iBlackBerry, UPhone, We mobile

I am a BlackBerry man. Brace yourself, but I use a PC too.  I know, I know – the iPhone is very sexy if we get past the face print issue, but I’ll stick with my BlackBerry, thankyouverymuch. Now, I’m not knocking Apple – I like Apple just as much as the next guy, especially if the next guy also has a BlackBerry.  No, this is to discuss an iPhone innovation: the application.

iPhone (and soon BlackBerry) apps range from the very handy to the, well, to the very dumb.  There are so many, in fact, that while IT staffers aren’t thinking up the next big app or idly popping bubble wrap, they may pause to wonder why there’s no application to let them access and control IT systems from their smartphones.
 
In fact, there are companies that make software for that – though they’re certainly not available at the Apple Store. The problem with software you have to install on your phone is that every time there’s an upgrade to, say, BMC Remedy, your phone must be updated to maintain access. Then there’s the fact that the modern IT environment is complex.  When working through an incident or change you may need to access more than just Remedy.  What if you need mobile access to the service model in another system like BMC Service Impact Manager?  Whoops.  You’ll have to go all the way back to your console, effectively eliminating whatever time savings you could have created.

The best way to solve this problem is not with an app at all.  Sure, use the app as a backup if you’re in a 1950’s bomb shelter with terrible reception, but use it only when you have to.   IT systems need to be accessible with a mobile web-based interface that enables immediate, cross application access.

No installation needed – just a secure password – and you can access all the systems you need to resolve events anywhere, anytime. And, best of all, you can do it on your precious iPhone or, more importantly, your BlackBerry.