When Apple launched the iPad in 2010, tablet PC’s emerged as a revolutionary consumer gadget; by 2011 the tablet market was worth US$35.3 billion (£22.5 billion)[1]. The iPad remains dominant in this market, with other tablets such as BlackBerry PlayBook, Samsung Galaxy Tab, HP Touchpad, and Motorola Xoom entering the market with varying degrees of success. There’s no doubt the tablet has become a sought after consumer product, and many expected them to take the enterprise market by storm and become a valuable business tool…but has this actually happened? And if not, why not?

Tablets remain a ‘third’ device

The timing would seem perfect for tablets. An increasingly mobile workforce requires cutting-edge devices to enable them to both work remotely and productively anywhere, at any time, and to serve the needs of their personal lives. Tablets look well positioned to provide exactly that, and yet usage hasn’t spread as quickly through the business world as it has for consumers. But why?

In February 2012, the TechTalk blog highlighted the growing threat to business data security coming from the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend, and the increasing problem of corporate data being downloaded and saved to employee-owned mobile devices. This is a significant problem for many businesses, and one they must address as a matter of urgency. The rising profile of this issue was emphasised at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona in March, and at the 2012 RSA conference, where mobile data security and mobile device management was one of the, if not the, key topic.

The trend towards BYOD is irreversible, and the risks are clear

As businesses (in particular, IT departments) come to terms with the exponential growth of BYOD there has been a widespread acceptance that there’s no going back; employee-owned mobile devices are in the workplace to stay.

The growing trend of employees using personal smartphones for work purposes is a headache for IT departments, and a data security nightmare. With an estimated 2.7million personally-owned smartphones in the UK currently containing confidential company and client data it is time for businesses to act.

How well protected is my data?

This is already a question that will be disturbing the sleep patterns of executives and privacy conscious citizens alike. Businesses in a variety of industries depend on data security and the trust of their customers – many of whom are all too aware of the increasing amount of data collected by businesses with each interaction. The results of a recent GfK survey, which found there are approximately 2.7 million personally-owned smartphones in the UK carrying confidential company and client data, are guaranteed to give even the most laissez-faire something to think about in the dark hours.

Mobile technology used in everyday life has become the equal of, and in some cases has surpassed, the mobile technology businesses are giving employees for work purposes. This has brought unprecedented challenges for businesses as employees increasingly access work email and data from personal devices, and take the lead on demanding which technology they are provided with by their employer. The approach businesses take to resolving this issue will significantly influence their IT policies over the coming years.

With consumer smartphone usage growing rapidly, and an equally rapid growth in the number of businesses providing smartphones to their employees, there are many ‘employed consumers’ who now use two smartphones in daily life. Similarity in the form and function of these devices has lead to questions regarding the necessity of carrying both, and as a result there is increasing pressure on company IT departments to either allow employees to use their personal devices for work purposes or provide consumer friendly devices.

Smartphone operating systems (OS) have become arguably ‘the’ most critical factor in the mobile device market in recent times. Whilst obviously being crucial to the functional capabilities of a mobile device, they are now also seen as the cornerstone of its revenue potential. This has brought about a fascinating battle amongst the biggest names in the mobile and Internet markets, all looking to ensure their OS is the market leader. The result of this battle is likely to have a significant influence on who will dominate these markets during the next few years.

Phones with advanced operating systems now account for approximately 70% of the contract market in the UK*. This has led to a significant market share decline for Symbian, which has for some time been the most prevalent OS in the market, and increased competition amongst the four key operating systems at the higher end of the market – RIM’s BlackBerry OS, Apple’s iOS, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, and the newest OS to the market, Google’s Android.