monday, in hopes of encouraging more applications for Linux phones. The specifications... include a reference model, address book, voice call enabler, text input method application programming interfaces (APIs) and user interface services such as widget sets."

Search firms fear mobile Web lockout.

"Charles Golvin, an analyst with Forrester Research, said the early days of the mobile Web remind him of the early days of the Internet. 'If you think about AOL in 1995, they were in a similar position of power,' he said. Like the carriers, AOL controlled its subscribers' experience. 'That broke down because consumers wanted access to the open Internet,' Golvin said. 'I would argue that the same will happen in mobile.'"

Amp’d, MVNOs and future of the market.

"The news of the last few days has raised the question of whether MVNOs are viable here in the U.S. The answer is: 'Yes, but it’s difficult to do.'

The primary challenge that MVNOs face is that they can’t compete with wireless carriers (e.g., Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, etc.) on the criteria the majority of subscribers use to select a wireless service provider. The majority of subscribers who selected their wireless service provider (i.e., they are not on their parents’ plan or that of an employer) did so based on quality of coverage and cost of services. Handset selection barely made the top ten on our list. Those who own and control the network meet these criteria best. It’s hard for MVNOs to compete for the majority of U.S. subscribers."

Container projects: The next chapter in handset customisation.

"The history book of the mobile handset industry has gone through two turbulent chapters to date; the first ‘naïve’ years of manufacturer rule ended abruptly in late 2002 with the launch on Vodafone Live! and the Orange SPV. In the second chapter, mobile operators in Europe and later in the US seized the upper hand in their dealings with handset suppliers. Without exception, OEMs and ODMs have been willing to produce customised handsets given a minimum purchase volume commitment. Operators had to develop new skills, adapt their organizations, foster multi-year relationships with OEMs and master complex processes of 6-month handset development. To overcome the many challenges existing today, the history book is entering a new chapter; that of ‘container’ projects."

European retailer reveals iPhone network spec.

"Carphone Warehouse CEO Charles Dunstone made an interesting revelation during the company's annual earnings call yesterday. Dunstone said that for the iPhone to function properly, Apple servers must reside in the operator network.

Keith McMahon of Seeking Alpha speculates that this is Apple's way of controlling the operator network distribution model and means that Apple will be getting a cut of the ongoing revenues. In addition, McMahon says that this strategy will prevent the unlocking and reflashing of the iPhone, a common practice in Europe."

Openwave rejects Harbinger, plans on stand-alone recuperation.

"Shares of Openwave Systems Inc. tumbled in after-hours trading after the company rejected a takeover bid by Harbinger Capital Partners."

Amp’d Mobile implodes: Burns $360 million, declares bankruptcy.

"According to mocoNews, Amp’d Mobile owes $33 million to Verizon Wireless, $16 million to Motorola and $10 million to Vivendi. Smaller creditors include BestBuy at $8 million and MTV Networks: $1.8 million. Total debt is more than $100 million with assets less than that figure."

Hospitals nationwide combat employee camera-phone abuse.

"A rash of incidents in hospitals across the country involving camera phones has led to firings -- and the realization that monitoring the devices in clinical facilities is no easy task."

SnapIn raises $6.3 million.

"We have landed a tier-1 carrier in the U.S. to a multi-year deal, and the first phone with our software will be available nationwide in a few weeks... We're doing two commercial pilot deployments in the UK right now, and another one in Spain."